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Advisory Opinion program

The Bureau’s Advisory Opinion program provides written guidance to assist regulated entities to better understand their legal and regulatory obligations through advisory opinions.

Parties may submit requests for advisory opinions regarding any issue under the Bureau’s purview that can be resolved through an interpretive rule.

Featured topic

On January 11, 2024, the Bureau issued an Advisory Opinion on certain FCRA requirements for background screening companies.

On January 11, 2024, the Bureau issued an Advisory Opinion on certain FCRA file disclosure requirements.

Purpose of the program

The Advisory Opinion program provides a mechanism through which the Bureau can carry out its statutory purposes and objectives by better enabling compliance.

Policy and related documents

Final Advisory Opinions Policy

Advisory Opinion Letters

Fair Credit Reporting; Background Screening – January 11, 2024

Fair Credit Reporting; File Disclosure – January 11, 2024

Consumer Information Requests to Large Banks and Credit Unions – October 11, 2023

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (Regulation F); Time-Barred Debt – April 26, 2023

Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (Regulation X); Digital Mortgage Comparison-Shopping Platforms and Related Payments to Operators – Feb. 7, 2023

Fair Credit Reporting; Facially False Data – Oct. 20, 2022

Permissible purposes for furnishing, using, and obtaining consumer reports – July 7, 2022

Debt Collectors’ Collection of Pay-to-Pay Fees – June 29, 2022

Revocations or unfavorable changes to the terms of existing credit arrangements – May 9, 2022

Consumer reporting agencies’ matching practices – Nov. 4, 2021

Special purpose credit programs – Dec. 21, 2020

Earned wage access – Nov. 30, 2020

Private education loans – Nov. 30, 2020

Submit a request for an advisory opinion

Submit your request for an advisory opinion to advisoryopinion@cfpb.gov. Requests will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Other reference materials

Pilot Advisory Opinions Program

Advisory Opinions Proposal