Credit Report Error Lawsuits in Tennessee

Tennessee does not have a full state version of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The federal FCRA does most of the work. It requires credit bureaus to follow reasonable procedures to make reports accurate. It requires bureaus, and the banks, collectors and servicers that furnish data, to investigate disputes. Consumers can sue for actual damages, and for statutory and punitive damages when a violation is willful.

Tennessee's main addition is its security freeze law in the Tennessee Identity Theft Deterrence Act, Tenn. Code Ann. 47-18-2108. A bureau must place a freeze within three business days of a request. It cannot charge a Tennessee consumer to place, temporarily lift or permanently remove a freeze. When a consumer asks online during the hours the law sets, the bureau generally must lift the freeze within 15 minutes. Unlike many state freeze laws, this one gives consumers a private right of action. A bureau that does not comply can owe actual losses or statutory damages of $100 to $1,000, plus costs and attorney's fees. Tenn. Code Ann. 47-18-2111 lets parents and guardians freeze the files of minors and other protected consumers.

A freeze stops new accounts from being opened. It does not remove errors already on a report, such as a collection that is not yours, a paid debt shown as unpaid, or a mixed file. Those problems are handled through FCRA disputes and, if needed, a lawsuit. Tennessee has three federal districts: the Eastern District (Knoxville, Chattanooga, Greeneville, Winchester), the Middle District (Nashville, Columbia, Cookeville) and the Western District (Memphis, Jackson).

Where Tennessee FCRA cases are filed

FCRA claims are federal, so they go to a United States District Court. Cases from Tennessee are heard in 3 federal districts:

Eastern District of TennesseeCourthouses: Chattanooga, Greeneville, Knoxville, Winchester.Filed with local or cooperating counsel
Middle District of TennesseeCourthouses: Nashville, Columbia, Cookeville.Filed with local or cooperating counsel
Western District of TennesseeCourthouses: Memphis, Jackson.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.

Tennessee laws that add to the FCRA

Tennessee Security Freeze Law (Tenn. Code Ann. 47-18-2108)
Lets Tennessee consumers freeze their credit files at no charge. Bureaus must place a freeze within three business days and must lift it quickly on request. The section lets consumers recover damages, costs and attorney's fees when a party does not comply. Read it
Protected Consumer Security Freeze (Tenn. Code Ann. 47-18-2111)
Lets a parent, guardian or other representative place a security freeze for a minor or another protected consumer, even if no credit file exists yet. 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 a Tennessee credit bureau have to freeze my credit for free?

Yes. Tenn. Code Ann. 47-18-2108 says a bureau cannot charge a Tennessee consumer to place, temporarily lift or permanently remove a security freeze. Federal law also makes freezes free nationwide.

Can I sue under Tennessee law if a bureau mishandles my freeze?

The Tennessee freeze statute lets a consumer recover actual losses or statutory damages of $100 to $1,000, plus costs and attorney's fees, from a party that fails to comply. Some parts of the law, such as the 15-minute lift rule, are enforced only by the attorney general. Errors in the report itself are usually handled under the federal FCRA.

Which federal court hears FCRA cases in Tennessee?

It depends on where you live or where the events happened. Tennessee has the Eastern District (Knoxville, Chattanooga, Greeneville, Winchester), the Middle District (Nashville, Columbia, Cookeville) and the Western District (Memphis, Jackson). FCRA claims can also be filed in state court.

How long do I have to file an FCRA lawsuit in Tennessee?

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.

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Updated November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.