On September 12, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an interim final rule which provided a model Summary of Rights form, a form that both consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) and employers doing background checks use for compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. CRAs and employers are required to implement revisions to the form by September 21, 2018. 

In May of this year, Congress passed the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act, which, among other changes, amended the Fair Credit Reporting Act to require new language to be added to the FCRA Summary of Rights form, published as Appendix K to Regulation V, regarding a consumer's right to obtain a security freeze. As we previously reported, both consumer reporting agencies and users of consumer reports should take action to update their Summary of Rights forms prior to the September 21 effective date.

Users of consumer reports are required to provide the FCRA Summary of Rights form prior to taking any employment adverse action based upon the use of a consumer report. Consumer reporting agencies are required to provide the form at various times, including, for example, to consumers when making a file disclosure pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1681g(c)(2). 

The CFPB has stated that it will deem users of consumer reports and CRAs as being in compliance by using the new form by the September 21 effective date, or by providing a separate statement along with the prior version of the official form that includes the new security freeze disclosure.

The CFPB will accept comments on the interim final rule for a period of 60 days after the date the rule is published in the Federal Register.

Troutman Sanders will continue to monitor important developments involving the CFPB and FCRA and will provide updates accordingly.

The Troutman Sanders' Consumer Financial Services Law Monitor blog offers timely updates regarding the financial services industry to inform you of recent changes in the law, upcoming regulatory deadlines and significant judicial opinions that may impact your business. To view the blog, click here

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