The Fair Credit Reporting Act, section by section
Last updated: Sources checked: September 2026
The Fair Credit Reporting Act, or FCRA, is the federal law that governs credit reports. It is part of the U.S. Code at 15 U.S.C. 1681 and following. The sections people usually mention are numbered by the original act, such as “section 611,” while the Code uses a different number, such as 1681i. This page matches the two.
These are plain-English summaries for education. They are not legal advice, and the official text controls.
The five sections used on this site
| Section | U.S. Code | What it covers | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 605 | 15 U.S.C. 1681c | How long negative information can be reported | Section 605 |
| 605B | 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 | Blocking information caused by identity theft | Section 605B |
| 609 | 15 U.S.C. 1681g | Your right to see your file | Section 609 |
| 611 | 15 U.S.C. 1681i | How disputes are investigated | Section 611 |
| 623 | 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 | Duties of creditors and collectors that report | Section 623 |
Other sections mentioned
| Section | U.S. Code | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 604 | 15 U.S.C. 1681b | Who may get your report, and for what purposes |
| 607(b) | 15 U.S.C. 1681e | The accuracy standard bureaus must follow |
| 612 | 15 U.S.C. 1681j | When reports are free |
| 616 | 15 U.S.C. 1681n | Liability for willful violations |
| 617 | 15 U.S.C. 1681o | Liability for negligent violations |
Regulations that go with it
Direct disputes with creditors and collectors are covered by a CFPB regulation, Regulation V, at 12 CFR 1022.43. Debt collectors are covered by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Regulation F, at 12 CFR Part 1006.
How to use this section
Each section page lists the plain-English points, the guides on this site that rely on it, and a link to the official text. When a guide says “section 611,” this is the section it means.