Colorado has its own credit reporting law, the Colorado Consumer Credit Reporting Act, C.R.S. § 5-18-101 et seq. It adds to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) in several ways. Under C.R.S. § 5-18-106, each credit bureau must give a Colorado consumer one free copy of their file per year. A bureau must also mail a notice offering a free copy when negative information is added to the file or when it receives eight inquiries in 12 months.
C.R.S. § 5-18-109 limits what can be reported. Most negative items fall off after seven years, inquiries older than one year are left off, and sealed or expunged criminal records may not be reported at all. Since 2023, that section has also barred credit bureaus from reporting medical debt they know or should know about. That medical debt rule is scheduled to end on July 1, 2028. It is being challenged in federal court, and a federal agency has argued that the FCRA preempts such state laws. After using the state dispute, block or freeze process, a consumer can sue or choose binding arbitration under C.R.S. § 5-18-116.
Colorado's freeze laws, C.R.S. §§ 5-18-112 and 5-18-112.5, cover adults and protected consumers such as children. Colorado is a single federal judicial district. An FCRA lawsuit by a Colorado resident can be filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, which holds court in Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction and Durango. The FCRA also allows suit in state court.
Where Colorado FCRA cases are filed
FCRA claims are federal, so they go to a United States District Court. Cases from Colorado are heard in one federal district:
- District of ColoradoCourthouses: Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Durango.Our attorneys are admitted here
Colorado laws that add to the FCRA
- Disclosures to consumers (C.R.S. § 5-18-106)
Requires each credit bureau to give a Colorado consumer one free copy of their file per year. A bureau must also mail a notice offering a free copy when negative information is added or after eight inquiries in 12 months. Read it - Reporting of information prohibited, including medical debt (C.R.S. § 5-18-109)
Bars reporting most negative information older than seven years, inquiries older than one year, and sealed, expunged or non-conviction criminal records. It also bars bureaus from reporting medical debt until July 1, 2028. The time limits do not apply to some very large credit transactions. Read it - Security freezes, including for protected consumers (C.R.S. §§ 5-18-112, 5-18-112.5)
Let Colorado consumers freeze their credit files, and let a representative freeze the file of a protected consumer such as a child. Read it - Consumer's right to sue or arbitrate (C.R.S. § 5-18-116)
After using the state dispute, block or freeze procedures, a consumer may sue in a court with FCRA jurisdiction or choose binding arbitration. The winner in arbitration can recover costs and attorney fees, and a bureau that loses must fix the file promptly. Read it
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
Can medical debt show up on my Colorado credit report?
Colorado law currently bars credit bureaus from reporting medical debt they know or should know about, with some exceptions. The rule is set to expire July 1, 2028, and it faces a federal court challenge. If medical debt appears on your report now, you can dispute it.
Do Coloradans get free credit reports beyond federal law?
Colorado law requires each credit bureau to give a Colorado consumer one free file disclosure per year. Bureaus must also send a notice offering a free copy when negative information is added. Federal law separately provides free reports through the official annual credit report site.
Can I arbitrate a credit report dispute in Colorado?
Yes. After completing the state dispute, block or freeze process, C.R.S. § 5-18-116 lets you choose binding arbitration instead of a lawsuit. If you win, you can recover costs and attorney fees, and the bureau must correct or remove the information.
How long do I have to file an FCRA lawsuit in Colorado?
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. District Court for the District of Colorado
- Federal Judicial Center, District of Colorado meeting places
- Colorado Consumer Credit Reporting Act, C.R.S. Title 5, Article 18
- C.R.S. § 5-18-109
- Colorado General Assembly, HB23-1126
- Georgetown Litigation Tracker, ACA International complaint challenging HB23-1126
- National Consumer Law Center, What States Can Do on Medical Debt Credit Reports (Nov. 2025)
- C.R.S. § 8-2-126
- C.R.S. § 38-12-904
- C.R.S. § 13-3-117
- C.R.S. § 24-72-706
Updated November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.