Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA)
An entity that assembles consumer information into reports used for credit, employment, housing, or insurance decisions, regulated under the FCRA.
Full definition
A consumer reporting agency (CRA) is an entity that regularly assembles or evaluates consumer information into consumer reports for the purposes covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The nationwide credit bureaus are CRAs, and some background-screening providers may also qualify depending on their practices and report uses. FCRA can provide file-access, dispute, and use-related rights, but a provider's marketing label or disclaimer does not alone settle whether the statute applies.
Related terms
Credit Header Data
A term for identifying fields associated with a credit file, such as names, addresses, and other identifiers; FCRA treatment depends on the report, purpose, provider, and applicable law.
Data Broker
A company that collects personal information about consumers and sells, licenses, or shares that information with third parties.
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