Q31: DIf you are unable to resolve a disputed item with a CRA, what can you do?

Demographic and experience categories You have the right to delete the info from your credit report You have the right to add a statement to your credit report You cannot do anything Do not know
All respondents 5.4 ( 0.6) 40.6 ( 1.4) 6.6 ( 0.7) 47.4 ( 1.5)
AGE GROUP        
18 to 24 3.4 ( 1.7) 27.3 ( 4.5) 8.6 ( 2.6) 60.7 ( 5.0)
25 to 34 6.1 ( 1.7) 36.3 ( 3.4) 7.1 ( 1.9) 50.5 ( 3.6)
35 to 44 7.7 ( 1.8) 42.0 ( 3.4) 7.0 ( 1.7) 43.3 ( 3.4)
45 to 54 5.1 ( 1.3) 48.5 ( 3.3) 6.1 ( 1.6) 40.3 ( 3.2)
55 to 64 4.4 ( 1.5) 46.8 ( 3.7) 7.2 ( 2.1) 41.6 ( 3.6)
65 and older 3.4 ( 0.9) 40.7 ( 3.3) 5.7 ( 1.5) 50.3 ( 3.3)
INCOME        
Less than $25000 6.0 ( 1.2) 28.5 ( 2.1) 7.0 ( 1.3) 58.5 ( 2.3)
$25000 to $49999 5.1 ( 1.2) 40.7 ( 3.0) 6.5 ( 1.5) 47.7 ( 3.1)
$50000 to $74999 6.5 ( 1.7) 48.1 ( 3.6) 7.2 ( 1.7) 38.2 ( 3.5)
$75000+ 4.2 ( 1.3) 49.4 ( 3.4) 7.1 ( 1.8) 39.3 ( 3.4)
EDUCATION        
Less than high school 4.6 ( 1.6) 24.2 ( 3.3) 3.4 ( 1.2) 67.9 ( 3.6)
High school 7.6 ( 1.3) 33.4 ( 2.4) 6.9 ( 1.3) 52.2 ( 2.6)
Some post-secondary education 5.9 ( 1.3) 43.2 ( 2.8) 5.4 ( 1.3) 45.5 ( 2.9)
BA or more 2.9 ( 0.8) 51.0 ( 2.8) 8.5 ( 1.5) 37.6 ( 2.7)
ETHNICITY        
White 4.1 ( 0.8) 43.6 ( 1.9) 7.4 ( 1.0) 44.9 ( 1.9)
Black 10.1 ( 1.9) 35.1 ( 2.9) 4.4 ( 1.2) 50.4 ( 3.0)
Hispanic 7.5 ( 1.6) 28.9 ( 2.9) 3.5 ( 1.1) 60.1 ( 3.1)
Other 6.4 ( 3.0) 45.0 ( 6.4) 8.9 ( 3.5) 39.7 ( 6.2)
SEX        
Male 5.9 ( 1.0) 40.0 ( 2.3) 6.8 ( 1.1) 47.3 ( 2.4)
Female 5.0 ( 0.8) 41.4 ( 1.8) 6.4 ( 0.9) 47.3 ( 1.8)
EMPLOYMENT STATUS        
Actively employed (FT or PT) 5.2 ( 0.9) 42.5 ( 1.9) 7.0 ( 1.0) 45.3 ( 2.0)
Student 5.0 ( 2.6) 20.6 ( 6.7) 12.9 ( 5.2) 61.5 ( 8.0)
Not employed (homemaker, retired, unemployed) 5.4 ( 1.0) 39.0 ( 2.3) 5.6 ( 1.1) 49.9 ( 2.3)
Other 6.7 ( 2.4) 42.6 ( 6.3) 2.7 ( 2.0) 48.1 ( 6.5)
GEOGRAPHIC RESIDENCE        
Resident of a free report state (CO, GA, ME, MD, MA, NJ, VT) 6.1 ( 1.3) 39.5 ( 3.0) 9.0 ( 1.9) 45.4 ( 3.1)
Resident of another state 5.3 ( 0.7) 40.8 ( 1.6) 6.2 ( 0.8) 47.7 ( 1.6)
FINANCIAL AND CREDIT REPORT EXPERIENCE        
Obtained a credit report 6.6 ( 0.9) 47.3 ( 1.9) 6.7 ( 0.9) 39.4 ( 1.9)
Did not obtain a credit report 3.8 ( 0.8) 31.5 ( 2.1) 6.3 ( 1.1) 58.4 ( 2.2)
         
Obtained credit score 6.6 ( 1.3) 50.1 ( 2.5) 6.3 ( 1.2) 37.0 ( 2.5)
Did not obtain credit score 4.8 ( 0.7) 36.0 ( 1.7) 6.7 ( 0.9) 52.5 ( 1.8)
         
Disputed information on credit report 6.6 ( 1.5) 55.4 ( 3.3) 8.6 ( 1.8) 29.3 ( 3.1)
Did not dispute credit report information 5.1 ( 0.7) 37.4 ( 1.6) 6.1 ( 0.8) 51.4 ( 1.6)
         
Had an auto or mortgage loan 5.3 ( 0.7) 45.5 ( 1.7) 6.7 ( 0.8) 42.4 ( 1.7)
Did not have an auto or mortgage loan 5.7 ( 1.3) 24.1 ( 2.5) 6.0 ( 1.3) 64.2 ( 2.8)
         
Was a victim of identity theft 9.5 ( 3.0) 44.6 ( 4.4) 6.1 ( 2.0) 39.8 ( 4.2)
Was not a victim of identity theft 5.0 ( 0.6) 40.2 ( 1.5) 6.6 ( 0.8) 48.2 ( 1.5)
         
Obtained credit report due to an adverse action 5.9 ( 2.0) 45.3 ( 5.2) 5.3 ( 2.1) 43.5 ( 5.2)
Did not obtain credit report due to an adverse action 5.4 ( 0.7) 40.2 ( 1.5) 6.7 ( 0.8) 47.8 ( 1.5)

Percent estimates totaling 100% within each demographic and experience category, with standard errors in parentheses
 
GAO-05-411SP Credit Reporting Literacy Survey Data
Full Report: GAO-05-223