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Legal Services Offices
Statewide Legal Services - Entry point for the legal services network
in Connecticut. 860-344-0380 Central CT area or 1-800-453-3320.
Other Legal Services Programs:
Consumer Law Project for Elders-Provides free legal assistance to seniors 60
and over throughout CT who have consumer questions or problems.1-800-296-1467. Questions & Answers about:
Hartford, Hartford County:
Greater Hartford Legal Aid
999 Asylum Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
Throughout Connecticut:
Connecticut Legal Services:
Offices:
Credit Reports
211 State Street
(860) 541-5000 Bridgeport, CT 06604
(203) 336-3851
Greater New Haven Area:
New Haven Legal Assistance 16 Main Street
Association, Inc. New Britain, CT 06051
426 State Street (860) 225-8678
New Haven, CT 06510 153 Williams Street
(203) 946-4811 New London, CT 06320
(860) 447-0323 CREDIT
20 Summer Street
REPORTS
Stamford, CT 06901
(203) 348-9216
85 Central Avenue
This pamphlet was produced by Waterbury, CT 06702
the Legal Assistance Resource
(203) 756-8074
Center of CT in cooperation with
Connecticut Legal Services, 872 Main Street
Greater Hartford Legal Aid, New Willimantic, CT 06226
Haven Legal Assistance (860) 456-1761
Association, and Statewide Legal
Services.
AIDS Legal Network for CT
The information in this pamphlet 999 Asylum Avenue
is based on the laws in CT as of Hartford, CT 06105
Feb. 2010. We hope that the (860) 541-5027 or 1-888-380-3646
information is helpful. It is not
intended as legal advice for an Visit us on the internet:
individual situation. If you need www.slsct.org
further help and have not done so www.ghla.org
already, please call Statewide www.nhlegal.org
Legal Services (see above) or www.connlegalservices.org
contact an attorney. www.larcc.org
Copyright: February 2010
Credit Reports ● your payment record (for example late or no payments to utility
companies, hospitals, landlords, credit card companies, etc.)
A credit report has a lot of information about ● whether you have been sued, filed for bankruptcy, been
consumers. When you apply for a job, a loan, an Credit Report arrested, and more.
insurance policy or an apartment, the business or
landlord will often want to have some credit information about What information cannot be in my credit report?
you. Your credit information (or history) is written in a report
Credit bureaus cannot report old credit information. For
called a credit report or consumer report. These reports are kept
example, negative information such as debts, lawsuits, judgments,
by a consumer reporting agencies (also called credit bureaus).
or other actions against you can only stay on for 7 years. A
There are federal and state laws which give you rights. These bankruptcy can stay on your report for 10 years (except Chapter 13
laws protect you against a credit bureau giving out wrong or old bankruptcy which can only stay on for 7 years).
information. They also require that credit reports are given only to
Medical information cannot be in the report unless you agree.
those which have a “legitimate business need” (see pages 4 & 5).
Your age, marital status or race cannot be given to a current or
Under these laws, you can:
possible employer. Information about arrests, charges, or
● get a copy of your credit report,
convictions that have been erased cannot be on your report. But,
● know who gets a copy of your report,
there is no time limit for reporting information about criminal
● disagree with wrong information and try to get it corrected,
convictions. (See our pamphlet, Is Your Criminal Record Keeping
● explain negative information in the report,
You from Working?)
● complain to the appropriate government agency.
How do I get a copy of my report?
Do credit bureaus have reports on everyone?
You can get a free copy of your credit report once every 12
Credit bureaus have reports on almost everyone. You probably months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting
have a credit report if you have ever had applied for a credit or companies (credit bureaus). The companies are Equifax, Experian
charge account, a life insurance policy, a personal loan, or even for and TransUnion. Do not contact these companies individually.
some jobs.
To order your free annual credit report,
■ Call toll-free: 1-877-322-8228
What information is in my credit report? ■ Visit on the web: www.annualcreditreport.com. Important:
Your credit report has more than credit history information. It This is the only authorized website to order online. Be very careful
will probably have information about: of other websites claiming to offer “free credit reports or scores”.
● your income and jobs held; ■ Mail your completed Annual Credit Report Request Form to:
● your social security number and birth date; Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281,
● your current and former addresses and phone numbers; Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
● money you have owed and money you now owe; You can get the form on the website or by calling the number
above.
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In addition, there are other reasons you can get a free credit (2) Fraud; that is when someone has purposely used your
report, including personal information to get credit in your name.
● you have been denied credit, insurance or a job (you must ask If you don’t agree with some of the information in your credit
for it within 60 days after you get something in writing saying report, you should tell the credit bureau in writing. The credit
you were denied credit, insurance or the job); bureau must then:
● you write a letter saying you are on welfare/public benefits; or ● give you a toll-free number so you can call again without cost,
● you are not working and will be applying for a job within the ● write a letter to the creditor which gave the information you
next 60 days, or think is wrong to tell them there is a disagreement,
● you believe your report is wrong because of fraud. ● re-investigate the information without charge to you, and
● report the results of the investigation to you within 30
In these cases, contact the individual companies: business days (subject to one 15-day extension if you provide
Experian: 1-888-397-3742 new information).
Equifax: 1-800-685-1111
TransUnion: 1-800-888-4213 After the new investigation, the bureau must quickly remove
The information you need to give each company may be from your file any information which is not correct or cannot be
different, so call first to find out what you need to send and where proven.
to send it. (See next page). If you still do not agree with the information from the second
investigation, you can write a letter explaining your reasons why
What must the credit bureau tell me? the information is wrong. This letter must be put in your credit
Once you give proof of your identity, the credit bureau must then: report.
● tell you the kind of information that is in your file
Note: If you ask, the credit bureau must send the changed credit
report to any creditor who asked for a report in the past year if:
● give you a written summary of your rights
● tell you where the information came from except when the
● information has been removed from your file at your request,
report is an “Investigative Consumer Report.” (See page 5) or
● you have not been able to get the credit bureau to correct
● tell you the names of businesses or creditors who have
your file and you have sent the letter explaining how you
been given copies of your credit report recently
disagree with what is in the file.
What can I do if there are errors in my credit report?
Who can get a copy of my credit report?
Many credit reports have errors and you have the right to have
The credit bureau may only give a credit report if the person
errors changed. There are two main reasons for errors:
asking for the report has a “legitimate business need” including:
(1)You are mistaken for another person with a similar name
● those considering giving you credit;
and their information is on your record, and
● landlords;
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● insurance companies; Federal Trade Commission
● employers and potential employers (but only with your consent); Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A
● child support enforcement agencies. 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20580
What can I do if I think I was denied credit, Phone: 1-877-382-4357 (1-877-FTC-Help)
insurance or a job because of my credit report? If a credit bureau has broken the law, you also have the right to
If you think that you have been denied credit, insurance or a job sue the bureau. If you win, you may collect any money you have
based even in part on your credit report, the user of the report lost plus attorney’s fees and court costs.
must tell you the name and address of the credit bureau.
You have a right to a free copy of your credit report if you ask
for it within 60 days of being turned down. The credit bureau can CONSUMER TIPS:
tell you what is in your report, but only the creditor or user of the
report can tell you why you were denied. ✔ Order your FREE credit report once a year and check it for
errors. Call toll-free: 1-877-322-8228 or visit on the web:
www.annualcreditreport.com. Important: This is the only
What is an investigative consumer report? authorized website to order online.
An investigative consumer report is a detailed report that has ✔ Check your report at least 1 to 2 months before it will be
information about your character, lifestyle and reputation. The used for important decisions such as applying for a car loan,
credit bureaus get this information from interviews with your renting an apartment, etc.
friends, neighbors or associates. You must be told when a
company asks for an investigative consumer report. ✔ Know your rights.
✔ Beware of credit repair services that say, “Credit problems?
No problem,” or “We can erase your bad credit,” etc. Don’t
What can I do if a credit bureau has broken the law? believe these statements.
You can file a complaint with the state and federal agencies that
✔ Call Statewide Legal Services (1-800-453-3320 or 860-344-
enforce the credit reporting laws. Write/contact:
0380). Or call the University of Connecticut, Cooperative
Director Extension Center, 305 Skiff Street, North Haven, CT 06473.
Connecticut Department of Banking 203-407-3161.
Government Relations & Consumer Affairs
✔ Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC is a
260 Constitution Plaza part of the federal government and has free information to help
Hartford, CT 06103-1800 consumers spot, stop and avoid fraudulent, deceptive and unfair
Phone: 860-240-8299 or 1-800-831-7225 business practices. Visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free 1-877-
FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.
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