Credit Rights
Credit is the opportunity to borrow money from a bank, credit union, finance company, store or credit card issuer to make a purchase. Your ability to manage credit and pay money back can affect your ability to get other loans, buy a home or car, rent an apartment, get low insurance rates or get a job. Not having a credit history can also increase the interest rates for borrowing money and the amount you pay for apartment or utility service deposits.
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act protects you when dealing with creditors. When you apply for credit, a creditor may not do the following:
- Ask about or consider your sex, race, national origin or religion.
- Ask about your marital status or your spouse — unless you are applying for a joint account or relying on your spouse's income, or you live in a community property state (Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington or Wisconsin).
- Ask about your plans to have, or raise, children.
- Refuse to consider public assistance income, regularly received alimony or child support.
- Refuse to consider income because of your sex or marital status, or because it is from part-time work or retirement benefits.
You have the right to do the following:
- Have credit in your birth name, your first name and your spouse or partner's last name, or your first name and a combined last name.
- Have a co-signer other than your spouse if one is necessary.
- Keep your own accounts after you change your name or marital status or if you retire, unless the creditor has evidence that you are unable or unwilling to pay.
- Know why a credit application is rejected. The creditor must give you the specific reasons, or tell you where and how you can get a copy of the credit report it used to determine its rejection, if you ask within 60 days.
- Have accounts shared with your spouse reported in both of your names.
- Know how much it will cost to borrow money.
The Federal Trade Commission website has more information on your credit rights. Visit https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/credit-and-loans.
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). (2016, January). Credit. In Consumer action handbook (p. 13). Retrieved December 5, 2016, from https://www.usa.gov/