Do not dispute with the FCRA alone

15 U.S.C. §§ 1681–1681x

Governs accuracy, fairness and privacy of every consumer reporting agency file — not just the big three.

How you use it: Demand reinvestigation under § 1681i, method of verification under § 1681i(a)(7), and accuracy under § 1681e(b). Furnishers answer under § 1681s-2(b).

• § 1681e(b) — maximum possible accuracy
• § 1681i(a) — 30-day reinvestigation (45 with new info)
• § 1681i(a)(7) — method of verification on demand
• § 1681g — full file disclosure
• § 1681s-2(b) — furnisher duty to investigate
• § 1681n / § 1681o — willful and negligent damages

Pub. L. 108-159; 15 U.S.C. § 1681c-2

Amended the FCRA to add free disclosures, fraud alerts, identity-theft blocking and truncation duties.

How you use it: Use § 1681c-2 to force a 4-business-day block of identity-theft items, and demand compliance with the Furnisher Accuracy Rule.

• § 1681c-2 — identity theft block (4 business days)
• § 1681c-1 — fraud alerts and extended alerts
• § 1681j — free annual file disclosure
• § 1681c(g) — account-number truncation

15 U.S.C. §§ 1692–1692p

Controls how third-party collectors may communicate, verify and report debts.

How you use it: Demand validation under § 1692g(b) and stop collection until validated. Report false credit reporting under § 1692e(8).

• § 1692g(b) — cease collection until debt validated
• § 1692e(8) — false reporting of credit information
• § 1692e(2) — false representation of amount or legal status
• § 1692c(c) — cease-communication notice
• § 1692k — statutory damages up to $1,000 + fees

15 U.S.C. §§ 1601–1667f; Reg. Z 12 C.F.R. 1026

Requires accurate disclosure of APR, finance charges and payment terms on consumer credit.

How you use it: Request the account-level disclosures behind a reported balance. Dispute billing errors under § 1666 and demand documentary evidence under § 1666(a)(3).

• § 1666 — billing error resolution (60 days)
• § 1666a — no adverse reporting while dispute pending
• § 1635 — right of rescission (certain secured loans)
• § 1640 — statutory damages

15 U.S.C. §§ 1691–1691f; Reg. B 12 C.F.R. 1002

Bans credit discrimination and requires specific written reasons for adverse action.

How you use it: Demand the statement of specific reasons within 30 days under § 1691(d) whenever an application is denied or terms are worsened.

• § 1691(d)(2) — written statement of specific reasons
• § 1691(a) — prohibited bases for discrimination
• 12 C.F.R. 1002.9 — 30-day adverse action notice
• § 1691e — actual + punitive damages

15 U.S.C. §§ 6801–6809

Requires financial institutions to safeguard nonpublic personal information and disclose sharing practices.

How you use it: Demand the privacy notice, the safeguards program, and every affiliate/third party your data was shared with. Opt out of sharing in writing.

• § 6802 — limits on disclosure to nonaffiliated third parties
• § 6803 — annual privacy notice
• § 6801(b) — administrative and technical safeguards
• 16 C.F.R. 314 — Safeguards Rule

12 U.S.C. §§ 2601–2617; Reg. X 12 C.F.R. 1024

Governs mortgage servicing, escrow, transfers and error resolution.

How you use it: Send a Qualified Written Request / Notice of Error under § 2605(e). Servicer must acknowledge in 5 days and correct in 30, and may not report adversely for 60 days.

• § 2605(e) — QWR and notice of error
• § 2605(e)(3) — no adverse reporting for 60 days
• 12 C.F.R. 1024.35 — error resolution procedures
• 12 C.F.R. 1024.36 — request for information

42 U.S.C. § 1320d; 45 C.F.R. 160–164

Protects individually identifiable health information held by covered entities and their business associates.

How you use it: For medical collections, demand the signed HIPAA authorization permitting disclosure to the collector and CRA, plus an accounting of disclosures.

• 45 C.F.R. 164.508 — authorization required for disclosure
• 45 C.F.R. 164.528 — accounting of disclosures
• 45 C.F.R. 164.502 — minimum necessary standard
• FCRA § 1681c(a)(6) — medical debt reporting limits

47 U.S.C. § 227; 47 C.F.R. 64.1200

Restricts autodialed calls, prerecorded messages and texts without prior express consent.

How you use it: Revoke consent in writing, log every call, and preserve the $500–$1,500 per-call claim for continued contact.

• § 227(b)(1)(A) — autodialer / prerecorded call ban
• § 227(b)(3) — $500 per violation, treble if willful
• 47 C.F.R. 64.1200(a)(9) — revocation of consent
• § 227(c) — do-not-call protections

15 U.S.C. §§ 1666–1666j

Billing-error procedures for open-end credit such as credit cards.

How you use it: Trigger the 60-day billing error clock and freeze adverse reporting on the disputed amount.

• § 1666(a) — written notice of billing error
• § 1666a — restrictions on reporting disputed amounts
• § 1666i — claims and defenses against card issuer

20 U.S.C. § 1087e; 34 C.F.R. 682, 685

Federal student loan servicing, discharge, rehabilitation and reporting duties.

How you use it: Demand the promissory note, payment history and servicing-transfer chain. Rehabilitated loans must have default deleted under 20 U.S.C. § 1078-6(a)(1)(F).

• 20 U.S.C. § 1078-6 — rehabilitation deletes default
• 34 C.F.R. 685.206 — borrower defense
• 34 C.F.R. 682.401 — servicer duties
• FCRA § 1681s-2(b) — servicer as furnisher

12 U.S.C. §§ 5531, 5536

Catch-all CFPB authority reaching conduct no single statute covers.

How you use it: Cite UDAAP in your CFPB complaint when a bureau parrots a furnisher, uses e-OSCAR templates, or 'verifies' without documents.

• § 5531 — unfair, deceptive, abusive prohibition
• § 5536 — unlawful acts by covered persons
• CFPB Bulletin 2013-09 — dispute handling duties