How to Exercise Your Consumer Rights

The actual filing mechanics — which agency, which form, which deadline — for the most common disputes.

Step by step, by situation

  1. Wrong item on your credit report: dispute directly with the bureau online (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion all have dispute portals) and separately with the company that reported it. The bureau has 30 days to investigate under the FCRA.
  2. Unauthorized credit card charge: dispute with your card issuer in writing within 60 days of the statement (FCBA). Your maximum liability for unauthorized use is $50, and most issuers waive even that.
  3. Abusive debt collector: send a written cease-and-desist letter (they must stop contacting you except to confirm they're stopping or notify of legal action), then file a complaint at consumerfinance.gov (CFPB) or reportfraud.ftc.gov.
  4. Defective product under warranty: request repair/replacement in writing citing the warranty terms; if refused, small claims court (limits range roughly $2,500–$25,000 depending on state) doesn't require a lawyer and filing fees are typically under $100.
  5. General fraud or scam: report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov — this doesn't get your money back directly but feeds the Consumer Sentinel database law enforcement uses to build cases.

CFPB vs FTC — which one?

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) handles banks, lenders, credit reporting, and debt collectors specifically. The FTC handles broader consumer fraud, deceptive advertising, and scams. When in doubt, file with both — there's no penalty for filing in the wrong place.

Keep a paper trail

Send disputes by certified mail with return receipt, or at minimum keep dated screenshots of any online dispute submission. In an FCRA or FDCPA claim, proof of when you disputed and what the response was is what actually determines whether you win.

Theme