---
title: "15 U.S.C. 1681o FCRA: Civil liability for negligent noncompliance"
canonical: "https://dposchool.com/fcra/section/1681o"
source: "https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-136/t15/s1681o/"
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. 1681o FCRA · Chapter 41: CONSUMER CREDIT PROTECTION

# 15 U.S.C. 1681o FCRA: Civil liability for negligent noncompliance

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

Amended by Pub. L. 108-159 (FACTA), according to the source credit.

## Official text

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

**(a)** In general

Any person who is negligent in failing 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. 1681o(a)(1)

**(1)** any actual damages sustained by the consumer as a result of the failure; and

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

**(2)** 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. 1681o(b)

**(b)** Attorney’s fees

On 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.

## 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, § 617 , 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(d) , (e)(2), Sept. 30, 1996 , 110 Stat. 3009–446 , 3009–447; Pub. L. 108-159, title VIII, § 811(e) , Dec. 4, 2003 , 117 Stat. 2012 .)

[15 U.S.C. 1681o on the Office of the Law Revision Counsel](https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-136/t15/s1681o/)

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. 1681o

Previous: [15 U.S.C. 1681n FCRA: Civil liability for willful noncompliance](https://dposchool.com/fcra/section/1681n)

Next: [15 U.S.C. 1681p FCRA: Jurisdiction of courts; limitation of actions](https://dposchool.com/fcra/section/1681p)

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