Cento Law, Court Cases, Credit Reporting Law, Law
Cento Law
Our recent oral argument before the Fifth ...
Our recent oral argument before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
CFPB, Enforcement, Law, Credit Errors, Dispute Process, e-Oscar, Investigations, Understanding the FCRA
Cento Law
CFPB Sues Experian

On January 7, 2025, the CFPB filed a lawsuit against Experian alleging that Experian violated FCRA by failing to properly conduct reinvestigations of disputed information in consumer credit files; failing to delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverified information in consumer credit files; failing to provide adequate written notice to consumers of the results of its reinvestigations; failing to prevent the improper reinsertion of previously deleted information from consumer credit files; and failing to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the credit information Experian reports on consumers. In addition, the complaint alleges that Experian committed unfair acts or practices in violation of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 by (1) failing to convey consumers’ disputes to furnishers fully and accurately, and instead distorting, truncating, and mischaracterizing consumers’ disputes; (2) relying excessively on furnishers to resolve disputes, routinely doing nothing more than sending the dispute to a furnisher and implementing the furnisher’s response, despite having evidence of that furnisher’s unreliability; and (3) improperly reinserting tradelines into consumer credit reports due to its practice of failing to adequately match newly reported tradelines to tradelines that were previously deleted as a result of a dispute if the subsequent furnishing was from a new furnisher. The Bureau seeks, among other things, to bring Experian into compliance with the law, consumer redress, and the imposition of civil money penalties.

CFPB Sues Experian
Credit Reporting Law, Law, Cento Law, Understanding the FCRA
Cento Law
Understanding the FCRA: What Consumers Need to ...

Understanding the FCRA - Credit Reporting Law

Understanding the FCRA: What Consumers Need to Know About Credit Reporting Agencies
Credit Reporting Law, Credit Reporting History
Cento Law
Credit Bureaus Unveiled: The Power, ...
Credit Bureaus Unveiled: The Power, Consolidation, and Consumer Struggles from 1970 to Today
Credit Reporting Law, Cento Law
Cento Law
FCRA - The Fair Credit Reporting Act
FCRA - The Fair Credit Reporting Act

credit screening

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What is Opt-Out Prescreen?

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OptOutPrescreen.com is a free service run by the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis) that lets you stop receiving "prescreened" or "preapproved" credit card, loan, and insurance offers in the mail. These offers come from companies that buy lists of consumers from credit bureaus based on criteria like your credit score or payment history.​

How Prescreened Offers Work

Credit bureaus create lists of people who meet a company's requirements (e.g., credit score above 700), and those companies mail you "firm offers" they must honor if you apply—though they can still verify your credit later. Opting out prevents bureaus from selling your info for these lists, reducing junk mail without affecting your credit score (prescreen inquiries don't hurt scores).​

How to Opt Out

  • Online or phone (5 years): Visit OptOutPrescreen.com or call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688). Provide basic info like name, address, and last 4 SSN digits (optional but helps). Effective in 5 days, but existing mail may continue briefly.​

  • Permanent opt-out: Print and mail a form from the site (or request one by phone). No SSN needed; good for life unless you opt back in.​

You can opt back in anytime using the same site or number.​

What It Doesn't Stop

Opting out only blocks bureau-based prescreened offers—not mail from merchants, charities, or companies you already do business with. It also doesn't impact your ability to apply for credit normally.​