[Administrator]

You can thanks Deborah Platt-Majoras for looking out for you. It has been her pleasure given her role as FTC Head under the Bush regime. Now she can go back to her job at Jones, Day - Experian's legal counsel
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Price Ceiling for Consumer Reports Increases
January 5, 2009

As required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Federal Trade Commission has adjusted the ceiling on allowable charges for consumer reports to $11.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has increased the ceiling on allowable charges for consumer reports from $10.50 to $11. The change became effective Jan. 1, 2009. Under 1996 amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the FTC is required to revise the ceiling each year based on changes in the Consumer Price Index.

The FTC reminded consumers this charge does not apply to a consumer's request for free annual disclosures, which are required under Section 612(a)(1)(A) of the FCRA. Under federal law, consumers are entitled to a free copy of their consumer report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting agencies once every 12 months. The charge for a consumer report only applies when a consumer who has received a free annual consumer report does not otherwise qualify for an additional free disclosure.

A consumer is also entitled to a free report if a company takes adverse action against her (such as a denial of an application for credit, insurance or employment) and the consumer requests a report within 60 days of receiving notice of the action. Additionally, consumers are entitled to one free report a year if they are unemployed and plan to seek employment within 60 days; they are on public assistance; or their report is inaccurate because of fraud, such as identity theft.
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David Szwak
Chairman, Consumer Protection Section, Louisiana State Bar Association
Bodenheimer, Jones & Szwak, LLC
416 Travis Street, Suite 1404
Mid South Tower
Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
318-424-1400
Fax 318-221-6555