Pennsylvania does not have a general state version of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Credit report errors in Pennsylvania are mainly governed by federal law. The FCRA requires Equifax, Experian, TransUnion and other credit bureaus to use reasonable procedures for accuracy and to reinvestigate disputes, usually within 30 days. Lenders, collectors and servicers that report to the bureaus must investigate disputes the bureaus forward to them and correct or delete information that is wrong or cannot be verified.
Pennsylvania's main state-law addition is the Credit Reporting Agency Act, Act 163 of 2006, which took effect January 1, 2007. It gives Pennsylvania residents the right to place a security freeze and sets rules for access to a frozen file. Federal law now requires free freezes at the three nationwide bureaus. Pennsylvania lawmakers have considered bills to keep medical debt off credit reports. Unless a state law applies, medical debt reporting in Pennsylvania is controlled by the federal FCRA, which still requires that any medical debt reported be accurate and complete.
Pennsylvania has three federal districts. FCRA cases may be filed in the Eastern District (Philadelphia, Allentown, Easton, Reading), the Middle District (Harrisburg, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport) or the Western District (Pittsburgh, Erie, Johnstown), depending on where the consumer lives and where the events happened. These courts follow decisions of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The FCRA allows actual damages, statutory and punitive damages for willful violations, and attorney's fees.
Where Pennsylvania FCRA cases are filed
FCRA claims are federal, so they go to a United States District Court. Cases from Pennsylvania are heard in 3 federal districts:
- Eastern District of PennsylvaniaCourthouses: Philadelphia, Allentown, Easton, Reading.Filed with local or cooperating counsel
- Middle District of PennsylvaniaCourthouses: Harrisburg, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport.Filed with local or cooperating counsel
- Western District of PennsylvaniaCourthouses: Pittsburgh, Erie, Johnstown.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.
Pennsylvania laws that add to the FCRA
- Credit Reporting Agency Act (security freeze) (Act 163 of 2006 (P.L. 1463, No. 163); 73 P.S. § 2501 and following)
Gives Pennsylvania consumers the right to place a security freeze on their credit files and sets procedures for access to a file after a freeze is placed or removed. 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 Pennsylvania have its own credit reporting law?
Pennsylvania has a security freeze law, the Credit Reporting Agency Act, but no general state law on credit report accuracy. Disputes and lawsuits over credit report errors in Pennsylvania are usually brought under the federal FCRA.
Can medical debt appear on my Pennsylvania credit report?
Pennsylvania lawmakers have considered state limits on medical debt reporting. Unless a state law applies, the federal FCRA controls, and it requires medical debt that is reported to be accurate. If a medical debt is reported wrongly, for example one your insurer paid or one that is not yours, you can dispute it and may have an FCRA claim.
Where is an FCRA lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania?
It can be filed in the Eastern, Middle or Western District of Pennsylvania, depending on where you live or where the events happened. FCRA claims can also be filed in a Pennsylvania court of common pleas, but they are often brought in or moved to federal court.
How long do I have to file an FCRA lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
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 Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania General Assembly, Act 163 of 2006 (Credit Reporting Agency Act)
- Philadelphia Inquirer, Medical debt bills and credit agencies (Aug. 2025)
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 9125 (Pennsylvania General Assembly)
- Office of the Governor, Clean Slate expansion (2024)
- Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, Clean Slate 3.0 FAQ
- City of Philadelphia, Amended ban the box law press release
- Seyfarth Shaw, Philadelphia employers face new compliance challenges (Oct. 2025)
- Ogletree Deakins, Philadelphia credit check prohibitions
Updated November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.