The CFPB recently released a “Special Edition” of its Supervisory Highlights that focuses exclusively on data accuracy issues in consumer credit reporting and the handling and resolution of consumer disputes. The report describes the observations of CFPB examiners during examinations of both consumer reporting agencies and the creditors and other companies that furnish information to consumer reporting agencies.

The CFPB acknowledges that consumer reporting agencies have made significant advances in promoting the accuracy of data reported to them by overseeing data furnishers and enhancing the dispute resolution process, but the CFPB believes that continued improvements are still necessary in these areas. In their examinations of furnishers, the CFPB examiners found “CMS weaknesses and numerous violations of the FCRA and Regulation V that required corrective action by furnisher(s).”

The CFPB’s “supervisory observations” include the following:

• Data governance. CFPB examiners found that one or more consumer reporting agencies had decentralized data governance functions and undefined data governance responsibilities, a lack of quality control policies and procedures, and inconsistent practices for vetting furnishers and providing data quality feedback to them. CFPB examiners also found that one or more furnishers had weaknesses in its compliance management system, including weak oversight by management over data furnishing practices and no formal data governance program.
• Reinvestigation of disputes. CFPB examiners found that one or more consumer reporting agencies did not comply with its obligation to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation when consumers dispute the completeness or accuracy of items in their consumer files. CFPB examiners also found that one or more consumer reporting agencies did not review and consider certain categories of documentary evidence in support of a dispute submitted by consumers. Furthermore, CFPB examiners found that one or more furnishers’ policies and procedures failed to promote reasonable investigations of disputes.
• Required dispute notices. One or more consumer reporting agencies examined by the CFPB failed to provide notification of a consumer dispute within five business days to the furnisher who provided the information because the furnishers’ contact information was no longer valid at the time of the consumer’s dispute. CFPB examiners also found that one or more consumer reporting agencies sent dispute notices to consumers that failed to clearly articulate the results of the dispute investigation as required by the FCRA. In cases where furnishers decided to not investigate disputed information, the CFPB found that one or more furnishers failed to provide consumers with proper notice of a reasonable determination that a dispute was frivolous or irrelevant.
• Quality control. One or more furnishers examined by the CFPB failed to perform quality checks on the data furnished to consumer reporting agencies, failed to conduct ongoing periodic evaluations or audits of furnishing practices, and failed to conduct audits of disputed information to identify and correct root causes of any inaccurate furnishing.
• Data accuracy requirements. CFPB examiners found that one or more furnishers provided consumer information to consumer reporting agencies while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the information was inaccurate, including information that consumers were delinquent, had no payment history, or had an unpaid charged-off balance when they had settled the account in full.

The report indicates that the consumer reporting market is a “high priority” for the CFPB. Notably, the report states that the CFPB has “targeted substantial resources” to improving the accuracy of consumer information and will continue to do so.