Indiana does not have a general state credit reporting act. Hoosiers dealing with a wrong account, a mixed file or identity theft rely mainly on the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. Under the FCRA, the credit bureaus must use reasonable procedures to keep reports accurate and must reinvestigate disputes, usually within 30 days. Banks, lenders, collectors and loan servicers that report to the bureaus must also investigate when the bureau passes along your dispute.
Indiana's main credit reporting statute covers security freezes, Indiana Code 24-5-24. It lets consumers freeze their credit reports so that new creditors cannot see them without permission. If a freeze blocks a creditor from getting your report, the creditor may treat your application as incomplete. The bureau must tell the creditor that a freeze is the reason. The law also bars a bureau from suggesting to anyone that a freeze reflects a negative credit history or score. Federal law now makes freezes free at the three nationwide bureaus.
Because Indiana's own credit reporting law is narrow, most claims over inaccurate credit reports are brought under the FCRA. Indiana has two federal districts. FCRA cases from northern Indiana are filed in the Northern District of Indiana, which sits in Fort Wayne, Hammond and South Bend. Cases from central and southern Indiana are filed in the Southern District of Indiana in Indianapolis, Evansville, New Albany or Terre Haute. The FCRA allows recovery of actual damages, statutory and punitive damages for willful violations, and attorney's fees.
Where Indiana FCRA cases are filed
FCRA claims are federal, so they go to a United States District Court. Cases from Indiana are heard in 2 federal districts:
- Northern District of IndianaCourthouses: Fort Wayne, Hammond, South Bend.Filed with local or cooperating counsel
- Southern District of IndianaCourthouses: Evansville, Indianapolis, New Albany, Terre Haute.Filed with local or cooperating counsel
Our attorneys are licensed in Texas, California, and Georgia. Where they aren't admitted in your local federal court, we work with local or cooperating counsel who are. You may also be able to sue where the company that reported you is based, in a court where our attorneys are admitted:
- Experian: HQ in C.D. California · Dispute Processing in E.D. Texas · Offices in N.D. Illinois
- Equifax: HQ in N.D. Georgia
- TransUnion: HQ in N.D. Illinois
- Santander Consumer: HQ in N.D. Texas
Which court is right depends on your facts. We'll tell you at your free case review.
Indiana laws that add to the FCRA
- Security freeze for consumer reports (Ind. Code § 24-5-24)
Lets Indiana consumers place a security freeze on their consumer report. A bureau that refuses to release a frozen report must tell the requester a freeze is the reason, and may not suggest that the freeze reflects a negative credit history or score. 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
Does Indiana have its own credit reporting law?
Indiana's main credit reporting statute deals with security freezes. Most rights to dispute errors and to sue for damages come from the federal FCRA, which applies in every state.
Can a lender hold a security freeze against me in Indiana?
Indiana law bars a credit bureau from suggesting that a freeze reflects a negative credit score, history or rating. A lender that cannot access your frozen report may treat your application as incomplete until you lift the freeze.
Which federal court handles an FCRA case from Indiana?
Northern Indiana cases are filed in the Northern District of Indiana (Fort Wayne, Hammond or South Bend). Central and southern Indiana cases are filed in the Southern District of Indiana (Indianapolis, Evansville, New Albany or Terre Haute). The FCRA also allows filing in state court.
How long do I have to file an FCRA lawsuit in Indiana?
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 Northern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
- Ind. Code § 24-5-24-8 (security freeze)
- Ind. Code § 24-4-18-6 (criminal history providers)
- Ind. Code § 35-38-9-10 (expungement protections)
- Ind. Code § 22-2-17-3 (local ordinances)
- NELP, Ban the Box / Fair Chance Hiring State and Local Guide
- Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.
Updated November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.