If you've ever applied for a charge account, personal loan, insurance, or job, there's a file about you. This file contains information on where you work and live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or have filed for bankruptcy.

Companies that gather and sell this information are called Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs). The most common type of CRA is the credit bureau. The information CRAs sell about you to creditors, employers, insurers, and other businesses is called a consumer report.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, is designed to promote accuracy and ensure the privacy of the information used in consumer reports. Recent amendments to the Act expand your rights and place additional requirements on CRAs. Businesses that supply information about you to CRAs and those that use consumer reports also have new responsibilities under the law.

Here are some questions consumers commonly ask about consumer reports and CRAs. Note that you may have additional rights under state laws. Contact your state Attorney General or local consumer protection agency for more information.

How do I find the CRA that has my report?

Contact the CRAs listed in the Yellow Pages under "credit" or "credit rating and reporting." More than one CRA may have a file on you, so call each one until you locate all the agencies maintaining your file. The three major national credit bureaus are:

• Equifax
  P.O. Box 740241
  Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
  (800) 685-1111
• Experian
  P.O. Box 2104
  Allen, TX 75013
  (888) EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
• Trans Union
  P.O. Box 1000
  Chester, PA 19022
  (800) 916-8800

In addition, anyone who takes action against you in response to a report supplied by a CRA - such as denying your application for credit, insurance, or employment - must give you the name, address, and telephone number of the CRA that provided the report.

Do I have a right to know what's in my report?

Yes, if you ask for it. The CRA must tell you everything in your report, including medical information, and in most cases, the sources of the information. The CRA also must give you a list of everyone who has requested your report within the past year - two years for employment-related requests.

Is there a charge for my report?

Sometimes. There's no charge if a company takes adverse action against you - such as denying your application for credit, insurance, or employment - and you request your report within 60 days of receiving the notice of the action. The notice will give you the name, address, and phone number of the CRA. In addition, you're entitled to one free report a year if (1) you're unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days, (2) you're on welfare, or (3) your report is inaccurate because of fraud. Otherwise, a CRA may charge you up to $9 for a copy of your report.

What can I do about inaccurate or incomplete information?

Under the new law, both the CRA and the information provider have the responsibility of correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report. To protect all your rights under this law, contact both the CRA and the information provider.

First, tell the CRA in writing which information you believe is inaccurate. CRAs must investigate the items in question - usually within 30 days - unless they consider your dispute frivolous. They must also forward all relevant data you provide about the dispute to the information provider. After the information provider receives notice of the dispute from the CRA, it must investigate, review all relevant information provided by the CRA, and report the results back to the CRA. If the information provider finds the disputed information to be inaccurate, it must notify all nationwide CRAs so they can correct this information in your file.

When the investigation is complete, the CRA must give you the written results and a free copy of your report if the dispute results in a change. If an item is changed or removed, the CRA cannot put the disputed information back in your file unless the information provider verifies its accuracy and completeness and the CRA gives you a written notice that includes the name, address, and phone number of the provider.

Second, tell the creditor or other information provider in writing that you dispute an item. Many providers specify an address for disputes. If the provider then reports the item to any CRA, it must include a notice of your dispute. In addition, if you are correct - that is, if the information is inaccurate - the information provider may not use it again.