Your Rights 8 min read

Your Rights Under the FCRA & CROA

The two federal laws every consumer should understand before disputing a single item on their report.

Two federal laws protect you during the credit repair process. Knowing them changes everything.

THE FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT (FCRA)

The FCRA governs how credit bureaus collect and report your information. Key rights:

You can dispute any item you believe is inaccurate.

Bureaus must investigate disputes, typically within 30 days.

Unverifiable information must be removed.

You are entitled to free annual reports.

Most negative items must drop off after 7 years (10 for bankruptcy).

THE CREDIT REPAIR ORGANIZATIONS ACT (CROA)

CROA protects you from dishonest credit repair companies. It requires that any paid credit repair service:

Provide a written contract and a clear statement of your rights.

Give you a 3-day right to cancel, no questions asked.

NEVER charge you before services are performed.

NEVER promise to remove accurate information or guarantee results.

WHY THIS MATTERS FOR YOU

If a company asks for a large upfront fee and guarantees a score jump, that is a red flag under CROA. Credit Comando is a self-service education and tooling platform: you do the disputes, we give you the knowledge and drafts.

This article is educational and not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.

This guide is educational and not legal advice. Credit Comando is not a law firm or credit repair organization. You can dispute items on your own credit report for free.