If the completeness or accuracy of any item of information contained in his file is
disputed by a consumer, and such dispute is directly conveyed to the consumer reporting
agency by the consumer, the consumer reporting agency shall within a reasona ble period of
time re investigate and record the current status of that information unless it has
reasonable grounds to believe that the dispute by the consumer is frivolous or irrelevant.
If after such reinvestigation such information is found to be ina ccurate or can no longer
be verified, the consumer reporting agency shall promptly delete such information. The
presence of contradictory information in the consumer's file does not in and of itself
constitute reasonable grounds for believing the dispute is frivolous or irrelevant.
Reinvestigations of Disputed Information:
Reinvestigation required:
In general: If the completeness or accuracy of any item of
information contained in a consumer's file at a consumer reporting agency is disputed by
the consumer and the consumer notifies the agency directly of such dispute, the agency
shall reinvestigate free of charge and record the current status of the disputed
information, or delete the item from the file in accordance with paragraph (5), before the
end of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the agency receives the notice of
the dispute from the consumer.
Extension of period to reinvestigate: Except as provided in
subparagraph (C), the 30-day period described in subparagraph (A) may be extended for not
more than IS additional days if the consumer reporting agency receives information from
the consumer during that 30-day period that is relevant to the reinvestigation.
Limitations on extension of period to reinvestigate:
Subparagraph (B) shall not apply to any reinvestigation in which, during the 30-day period
described in subparagraph (A), the information that is the subject of the reinvestigation
is found to be inaccurate or incomplete or the consumer reporting agency determines that
the information cannot be verified.
Prompt notice of dispute to furnisher of information:
In general: Before the expiration of the S-business-day period
beginning on the da on which a consumer reporting agency receives notice of a dispute from
any consumer in accordance with paragraph (1), the agency shall provide notification of
the dispute t any person who provided any item of information in dispute, at the address
and in the manner established with the person. The notice shall include all relevant
information regarding the dispute that the agency has received from the consumer.
Provision of other information from consumer: The consumer
reporting agency shall promptly provide to the person who provided the information in
dispute all relevant information regarding the dispute that is received by the agency from
the consumer after the period referred to in subparagraph (A) and before the end of the
period referred to in paragraph (1)(A).
Determination that dispute is frivolous or irrelevant:
In general: Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a consumer reporting
agency may terminate a reinvestigation of information disputed by a consumer under that
paragraph if the agency reasonably determines that the dispute by the consumer is
frivolous or irrelevant, including by reason of a failure by a consumer to provide
sufficient information to investigate the disputed information.
Notice of determination: Upon making any determination in
accordance with subparagraph (A) that a dispute is frivolous or irrelevant, a consumer
reporting agency shall notify the consumer of such determination not later than 5 business
days after making such determination, by mail or, if authorized by the consumer for that
purpose, by any other means available to the agency.
Contents of notice: A notice under subparagraph (B) shall
include-