In these consolidated cases, seven plaintiffs claimed their consumer debts were not owned by the creditors listed on their credit reports and requested that the credit reporting agencies investigate their claims. Credit reporting agencies verified debt ownership with creditors and debtors were informed. Plaintiffs felt the investigations by the credit reporting agencies were inadequate and sued under 15 U.S.C. §1681i of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. In all cases, district courts either dismissed claims or granted judgment on the pleadings to the creditors. The consolidated case (Chuluunbat v. Experian Info. Sols., Inc., 4 F.4th 562 (7th Cir. 2021)) was heard in the 7th Circuit before Circuit Judges – Wood, Brennan, and St. Eve.

According to Circuit Judge Brennan, ”We are tasked in this FCRA context with discerning the sometimes-murky boundary between ‘law’ and ‘fact.'” The Court held that consumer reporting agencies are “competent to make factual determinations, but they do not reach legal conclusions like courts and other tribunals do.” The types of factual inaccuracies that could be investigated include “the amount a consumer owes, and what day a consumer opened an account or incurred a payment.” The Court ruled that the alleged inaccuracies in the present case required interpreting legal rights to a debt and making legal judgment, which is a task of the courts, not the credit reporting agencies.

This is being sent for informational purposes only, but thought you might find it of interest in the event that this issue arises in one of your business transactions.

If you have any other questions or comments, please do not hesitate to call.

Thanks,
Pat

 

William “Pat” Huttenbach | Shareholder | Banking Litigation
Crain Caton & James | Attorneys & Counselors
Five Houston Center | 1401 McKinney St., Suite 1700
Houston, TX 77010
Direct: 713.752.8616 | Fax: 713.658.1921
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No information in this communication is intended to constitute specific legal advice.  For specific legal advice, please contact an attorney, and if you have any such questions or would like more information about this issue, please contact William “Pat” Huttenbach at (713).752.8616, or email at [email protected].