How much can I sue a credit bureau for?

The Fair Credit Reporting Act does not set a single dollar figure for a lawsuit against a credit bureau. What you can recover depends on which remedy section applies and what harm you can prove.

If the violation was willful (15 U.S.C. § 1681n)

• Actual damages you can prove, or statutory damages of $100 to $1,000, without needing to prove a specific loss.
• Punitive damages in an amount the court allows.
• Costs and reasonable attorney’s fees if the action is successful.

“Willful” includes reckless disregard of the law, not only knowing violations, under the Supreme Court’s decision in Safeco Insurance Co. of America v. Burr (2007).

If the violation was negligent (15 U.S.C. § 1681o)

• Actual damages caused by the failure to comply.
• Costs and reasonable attorney’s fees if the action is successful.

Statutory and punitive damages are not available for a purely negligent violation.

What drives the amount

Actual damages have no statutory ceiling. They can include money losses, such as a denied loan or a higher interest rate, and non-economic harm such as emotional distress, if you can show the violation caused them. The facts matter: what was wrong on the report, who saw it, what the bureau did after you disputed, and the consequences you experienced.

Every case is different, and no one can promise a particular result. A free case review can help you understand which remedies may apply to your facts, with no fee unless we win.

Related

• Credit report lawsuits
• What Is the FCRA? The Fair Credit Reporting Act in Plain English
• How an FCRA Lawsuit Works: From Case Review to Resolution

Sources

• 15 U.S.C. § 1681n, civil liability for willful noncompliance (Cornell LII)
• 15 U.S.C. § 1681o, civil liability for negligent noncompliance (Cornell LII)
• Safeco Ins. Co. of America v. Burr, 551 U.S. 47 (2007) (Cornell LII)

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