---
title: "15 U.S.C. 1681n FCRA: Civil liability for willful noncompliance"
canonical: "https://dposchool.com/fcra/section/1681n"
source: "https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-136/t15/s1681n/"
source_note: "Source: United States Code, title 15, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced."
text_as_of: "2026-10-22"
language: "en"
publisher: "DPO School"
---

15 U.S.C. 1681n FCRA · Chapter 41: CONSUMER CREDIT PROTECTION

# 15 U.S.C. 1681n FCRA: Civil liability for willful noncompliance

United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026.

## Official text

### 15 U.S.C. 1681n(a)

**(a)** In general

Any person who willfully fails to comply with any requirement imposed under this subchapter with respect to any consumer is liable to that consumer in an amount equal to the sum of⁠—

#### 15 U.S.C. 1681n(a)(1)

**(1)** (A) any actual damages sustained by the consumer as a result of the failure or damages of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000; or

#### 15 U.S.C. 1681n(a)(B)

**(B)** in the case of liability of a natural person for obtaining a consumer report under false pretenses or knowingly without a permissible purpose, actual damages sustained by the consumer as a result of the failure or $1,000, whichever is greater;

#### 15 U.S.C. 1681n(a)(2)

**(2)** such amount of punitive damages as the court may allow; and

#### 15 U.S.C. 1681n(a)(3)

**(3)** in the case of any successful action to enforce any liability under this section, the costs of the action together with reasonable attorney’s fees as determined by the court.

### 15 U.S.C. 1681n(b)

**(b)** Civil liability for knowing noncompliance

Any person who obtains a consumer report from a consumer reporting agency under false pretenses or knowingly without a permissible purpose shall be liable to the consumer reporting agency for actual damages sustained by the consumer reporting agency or $1,000, whichever is greater.

### 15 U.S.C. 1681n(c)

**(c)** Attorney’s fees

Upon a finding by the court that an unsuccessful pleading, motion, or other paper filed in connection with an action under this section was filed in bad faith or for purposes of harassment, the court shall award to the prevailing party attorney’s fees reasonable in relation to the work expended in responding to the pleading, motion, or other paper.

### 15 U.S.C. 1681n(d)

**(d)** Clarification of willful noncompliance

For the purposes of this section, any person who printed an expiration date on any receipt provided to a consumer cardholder at a point of sale or transaction between December 4, 2004, and June 3, 2008, but otherwise complied with the requirements of section 1681c(g) of this title for such receipt shall not be in willful noncompliance with section 1681c(g) of this title by reason of printing such expiration date on the receipt.

## Source

Source: United States Code, title 15, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced.

Source credit: ( Pub. L. 90-321, title VI, § 616 , as added Pub. L. 91-508, title VI, § 601 , Oct. 26, 1970 , 84 Stat. 1134 ; amended Pub. L. 104-208, div. A, title II, § 2412(a) –(c), (e)(1), Sept. 30, 1996 , 110 Stat. 3009–446 ; Pub. L. 110-241, § 3(a) , June 3, 2008 , 122 Stat. 1566 .)

[15 U.S.C. 1681n on the Office of the Law Revision Counsel](https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-136/t15/s1681n/)

United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026.

This is reference material, not legal advice.

## Navigation

[FCRA Navigator](https://dposchool.com/fcra) / 15 U.S.C. 1681n

Previous: [15 U.S.C. 1681m FCRA: Requirements on users of consumer reports](https://dposchool.com/fcra/section/1681m)

Next: [15 U.S.C. 1681o FCRA: Civil liability for negligent noncompliance](https://dposchool.com/fcra/section/1681o)

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