Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act (including security freezes)
CCRAA
Credit reporting
California's counterpart to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. It governs who may obtain consumer credit reports and for what purposes, accuracy and dispute rights, and gives consumers the right to place, lift, and remove security freezes on their credit files.
- Where
- California
- Citation
- Cal. Civ. Code 1785.1-1785.36
- Status
- In force
- In force since
- 1976-01-01
- Enforced by
- Private plaintiffs; California Attorney General and local prosecutors
- People can sue
- Yes
- Penalties
- Actual damages for negligent violations; for willful violations, actual damages plus punitive damages of $100-$5,000 per violation, plus fees (1785.31).
- Applies to
- Consumer credit reporting agencies, users of consumer credit reports, and furnishers of credit information about California consumers
Rights it gives people
- Consumers may place a security freeze; agencies must place it within three business days and confirm within 10 business days with a PIN or password.Cal. Civ. Code 1785.11.2(a)-(c)
- Temporarily lift a freeze within three business days of a proper request.Cal. Civ. Code 1785.11.2(d)-(e)
Practices it requires
- Remove or lift a freeze only on consumer request or for material misrepresentation.Cal. Civ. Code 1785.11.2(g)
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.
Unverified: Enactment date of the CCRAA (1975 legislation) and overall section range from background knowledge. | last_amended not determined for the whole act (1785.11.2 last amended by AB 2374, Stats. 2012).
Research reference, not legal advice.