Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
§ 606. Disclosure of investigative consumer reports [15 U.S.C. § 1681d]
(a) Disclosure of fact of preparation. A person may not procure or cause to be prepared an
investigative consumer report on any consumer unless
(1) it is clearly and accurately disclosed to the consumer that an investigative
consumer report including information as to his character, general reputation,
personal characteristics and mode of living, whichever are applicable, may be
made, and such disclosure
(A) is made in a writing mailed, or otherwise delivered, to the consumer, not
later than three days after the date on which the report was first requested,
and
(B) includes a statement informing the consumer of his right to request the
additional disclosures provided for under subsection (b) of this section and
the written summary of the rights of the consumer prepared pursuant to
section 609(c) [§ 1681g]; and
(2) the person certifies or has certified to the consumer reporting agency that
(A) the person has made the disclosures to the consumer required by paragraph
(1); and
(B) the person will comply with subsection (b).
(b) Disclosure on request of nature and scope of investigation. Any person who procures
or causes to be prepared an investigative consumer report on any consumer shall,
upon written request made by the consumer within a reasonable period of time after
the receipt by him of the disclosure required by subsection (a)(1) of this section,
make a complete and accurate disclosure of the nature and scope of the investigation
requested. This disclosure shall be made in a writing mailed, or otherwise delivered,
to the consumer not later than five days after the date on which the request for such
disclosure was received from the consumer or such report was first requested,
whichever is the later.
(c) Limitation on liability upon showing of reasonable procedures for compliance with
provisions. No person may be held liable for any violation of subsection (a) or (b) of
this section if he shows by a preponderance of the evidence that at the time of the
violation he maintained reasonable procedures to assure compliance with subsection
(a) or (b) of this section.
(d) Prohibitions
(1) Certification. A consumer reporting agency shall not prepare or furnish
investigative consumer report unless the agency has received a certification under
subsection (a)(2) from the person who requested the report.
(2) Inquiries. A consumer reporting agency shall not make an inquiry for the purpose
of preparing an investigative consumer report on a consumer for employment
purposes if the making of the inquiry by an employer or prospective employer of
the consumer would violate any applicable Federal or State equal employment
opportunity law or regulation.
(3) Certain public record information. Except as otherwise provided in section 613
[§ 1681k], a consumer reporting agency shall not furnish an investigative consumer
report that includes information that is a matter of public record and that
relates to an arrest, indictment, conviction, civil judicial action, tax lien, or outstanding
judgment, unless the agency has verified the accuracy of the information
during the 30-day period ending on the date on which the report is furnished.
(4) Certain adverse information. A consumer reporting agency shall not prepare or
furnish an investigative consumer report on a consumer that contains information
that is adverse to the interest of the consumer and that is obtained through a
personal interview with a neighbor, friend, or associate of the consumer or with
another person with whom the consumer is acquainted or who has knowledge of
such item of information, unless
(A) the agency has followed reasonable procedures to obtain confirmation of
the information, from an additional source that has independent and direct
knowledge of the information; or
(B) the person interviewed is the best possible source of the information.
