--- kind: "section" citation: "15 U.S.C. § 1679c" title: "15" title_heading: "Commerce and Trade" number: "1679c" heading: "Disclosures" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/1679c" units: - "Chapter 41 — Consumer Credit Protection" - "Subchapter II–A — Credit Repair Organizations" --- # §1679c. Disclosures (a) Disclosure required Any [credit repair organization](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=3) shall provide any [consumer](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=1) with the following written statement before any contract or [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) between the [consumer](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=1) and the [credit repair organization](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=3) is executed: “[Consumer](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=1) [Credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) File Rights Under [State](/usc/15/1602.md?p=s) and Federal Law “You have a right to dispute inaccurate information in your [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) report by contacting the [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) [bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) directly. However, neither you nor any ‘[credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) repair’ company or [credit repair organization](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=3) has the right to have accurate, current, and verifiable information removed from your [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) report. The [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) [bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) must remove accurate, negative information from your report only if it is over 7 years old. Bankruptcy information can be reported for 10 years. “You have a right to obtain a copy of your [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) report from a [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) [bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b). You may be charged a reasonable fee. There is no fee, however, if you have been turned down for [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4), employment, insurance, or a rental [dwelling](/usc/15/1602.md?p=w) because of information in your [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) report within the preceding 60 days. The [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) [bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) must provide someone to help you interpret the information in your [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) file. You are entitled to receive a free copy of your [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) report if you are unemployed and intend to apply for employment in the next 60 days, if you are a recipient of public welfare assistance, or if you have reason to believe that there is inaccurate information in your [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) report due to fraud. “You have a right to sue a [credit repair organization](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=3) that violates the Credit Repair Organization Act. This law prohibits deceptive practices by [credit repair organizations](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=3). “You have the right to cancel your contract with any [credit repair organization](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=3) for any reason within 3 business days from the date you signed it. “[Credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) [bureaus](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) are required to follow reasonable procedures to ensure that the information they report is accurate. However, mistakes may occur. “You may, on your own, notify a [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) [bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) in writing that you dispute the accuracy of information in your [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) file. The [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) [bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) must then reinvestigate and modify or remove inaccurate or incomplete information. The [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) [bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) may not charge any fee for this service. Any pertinent information and copies of all documents you have concerning an error should be given to the [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) [bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b). “If the [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) [bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b)’s reinvestigation does not resolve the dispute to your satisfaction, you may send a brief statement to the [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) [bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b), to be kept in your file, explaining why you think the record is inaccurate. The [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) [bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) must include a summary of your statement about disputed information with any report it issues about you. “The Federal Trade [Commission](/usc/15/1602.md?p=dd-1) regulates [credit](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=4) [bureaus](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) and [credit repair organizations](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=3). For more information contact: “The Public Reference Branch “Federal Trade [Commission](/usc/15/1602.md?p=dd-1) “Washington, D.C. 20580”. (b) Separate statement requirement The written statement required under this section shall be provided as a document which is separate from any written contract or other [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) between the [credit repair organization](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=3) and the [consumer](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=1) or any other written material provided to the [consumer](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=1). (c) Retention of compliance records (1) In general The [credit repair organization](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=3) shall maintain a copy of the statement signed by the [consumer](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=1) acknowledging receipt of the statement. (2) Maintenance for 2 years The copy of any [consumer](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=1)’s statement shall be maintained in the [organization](/usc/15/1602.md?p=d)’s files for 2 years after the date on which the statement is signed by the [consumer](/usc/15/1679a.md?p=1). ## Source credit (Pub. L. 90–321, title IV, § 405, as added Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title II, § 2451, Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–457.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### References in Text The Credit Repair Organization Act, referred to in subsec. (a), probably means the Credit Repair Organizations Act, Pub. L. 90–321, title IV, as added Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title II, § 2451, Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–454, which is classified generally to this subchapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1601 of this title and Tables. ### Prior Provisions For a prior section 405 of Pub. L. 90–321, see note set out under section 1679 of this title. ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Effective Date Section applicable after the end of the 6-month period beginning on Sept. 30, 1996, except with respect to contracts entered into by a credit repair organization before the end of such period, see section 413 of Pub. L. 90–321, as added by Pub. L. 104–208, set out as a note under section 1679 of this title.