The Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos metro area had about 2.6 million people in the Census Bureau's 2025 estimate, the 25th-largest in the country. It covers Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell counties, from Georgetown in the north to San Marcos in the south.
Whether you are leasing an apartment in Austin, buying a home in Williamson County or financing a car in Hays County, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion supply the reports lenders and landlords use. A student loan reported late after it was deferred, a collection that belongs to someone else, or an identity theft account can lower your score when it matters. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires the bureaus to use reasonable procedures for accuracy. When you dispute an item, the bureau generally must reinvestigate within 30 days and forward the dispute to the lender or collector that reported it, which must investigate too.
FCRA cases from all five metro counties are filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division. The division's courthouse is at 501 West Fifth Street in downtown Austin. Round Rock and San Marcos are not federal court locations, so Williamson and Hays county cases are heard in Austin. The FCRA also allows filing in state court.
Where Austin FCRA cases are filed
FCRA claims are federal, so they go to a United States District Court. Cases from Austin are heard in one federal district:
- Western District of TexasAll five metro counties: Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell (Austin Division). Courthouses: Austin.Our attorneys are admitted here
Local and state rules in Austin
- Austin Fair Chance Hiring Ordinance (City of Austin Ordinance No. 20160324-019)
Adopted in 2016 for private employers with 15 or more employees in Austin. It restricts criminal history questions and background checks before a conditional offer and requires an individualized assessment and written notice before adverse action. The city still lists it as in effect, but a 2023 state law, HB 2127 (Texas Labor Code § 1.005), bars cities from enforcing ordinances that regulate hiring, so its enforceability is in doubt. Read it - Travis County hiring policy (Travis County Commissioners Court action (April 22, 2008))
Removed the criminal conviction question from the Travis County employment application. Criminal background checks are run later in hiring and only for positions that require them. It covers county jobs only. Read it
State law also applies: see Texas Credit Report Error Lawyers.
Common credit report errors
- Accounts that aren't yours, including mixed-file and identity theft accounts
- Late payments you didn't make, or payments not credited
- Paid, settled or discharged debts still shown as owed
- Collections reported past the seven-year limit or re-aged
- A deceased indicator on a living person's file
Learn how these cases work on our credit report lawsuits page, or read our lawsuit guides for Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Frequently asked questions
I live in Round Rock. Is my federal case heard in Austin?
Yes. Williamson County is in the Western District of Texas's Austin Division, as are Travis, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell counties. Cases from the division are heard at the federal courthouse in downtown Austin.
My student loan servicer reported me late during a deferment. Can I dispute that?
Yes. If your loan was in an approved deferment or forbearance and the servicer reported it as late, the report may be inaccurate. You can dispute it with the credit bureaus, which must forward the dispute to the servicer. The servicer must investigate and correct inaccurate information, and if it does not, you may have a claim.
What should I keep if I think a credit bureau mishandled my dispute?
Keep copies of your dispute letters, proof of mailing or online confirmations, and every response from the bureau. Also keep any denial letters or adverse action notices from lenders or landlords. These records can show what you disputed, when, and how the error affected you.
How long do I have to file an FCRA lawsuit in Austin?
FCRA deadlines are the same everywhere: generally two years from when you discover the violation, and no more than five years from when it happened (15 U.S.C. § 1681p). Waiting can cost you the claim.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Population Totals: 2020–2025
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Jurisdiction and Venue
- 28 U.S.C. § 124 (judicial districts of Texas)
- City of Austin, Fair Chance Hiring
- Texas Legislature, HB 2127 (88th Legislature), enrolled text
- Third Court of Appeals, State of Texas v. City of Houston, No. 03-23-00531-CV (docket)
- Ogletree Deakins, Austin Passes Ban-the-Box Ordinance (2016)
- Texas Municipal League, HB 2127 litigation white paper
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681b (employment reports)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681e (accuracy of consumer reports)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2 (duties of furnishers)
- Travis County Commissioners Court, voting session transcript (Apr. 22, 2008), revision of county employment application
Updated November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.