What is a Consumer Report?

In general. The term “consumer report” means any written, oral, or other communication of any information by a consumer reporting agency bearing on a consumer’s credit worthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, character, general reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living which is used or expected to be used or collected in whole or in part for the purpose of serving as a factor in establishing the consumer’s eligibility for
- (A) credit or insurance to be used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes;
- (B) employment purposes; or
- (C) any other purpose authorized under section 604 [ § 1681b].
Exclusions. The term “consumer report” does not include
- (A) any
  - (i) report containing information solely as to transactions or experiences between the consumer and the person making the report;
  - (ii) communication of that information among persons related by common ownership or affiliated by corporate control; or
  - (iii) communication of other information among persons related by common ownership or affiliated by corporate control, if it is clearly and conspicuously disclosed to the consumer that the information may be communicated among such persons and the consumer is given the opportunity, before the time that the information is initially communicated, to direct that such information not be communicated among such persons;
- (B) any authorization or approval of a specific extension of credit directly or indirectly by the issuer of a credit card or similar device;
- (C) any report in which a person who has been requested by a third party to make a specific extension of credit directly or indirectly to a consumer conveys his or her decision with respect to such request, if the third party advises the consumer of the name and address of the person to whom the request was made, and such person makes the disclosures to the consumer required under section 615 [ § 1681m]; or
- (D) a communication described in subsection (o).