Credit Reporting Facts
that may surprise you

Most consumers are unaware of how widespread errors in their credit reports really are. These mistakes can have serious consequences — from higher interest rates to lost job opportunities. Below are eye-opening statistics about the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and how violations affect Americans every day. If you’ve experienced problems with your report, you may have legal rights and remedies available — starting with our Free Case Review.

FREE Case Review

25% of Credit Reports Have Serious Errors

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Did you know that nearly 1 in 4 credit reports contains a serious error? Are you one of them? Even a single inaccuracy can raise your borrowing costs and block opportunities — whether you’re trying to buy a home, start a business, or land a job. Protecting your credit report isn’t just important — it’s essential.

Form Letters Instead of Fixes

A woman reading credit bureau's response form letter that doesn't address the issue she raised.

A report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) found that credit bureaus often failed to meaningfully respond to consumer complaints. Instead of addressing issues, many consumers received generic form letters — responses that were frequently irrelevant to the problems reported.

Credit Bureaus Touch the Lives of Nearly Every American

The ‘Big Three’ credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — maintain more than 1.6 billion credit accounts covering over 200 million adults every month. Every single day, millions of new consumer reports are generated for applications involving credit, insurance, and employment

Credit Reporting Tops

CFPB Complaint List

A frustrated man calls to complain about problems with credit report and credit bureaus.

In 2024, consumer credit and reporting problems were the leading source of complaints to the CFPB — making up a staggering 85% of all issues reported. See CFPB Report.

Your Credit Data is Bought & Sold

The credit reporting industry is a multi-billion-dollar, for-profit business. Its revenue comes from selling your personal credit data to lenders, insurers, and employers — the very entities making decisions that directly affect your financial future and your family’s well-being."

Your Best Watchdog is YOU

A man reviewing his credit report online to check for any errors.

You can obtain a FREE copy of your credit report as often as every week from the Big Three (Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax). Credit monitoring services aren’t necessary — and we don’t recommend them. Many contain fine print that may limit your legal rights (including your right to sue under the FCRA), and they only alert you after damage is done. The truth is, no one knows what belongs on your report better than you. Here is a cheat-sheet we designed to help you protect your credit file. Reviewing your own report regularly is the best protection — and we provide simple, step-by-step instructions on our site to help you do it quickly and easily.

Credit Reporting Facts that may surprise you

Credit Reporting Facts
that may surprise you