{"id":4673,"date":"2013-11-13T08:00:30","date_gmt":"2013-11-13T14:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.netcredit.com\/?p=4673"},"modified":"2025-10-22T12:31:28","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T17:31:28","slug":"what-are-consumer-reporting-agencies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.netcredit.com\/blog\/what-are-consumer-reporting-agencies\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Consumer Reporting Agencies?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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When it comes to analyzing your credit score, the terminology and number of resources at your disposal can make it all seem truly overwhelming. One of the terms that could cause confusion is consumer reporting agencies.<\/p>\n

What are consumer reporting agencies?<\/h2>\n

Simply put, consumer reporting agencies are the forces behind credit reports. Among other things, credit reports contain information on how you pay your bills and where you\u2019ve worked, and consumer reporting agencies compile these reports and sell them to creditors, employers and insurers. The most common type of consumer reporting agency is the credit bureau.<\/p>\n

Because of the impact that credit records and ratings have on the lives of U.S. citizens, the federal government has passed laws to govern CRA behavior and responsibilities, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA). These regulations have resulted in many restrictions on how credit reporting agencies and creditors may operate, including giving consumers access to a free annual credit report.<\/p>\n

What are some examples of consumer reporting agencies?<\/h2>\n

The three biggest consumer reporting agencies have become household names over the last several years, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Although they\u2019re often mentioned in the same breath, they each offer different services and reporting features.<\/p>\n