Published: October 2017

Consumers deserve more control over their credit reports

Consumer, civil rights and advocacy groups wrote to members of Congress to express opposition to the Credit Access and Inclusion Act (HR 435). This legislation, if enacted, would reduce consumers’ control over their own data by preempting state and federal privacy protections, damage the credit scores of millions of consumers with a disproportionate impact on African Americans, and conflict with long-standing state utility regulatory consumer protections.

During the various hearings on the Equifax data breach, members of Congress expressed significant concerns over the lack of control that consumers have over their own data with respect to the credit bureaus. These members also expressed a desire for consumers have more
control over their personal and financial information. Yet the Credit Access and Inclusion Act (HR 435) would actually reduce consumers’ control over their own information by preempting state and federal privacy protections for utility customers and tenants.

Lead Organization

National Consumer Law Center

Other Organizations

National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates | Center for Digital Democracy | Center for Economic Justice | Consumer Action | The Greenlining Institute | U.S. PIRG | Housing and Economic Rights Advocates | TURN—The Utility Reform Network | Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. | Georgia Watch | Woodstock Institute | Citizens Action Coalition | Kentucky Equal Justice Center | Massachusetts Low Income Energy Affordability Network | Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. | Community Service Society of New York | Empire Justice Center | Public Utility Law Project of New York | Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy | Pennsylvania Utility Law Project (on behalf of its low-income clients) | Texas Legal Services Center | Virginia Citizens Consumer Council

More Information

For more information, visit NASUCA's website.

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Consumers deserve more control over their credit reports   (Oppose_HR_435_HFSC_2017_letter.compressed.pdf)