The consumer information indicator is the field furnishers use to flag special conditions on an account, most often bankruptcy: that the account is part of a bankruptcy case and what happened to the debt. It controls whether an account shows as "included in bankruptcy."
Also called: CII, bankruptcy indicator, bankruptcy code, included in bankruptcy code, chapter 7 / chapter 13 indicator
What it means
When you file bankruptcy, each creditor that reports to the bureaus is supposed to update your accounts to show it. The coded field furnishers use for that is often called the consumer information indicator. Through it, a furnisher reports that an account is part of a bankruptcy and, as the case moves along, what happened to the debt, for example that it was discharged or that you reaffirmed it. On your report, this shows up as remarks like “Included in Chapter 7 bankruptcy” or “Discharged through bankruptcy.”
The CFPB’s 2012 report notes that trade line information can show whether the account “is involved in a bankruptcy filing.”
Where it comes from
The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires a bureau that reports a bankruptcy case to identify the chapter it was filed under, if the source provides it, and to report that a case was withdrawn once it gets documentation (15 U.S.C. § 1681c(d)). Bankruptcy cases can generally be reported for 10 years from the order for relief (§ 1681c(a)(1)). The bankruptcy case itself usually comes from court records; the indicator on each account comes from that account’s furnisher.
Common errors
- Balance still owed after discharge. The FTC staff report says an account discharged in bankruptcy may be reported only with a zero balance, because you no longer owe it.
- “Charged off” instead of “included in bankruptcy.” The FTC report says labeling an account that was open at filing as “charged off as bad debt” would be inaccurate or misleading.
- Missing indicator. One creditor updates the account and another doesn’t.
- Wrong person. A spouse’s or co-borrower’s bankruptcy is marked on your account. The CFPB’s list of e-OSCAR dispute codes includes “included in the bankruptcy of another person.”
- Dismissed case still shown as active, or a reaffirmed debt shown as discharged.
How to dispute it
Send each bureau your discharge order, and your schedules if they list the account. Ask that each listed account show it was included in bankruptcy with a zero balance. If you reaffirmed a debt, say so. You can find the dates using our credit report time limit calculator.
When it can be an FCRA violation
Reporting a discharged debt as still owed is a common basis for FCRA claims. If the bureau or the furnisher doesn’t fix it after a proper dispute, or the bureau’s procedures don’t account for discharges, that can violate the FCRA.
If a discharged debt still shows a balance after you dispute it, request a free case review; there is no fee unless we win.
Related
- Included in bankruptcy / discharged
- Public records
- Charge-off
- Balance
- Account status code
- Metro 2 format
- How Long Does Bankruptcy Stay on Your Credit Report? Chapter 7, Chapter 13 and Discharged Debts
- How to Dispute Credit Report Errors With Equifax, Experian and TransUnion
- Credit report time limit calculator
Sources
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681c (bankruptcy reporting and chapter identification), Cornell LII
- FTC, 40 Years of Experience with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (July 2011)
- CFPB, Key Dimensions and Processes in the U.S. Credit Reporting System (Dec. 2012)
Updated November 2026. This glossary is written by FCRA Attorneys from public sources. It is general information, not legal advice, and is not affiliated with any credit bureau or industry association.