AGENCY:

Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is amending Regulation V, which implements the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), to add a section establishing a maximum allowable charge for disclosures by a consumer reporting agency to a consumer pursuant to FCRA section 609. The Bureau is also amending Regulation V to add an appendix setting forth the statutory requirements for determining the maximum allowable charge; announcing the maximum charge for 2019; and preserving a list of historical maximum allowable charges. Historically, the Bureau has published these FCRA annual adjustments as a notice. The Bureau is now codifying those notices and adding a provision to Regulation V to track the FCRA's provisions concerning the annual maximum allowable charge.

DATES:

Effective date: This rule is effective January 31, 2019.

Applicability date: This rule is applicable on January 1, 2019, consistent with relevant statutory provisions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Seth Caffrey, Senior Counsel; or Monique Chenault, Paralegal Specialist at (202) 435-7700 or https://reginquiries.consumerfinance.gov. If you require this document in an alternative electronic format, please contact CFPB_Accessibility@cfpb.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Under section 609 of the FCRA, a consumer reporting agency must, upon a consumer's request, disclose to the consumer information in the consumer's file.^[1] Section 612(a) of the FCRA gives consumers the right to a free file disclosure upon request once every 12 months from the nationwide consumer reporting agencies and nationwide specialty consumer reporting agencies.^[2] Section 612 of the FCRA also gives consumers the right to a free file disclosure under certain other, specified circumstances.^[3] Where the consumer is not entitled to a free file disclosure, section 612(f)(1)(A) of the FCRA provides that a consumer reporting agency may impose a reasonable charge on a consumer for making a file disclosure. Section 612(f)(1)(A) of the FCRA provides that the charge for such a disclosure shall not exceed $8.00 and shall be indicated to the consumer before making the file disclosure.^[4]

Section 612(f)(2) of the FCRA also states that the $8.00 maximum amount shall increase on January 1 of each year, based proportionally on changes in the Consumer Price Index, with fractional changes rounded to the nearest fifty cents.^[5] Such increases are based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), which is the most general Consumer Price Index and covers all urban consumers and all items.

Prior to 2011, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) set the maximum allowable charge under section 612(f) of the FCRA (the “annual adjustment”). The FTC set these amounts by issuing a notice rather than by issuing a rule. In 2011, the responsibility for setting the maximum allowable charge transferred from the FTC to the Bureau pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act).^[6] Consistent with the FTC's historical practice, the Bureau has continued to publish the FCRA annual adjustment as a notice.^[7] To underscore for stakeholders that the FCRA annual adjustment amount is legally binding, the Bureau is now issuing a final rule to add a provision to Regulation V (Fair Credit Reporting) to codify a maximum allowable charge for disclosures by a consumer reporting agency to a consumer pursuant to FCRA section 609 and to announce the annual maximum allowable charge.

II. 2019 Annual Adjustment

For 2019, the ceiling on allowable charges under section 612(f) of the FCRA will be $12.50. The Bureau is using the $8.00 amount set forth in section 612(f)(1)(A)(i) of the FCRA as the baseline for its calculation of the increase in the ceiling on reasonable charges for certain disclosures made under section 609 of the FCRA. Since the effective date of section 612(a) was September 30, 1997, the Bureau calculated the proportional increase in the CPI-U from September 1997 to September 2018. The Bureau then determined what modification, if any, from the original base of $8.00 should be made effective for 2019, given the requirement that fractional changes be rounded to the nearest fifty cents.

Between September 1997 and September 2018, the CPI-U increased by 56.59 percent from an index value of 161.2 in September 1997 to a value of 252.439 in September 2018. An increase of 56.59 percent in the $8.00 base figure would lead to a figure of $12.53. However, because the statute directs that the resulting figure be rounded to the nearest $0.50, the maximum allowable charge is $12.50. The Bureau therefore determines that the maximum allowable charge for the year 2019 will be $12.50.

III. Legal Authority and Effective Date

The Bureau issues this rule pursuant to its authority under the FCRA and the Dodd-Frank Act. Effective July 21, 2011, section 1061 of the Dodd-Frank Act ^[8] transferred to the Bureau the rulemaking and certain other authorities of the FTC and the prudential regulators relating to the enumerated consumer laws, including most rulemaking authority under the FCRA.^[9] Likewise, section 1088 of the Dodd-Frank Act made conforming amendments to the FCRA, transferring rulemaking authority under much of the FCRA to the Bureau.^[10] As amended by the Dodd-Frank Act, the FCRA generally authorizes the Bureau to issue regulations “as may be necessary or appropriate to administer and carry out the purposes and objectives of [the FCRA], and to prevent evasions thereof or to facilitate compliance therewith.” ^[11] Additionally, FCRA section 612(f)(2) specifically directs the Bureau to annually modify the maximum allowable charge for consumer file disclosures based on changes to the Consumer Price Index.^[12]

This final rule is effective on January 31, 2019.

IV. Administrative Procedure Act (APA)

Under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), notice and opportunity for public comment are not required if the Bureau for good cause finds that notice and public comment are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). The annual adjustment to the maximum allowable charge under section 612(f) of the FCRA is technical, routine, and nondiscretionary: Each year, the Bureau takes the $8.00 figure set forth in the statute and applies the adjustment formula also set forth in the statute to arrive at the maximum allowable charge. The annual adjustment to the maximum allowable charge merely codifies the result of the calculation prescribed by Congress. The amendments to Regulation V are also technical. The new regulatory text and appendix track the FCRA. For these reasons, the Bureau has determined that publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking and providing opportunity for public comment are unnecessary. Therefore, the amendments are adopted in final form.

Section 553(d) of the APA generally requires publication of a final rule not less than 30 days before its effective date, except: (1) A substantive rule which grants or recognizes an exemption or relieves a restriction; (2) interpretive rules and statements of policy; or (3) as otherwise provided by the agency for good cause found and published with the rule. 5 U.S.C. 553(d). At a minimum, the Bureau believes the amendments fall under the third exception to section 553(d). As mentioned above, the annual adjustment and the amendments to Regulation V are technical. The amendments codify the language of the FCRA, and the annual adjustment merely applies the statutory method for adjusting the maximum allowable charge and follows the statutory directive to make the annual adjustment each year.

V. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) does not apply to a rulemaking where general notice of proposed rulemaking is not required.^[13] As noted previously, the Bureau has determined that it is unnecessary to publish a general notice of proposed rulemaking for this rule. Accordingly the RFA's requirements relating to an initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis do not apply.

VI. Paperwork Reduction Act

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), Federal agencies are generally required to seek the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for information collection requirements prior to implementation. According to the PRA, the Bureau may not conduct or sponsor, and, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person is not required to respond to an information collection unless the information collection displays currently a valid control number assigned by OMB. The information requested by Regulation V has been previously approved by OMB and assigned OMB control number 3170-0002. It expires on 08/31/2020. The Bureau has determined that the revisions to this Policy do not introduce any new or substantively or materially revised collections of information beyond what has been previously approved by OMB.

VII. Congressional Review Act

Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Bureau will submit a report containing this rule and other required information to the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior to the rule taking effect. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) has designated this rule as not a “major rule” as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 1022

• Banks
• Banking
• Consumer protection
• Credit unions
• Fair Credit Reporting Act
• Holding companies
• National banks
• Privacy
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Savings associations
• State member banks

Authority and Issuance

For the reasons set forth above, the Bureau amends Regulation V, 12 CFR part 1022, as set forth below:

PART 1022—FAIR CREDIT REPORTING (REGULATION V)

1. The authority citation for part 1022 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 12 U.S.C. 5512, 5581; 15 U.S.C. 1681a, 1681b, 1681c, 1681c-1, 1681e, 1681g, 1681i, 1681j, 1681m, 1681s, 1681s-2, 1681s-3, and 1681t; Sec. 214, Public Law 108-159, 117 Stat. 1952.

Subpart O—Miscellaneous Duties of Consumer Reporting Agencies

2. Section 1022.141 is added to read as follows:

3. Appendix O is added to read as follows:

Appendix O to Part 1022—Reasonable Charges for Certain Disclosures

Section 612(f) of the FCRA, 15 U.S.C. 1681j(f), directs the Bureau to increase the maximum allowable charge a consumer reporting agency may impose for making a disclosure to the consumer pursuant to section 609 of the FCRA, 15 U.S.C. 1681g, on January 1 of each year, based proportionally on changes in the Consumer Price Index, with fractional changes rounded to the nearest fifty cents. The Bureau will publish notice of the maximum allowable charge each year by amending this appendix. For calendar year 2019, the maximum allowable charge is $12.50. For historical purposes:

1. For calendar year 2012, the maximum allowable disclosure charge was $11.50.

2. For calendar year 2013, the maximum allowable disclosure charge was $11.50.

3. For calendar year 2014, the maximum allowable disclosure charge was $11.50.

4. For calendar year 2015, the maximum allowable disclosure charge was $12.00.

5. For calendar year 2016, the maximum allowable disclosure charge was $12.00.

6. For calendar year 2017, the maximum allowable disclosure charge was $12.00.

7. For calendar year 2018, the maximum allowable disclosure charge was $12.00.

8. For calendar year 2019, the maximum allowable disclosure charge is $12.50.

Footnotes