California Fair Credit Reporting Act

The state of California has enacted a few, very small, additional requirements for credit reporting agencies reporting on its citizens in California regarding arrests and convictions. These are in addition to the Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA").

Specifically, if you have been arrested or indicted, that information must be removed after seven years. However, arrest and indictments that did not result in a conviction must be removed immediately. The same applies if there was a pardon. See California Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act  (CA Civil Code 1785.13.6)

Therefore, if you were arrested and indicted, the information will stay on your credit report and until it is determined did there was no conviction.

This makes the law in California very similar to the states of New Jersey and Oregon. However, many of those other states create an exception to this rule if the job that you are applying for has a salary of $20,000 or higher and in the state of New York the exclusion includes those people who are applying to work in the financial industry, as well.

For those people in California with inaccuracies on their credit report Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act is the set of laws that govern.

What does the FCRA do for Californians?

Briefly speaking, if you find something on your credit report that isn't accurate, disputing directly to the credit reporting agency is in your best interest. They have a responsibility to notify the creditor or furnisher of the that information. They must conduct a reasonable investigation, as does the credit reporting agencies.

At the end of these investigations you will be notified of results of the credit reporting agency that you originally originally disputed the information to. If after all of this your credit report still reflects inaccurate information, you may have a right sue under federal law for damages and to get a free attorney under the FCRA law. 

See our information of the Fair Credit Reporting Act in these states: (We are still building out each state's page)
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia,, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,