Four U.S. senators on Thursday sent a letter to the nation’s major credit bureaus asking questions after a ProPublica investigation found that two of them were correcting fewer consumer credit reports.
The letter was filed in response to a ProPublica investigation in March that found that two of the three largest credit reporting agencies, TransUnion and Experian, had significantly reduced the frequency of redress for complaints filed through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The reduction in relief coincides with the Trump administration’s efforts to implement mass layoffs at the CFPB and roll back much of its oversight of the financial sector.
The lead author of the letter is Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee and a key architect of the creation of the CFPB. Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth, Andy Kim, and Lisa Blunt Rochester also joined the letter.
ProPublica found that TransUnion’s relief rate, which had been relatively stable for several years, dropped sharply in the summer of 2025. By October, the frequency with which relief was provided had been cut by about half. According to CFPB data, Experian resolved nearly 20% of consumer complaints in 2024, but less than 1% of complaints in 2025.
Businesses must respond to consumer complaints filed through the CFPB, and remedies can be monetary or non-monetary (e.g., correcting errors on credit reports).
In a letter to Experian and TransUnion, the senators called ProPublica’s findings “deeply disturbing” and said the report “raises serious questions about the legality” of the companies’ actions. “A sharp decline in responsiveness means that American consumers could be denied a home loan or home loan simply because of a reporting error that your company did not correct.”
TransUnion said in a statement that it would respond to the letter, saying it “appreciates the opportunity to meaningfully engage with policymakers regarding the robust and compliant process TransUnion has in place.” Experian did not respond to a request for comment. The company previously told ProPublica that it investigates “all legitimate” complaints.
Equifax, the third largest credit bureau, did not see a similar reduction in relief, according to ProPublica. Last year, just before President Donald Trump took office, the company reached a settlement with the CFPB aimed at correcting its deficiencies in handling consumer disputes, although the agreement did not specifically mention complaints to the CFPB.
From left: Mark Begor, CEO of Equifax; Chris Cartwright, TransUnion President and CEO, with Experian CEO Brian Cashin at a Senate Banking Committee hearing in April 2023 Ting Sheng/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Equifax said it intends to address the letter and make it easier for consumers to “quickly correct potential mistakes.”
In their letter, the senators asked for data on disputes and complaints sent to companies, as well as information on dispute resolution processes and staffing. The senators also requested communication with the CFPB, including communication regarding the cease and desist of enforcement actions against TransUnion identified in ProPublica’s investigation.
Consumer complaints about credit reporting have increased dramatically, with more than 4 million complaints filed with the CFPB last year. The credit bureaus said many of the recent complaints are unwarranted, including a large number of claims by third-party credit repair agencies that ask customers to dispute negative information in their reports.
Errors on your credit report can be difficult and time-consuming to correct. ProPublica spoke to Colorado state accountant Rebecca Shepherd. She had spent nearly a year trying to get $240,000 in unpaid debt removed from her credit report. The mistake lowered her credit score by about 85 points and jeopardized her plans to move into a more accessible home with her disabled father.
Shepard contacted the credit bureaus four times, including through the CFPB’s complaint system, but the debt was not canceled. In response to her fourth attempt by certified mail, TransUnion sent her a postcard stating that it believed the submission did not come from her.
She ultimately sued the credit reporting agency in January. TransUnion settled the case shortly after the ProPublica article was published, but the case is still pending against Equifax and Experian, which denied the allegations in court.
Rebecca Shepherd at home in February. A Colorado accountant spent nearly a year trying to get $240,000 in unpaid debt removed from his credit report. Theo Strummer of ProPublica
The CFPB has previously been pressuring credit reporting agencies to correct mistakes and engage with consumers, and relief rates have increased under the Biden administration. However, after the change of administration, President Trump appointed Russell Vought as acting director of the CFPB. He immediately ordered the suspension of almost all agency operations. Under Vought, the agency tried to lay off many of its employees, but lawsuits have halted those efforts.
In response to concerns expressed by credit reporting industry lobby groups, the CFPB in February added a notice for consumers to click through before filing a complaint, warning that their requests may be ignored if they do not dispute the issue directly with the credit reporting agency.
A CFPB spokesperson told ProPublica in March that its complaint system has been flooded with submissions from bots and third-party credit repair companies, and that the CFPB is working to address this issue so that legitimate consumers can receive assistance more effectively.
In their letter, the senators also highlighted the implications of the system. “It is difficult to overstate the degree to which credit reports and scores generated by credit bureaus have permeated nearly every aspect of modern American life,” they write.
