ordering credit reports

You can get a free copy once a year. www.annualcreditreport.com should be able to help you with that.

 

Under FCRA, an adverse action gets you a free report.

Adverse action:

"§ 603..Definitions;rules of construction [15 U.S.C.§ 1681a ]
...
(k)Adverse Action
(1)Actions included.The term â??adverse action â?
(A)has the same meaning as in section 701(d)(6)of the Equal Credit
Opportunity Act;and
(B)means
(i)a denial or cancellation of,an increase in any charge for,or a reduction
or other adverse or unfavorable change in the terms of coverage or
amount of,any insurance,existing or applied for,in connection with
the underwriting of insurance;
(ii)a denial of employment or any other decision for employment purposes
that adversely affects any current or prospective employee;
(iii)a denial or cancellation of,an increase in any charge for,or any other
adverse or unfavorable change in the terms of,any license or benefit
described in section 604(a)(3)(D)[§ 1681b ];and
(iv)an action taken or determination that is
(I)made in connection with an application that was made by,or a
transaction that was initiated by,any consumer,or in connection
with a review of an account under section
604(a)(3)(F)(ii)[§ 1681b ];and
(II)adverse to the interests of the consumer."


Also, under FCRA if a debt collector notifies you that they are reporting adversely, or that they might report adversely, you get a free report. That may cover most collection letters.

"§ 612..Charges for certain disclosures [15 U.S.C.§ 1681j ]
...
(b)Free disclosure after adverse notice to consumer.Each consumer reporting agency that
maintains a file on a consumer shall make all disclosures pursuant to section 609
[§ 1681g ] without charge to the consumer if,,not later than 60 days after receipt by
such consumer of a notification pursuant to section 615 [§ 1681m ],or of a
notification from a debt collection agency affiliated with that consumer reporting
agency stating that the consumer's credit rating may be or has been adversely
affected,the consumer makes a request under section 609 [§ 1681g ]."

 

By the way, here is where FCRA requires FTC to forward to CRAs any consumer complaints they receive regarding already disputed but still inaccurate reporting.


§ 611..Procedure in case of disputed accuracy [15 U.S.C.§ 1681i ]
...
(e)Treatment of Complaints and Report to Congress
(1)In general .The Commission shall--
(A)compile all complaints that it receives that a file of a consumer that is
maintained by a consumer reporting agency described in section 603(p)
contains incomplete or inaccurate information, with respect to which,the
consumer appears to have disputed the completeness or accuracy with the
consumer reporting agency or otherwise utilized the procedures provided
by subsection (a);and
(B) transmit each such complaint to each consumer reporting agency involved.
(2)Exclusion.Complaints received or obtained by the Commission pursuant to its
investigative authority under the Federal Trade Commission Act shall not be
subject to paragraph (1).