Consumer Resources

Summary of Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law designed to ensure the accuracy, privacy, and fairness of the information held by consumer reporting agencies. It gives you the right to access and review your personal information, dispute any inaccuracies, and limit unwanted credit offers. The FCRA also provides protections against identity theft, allows you to place fraud alerts or security freezes on your credit, and ensures that outdated negative information is not reported. If your rights under the FCRA are violated, you have the ability to seek legal recourse.

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Summary of Rights For Victims of Identity Theft

If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) provides important rights to help you recover. These include the ability to place fraud alerts on your credit file, access free copies of your credit report, request information about fraudulent transactions, and ask consumer reporting agencies to block identity theft-related information from your file. You can also prevent businesses from reporting such information and place a security freeze on your credit to prevent unauthorized access. For more details on your rights and steps to take, visit www.consumerfinance.gov/learnmore.

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New York Correction Law

New York Correction Law Article 23-A protects individuals with criminal convictions from unfair discrimination when applying for jobs or licenses. This law ensures that a person cannot be denied employment or a license just because of a past conviction, unless there is a direct link between the offense and the job, or if granting the license or employment would pose a risk to safety or property. When employers or agencies consider someone’s criminal history, they must look at factors like how long ago the offense occurred, the person’s age at the time, the seriousness of the offense, and any efforts made toward rehabilitation. If you are denied a job or license because of a past conviction, you can request a written explanation of the reasons within 30 days. If you feel you’ve been unfairly treated, you can take action through legal or human rights channels. You can read the full version of this document here.