31-313 0-89-8 1989- No complaints, 2 inquiries as to whether creditors or spouses have access to credit reports. Complaints are confidential. Have Complaints are confidential. received "perhaps a dozen" complaints in writing or over phone over access to credit reports. No records of complaints over marketing from credit reports. Have "perhaps a dozen" complaints over pre-approved offers subsequently withdrawn. Department does not "regulate or supervise this type of activity". The American Financial Services Association (AFSA)* is conducting a national review of consumer complaints in the area of privacy of financial records held by credit reporting agencies (credit bureaus) and the use of such information by financial institutions in the marketing of additional credit products. Accordingly, pursuant to (legal section), AFSA hereby requests the number of complaints by consumers, and copies of said complaints, filed with your agency that relate to the following issues: (1) Access by creditors or others to an individual's consumer credit report; (3) Pre-approved offers of open or closed-end credit made to consumers by Should there be any costs for copies of this information, please let the undersigned know as soon as possible in order that we may obtain this information in a timely manner. Respectfully submitted, Frank M. Salinger Vice President, General Counsel & "AFSA is the nation's largest trade association representing nonbank providers of consumer financial services. Organized in 1916, AFSA represents 572 companies engaged in the extension of consumer credit throughout the United States. These companies range from independently-owned consumer finance offices to the nation's largest financial services, retail and automobile companies. Consumer finance companies hold over $143 billion of consumer credit outstanding and over $38 billion in second mortgage credit representing one quarter of all consumer credit outstanding in the United States. |