Credit Information

Legislators Ponder New Credit Protection Laws


Legislators in Washington, D.C. are considering several credit-related consumer protections as outlined in The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003 (H.R. 2622). If approved, consumers could benefit from the most wide-ranging changes to the rules covering consumers and credit in decades.

One of the most important changes would be the right to receive a free annual copy of your credit report, upon request, from the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. Currently only six U.S. states offer their residents this form of consumer protection. Federal law requires that a consumer may obtain a free copy of their credit report only if they have been denied a loan or credit based upon information contained in their credit reports.

Other highlights of The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003 include:

  • special notifications whenever excessive inquiries (credit checks by potential lenders and creditors) are lowering your credit scores significantly;

  • notification by creditors whenever they are sending derogatory account information to any of the national credit reporting agencies;

  • blocking negative credit information caused by an identity thief from reappearing on credit reports;

  • mandating creditors to establish guidelines to prevent them from issuing credit deemed likely to be fraudulent;

  • the disclosure of credit scores used in connection with loan application decisions and an explanation of the key factors that were used to determine that score;

  • requiring the disclosure of the name, address, and telephone number of businesses that supply information to credit bureaus.

At first glance this bill appears to offer valuable credit protections for consumers. However, there are others who feel this legislation either doesn't do enough or even reduces consumer rights. The proposed federal law could replace tougher laws already in place in some states and that has consumer advocates concerned.

For an in depth analysis of H.R. 2622 by leading consumer advocates, visit http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/HR2622Analysis.htm

Lawmakers and consumer groups agree that changes need to be made to better protect consumers and their credit rights. Whether or not The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act can address these concerns remains to be seen.

About The Author

© 2003, www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com

James is editor of "To Your Credit" a FREE weekly newsletter for consumers. You can subscribe at http://tinyurl.com/bgo9; jimdim815@aol.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Lear Trying To Amend Credit Pact On Poor Industry Conditions
CNNMoney.com - 21 hours ago
(LEA) is seeking an amendment and waiver under its primary credit facility, citing current and longer-term industry conditions, after fully borrowing ...
Lear Corp. seeks to amend credit agreement Forbes
Lear seeks to amend credit facility Reuters
Lear seeks credit facility waiver urethanes-technology-international (subscription)
PR Newswire (press release) - Automotive World (subscription)
all 35 news articles


US consumer credit worsens in December: Fitch
Reuters - 2 hours ago
NEW YORK, Jan 7 (Reuters) - US consumer credit deteriorated in December as credit card defaults rose and cardholder payment rates suffered the largest one ...
Credit card defaults rise again in December Forbes
Credit-Card Charge Offs Jump Wall Street Journal Blogs
Fitch: US Credit Card Defaults Rise, Payments Slow as Consumers ... Earthtimes (press release)
all 15 news articles


Fair Isaac inks deal with Romanian credit bureau
Bizjournals.com, NC - 3 hours ago
Fair Isaac Corp. has reached a deal that will take its FICO credit score into the Romanian market. The Minneapolis-based analytics company said Wednesday it ...
Biroul de Credit Brings FICO Credit Score to Romania WELT ONLINE
Fair Isaac joins 'green' IT organization MinnPost.com
Fair Isaac Joins The Green Grid WELT ONLINE
all 37 news articles


Calgary Herald

Canada Budget Will Seek to Ease Credit, Flaherty Says
Bloomberg - Jan 6, 2009
6 (Bloomberg) -- Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said he may use his budget later this month to help ease tight credit markets and reverse a slowdown ...
Canada budget to address credit access: minister Reuters Canada
Canada to work with banks to provide credit Reuters
Credit availability key economic issue: Flaherty CTV.ca
Toronto Star - Globe and Mail
all 540 news articles


Credit Scores: What You Need to Know
New York Times, United States - 22 hours ago
By JENNIFER BARRETT You may not have checked your credit score lately, but there’sa good chance someone else has. If you have applied for a mortgage or a ...
Local credit scores sliding Cincinnati.com
Local credit scores dropping Cincinnati.com
all 3 news articles


Toll Brothers' January 14 Presentation At The Credit Suisse ...
MSNBC - 4 hours ago
Click on the "Conferences" box and follow the link for the webcast under "Credit Suisse Homebuilder Conference". Participants are encouraged to log on at ...
DR Horton, Inc. Presentation at the 2009 Credit Suisse Homebuilder ... WELT ONLINE
Hovnanian Enterprises Presentation at the 2009 Credit Suisse ... PR Newswire (press release)
all 22 news articles


Mortgage applications down, home-equity credit delinquencies up
Los Angeles Times, CA - 3 hours ago
Surveys released today showed that fewer Americans applied for mortgages last week and more were missing payments on their home equity lines of credit. ...


Jaunted

Airport Officials Lose Credit Card Use
MSNBC - 22 hours ago
(AP) - Six top officials at the Blue Grass Airport will no longer have credit cards issued by the board after it was revealed that three employees racked up ...
Auditors 'appalled' by spending Kentucky.com
6 top airport officials won't be issued credit cards after racking ... WHAS 11.com (subscription)
Council Asks Airport Chairman To Resign kypost.com
Jaunted - Kentucky.com
all 40 news articles


WSIL TV

Beshear Urges Workers To Apply For Tax Credit
MSNBC - Jan 6, 2009
Steve Beshear has begun a campaign to urge low- and middle-income Kentuckians to apply for a federal earned income tax credit. Beshear said the federal tax ...
Kentucky Tax Credit WSIL TV
Beshear touts federal income tax credit Kentucky.com
Beshear urges earned income credit application WFIE-TV
Business Lexington - WTVQ
all 62 news articles


GM To Expand Credit Union Discounts Nationwide
CNNMoney.com - 1 hour ago
The automaker and the nation's credit unions are expanding a program launched last month in the Midwest designed to encourage car buyers to seek alternate ...
Chrysler LLC Launches Nationwide Participation in Michigan Credit ... PR Newswire (press release)
all 9 news articles

Credit - Google News

Good Credit Loans | home | site map | School Bus Clothing | Florida Pool Heating
© 2006