UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT

NOTICE TO DEBTORS RE: CREDIT REPORT

Bankruptcy courts do not report or provide information to any consumer reporting agencies. Bankruptcy filings are public records open to examination by law with few exceptions. See 11 U.S.C. § 107; Fed. R. Bankr. P. 5003, 9037. The bankruptcy court is also not responsible for verifying or validating information in consumers’ credit reports. See also Bankruptcy Case Records & Credit Reporting page on the U.S. Courts website (https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-case-records-credit-reporting).

Generally, the Bankruptcy Court does not control the actions of the credit reporting agencies (CRAs). The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) (See 15 U.S.C. Section 1681 et seq.) is the law that controls CRAs. The law requires that "consumer reporting agencies adopt reasonable procedures for meeting the needs of commerce for consumer credit, personnel, insurance, and other information in a manner which is fair and equitable to the consumer, with regard to the confidentiality, accuracy, relevancy, and proper utilization of such information in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter." (See 15 U.S.C. Section 1681). FCRA authorizes the Federal Trade Commission to enforce the requirements of the Act with respect to consumer reporting agencies. (See 15 U.S.C. Section 1681s). 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) provide information to the public on their websites about disputing information on credit reports.

• FTC’s toll-free number is 877-FTC-HELP (382-4357)
• CFPB’s toll-free number is 855-411-2372.

If consumers have questions about contacting CRAs or have problems gaining cooperation from CRAs, a consumer may contact the Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection in Washington, D.C. by calling (202) 326-2222 or online at www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection.

For additional resources for consumers, the Federal Trade Commission has a Consumer Information page available at: www.consumer.ftc.gov.