Topics Archives: Credit Access

Personalized Credit Education: Consumer and Small Business Owner Attitudes, Impacts and Impediments

This study is the final report on research that examines resulting credit score changes and consumer attitudes following the use of personalized credit education sessions by study participants. The credit education service examined is offered by a national credit bureau. Such services (offered by for-profit non-lender/non-creditor entities) are covered and inhibited by CROA.

CRA Credit Education Services: An Examination of Consumer Impacts

This study was designed to gauge the impact of a personalized credit education service from a national credit bureau on consumer understanding of credit reports and scores as measured by changes in credit scores and results from a participant survey.

A New Pathway to Financial Inclusion

This study compares results with data from2005/2006 and 2009/2010 credit reports to assess the consumer credit impact of including fully reported alternative data in credit reports. The data was selected to capture the period during which unemployment and late payments spiked.

U.S. Consumer Credit Reports: Measuring Accuracy and Dispute Impacts

This report assesses the accuracy and quality of data collected and maintained by the three major nationwide Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs): Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The study enabled consumers to review their credit reports and credit scores from one or more of the three CRAs, to identify potential inaccuracies, and to file disputes as necessary through the consumer dispute resolution process governed by the FCRA, and to report on their satisfaction with the dispute outcome. The impact of the disputes is measured through credit score and credit risk tier changes.