General information:

The federal government agency that oversees the credit reporting agencies is the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It has developed several informative brochures on credit-related topics. If you have a complaint about a credit bureau, you may report to the FTC online, by mail, or by calling the toll-free number.

Federal Trade Commission Consumer Response Center 600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20580

(877) FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)  TDD (202) 326-2502  www.ftc.gov

The San Francisco-based nonprofit organization Consumer Action provides numerous brochures in several languages on credit-related topics. This organization also maintains a hotline and provides advice and referrals on a variety of consumer problems.

Consumer Action 717 Market St., Suite 310 San Francisco, CA 94103

(213) 624-8327 (English, Spanish, and Chinese) Email: hotline@consumer-action.org www.consumer-action.org

The three credit bureaus are also a source of information. See their addresses and websites above. See also their trade organization, the CDIA The Consumer Data Industry Association, www.cdiaonline.org.

Credit reporting laws:

• California Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act: California Civil Code section 1785 et seq. See www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html

• California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act: California Civil Code section 1786 et seq. See www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html
  
• Federal law -- Fair Credit Reporting Act: 15 USC 1681 et seq. For the full text of the FCRA, see www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/fcra/index.html

• Federal Trade Commission, see above
• U. S. Comptroller of the Currency (800) 613-6743 www.occ.treas.gov
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (202) 393-8400 www.fdic.gov
• Federal Reserve Board (202) 452-3693 www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/complaints
• California Department of Consumer Affairs, (800) 344-9940, www.dca.ca.gov

• U.S. Public Interest Research Group (USPIRG) www.pirg.org/consumer/credit/index.htm
• California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) www.calpirg.org
• Consumers� Union www.consumersunion.org
• Consumer Action (see above)

These questions and answers are provided for IowaMotors.com users' general information. Although we make every effort to insure accuracy in the information provided, we cannot make any guarantees as to this accuracy. We urge you to consult your lawyer, accountant or tax advisor for specific legal or tax advice.