Every year, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”) updates and publishes a guide to consumer reporting companies, The guide includes information in connection with requesting a consumer report from the three largest nationwide consumer reporting companies and dozens of specialty reporting companies, tips regarding specialty reports, updated information about authentication of identity when requesting a consumer report, information on companies that provide free credit scores, and rights with respect to consumer reports.

The CFPB notes that in prior years, its guide referred to consumer reporting businesses as “agencies” or “bureaus,” and that these terms can be confusing because they may imply these businesses are government entities. They are not—these companies are private-sector, for-profit entities, and in this year’s guide, the CFPB refers to them as “companies” for better clarity.