Newsroom

June 09, 2023

Appeals court sides with FI in FCRA dispute

Govt building columnsThe U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit sided with Chase Bank in a Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) lawsuit, determining the bank upheld its requirements under the law to conduct a “reasonable” investigation into the plaintiff’s dispute of inaccurate information furnished to the credit reporting agencies (CRAs). NAFCU and several other organizations filed an amicus brief in support of Chase.

The amicus brief argued that the FCRA requires furnishers and CRAs to investigate factual inaccuracies, not legal disputes, but the court did not address that point in its final decision. There is another lawsuit concerning this issue that is still outstanding; NAFCU and other organizations filed a similar amicus brief in that case.

In these lawsuits, the CFPB has filed amicus briefs in support of the plaintiffs, arguing that data furnishers and CRAs should investigate legal disputes in addition to factual disputes. The bureau is currently considering whether to amend Regulation V, which imposes legal duties on consumer reporting agencies, data furnishers, and users of consumer reports, and furnishers of information to consumer reporting agencies.

NAFCU will continue to monitor FCRA regulations and litigation and share updates with credit union members.