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HR 56 101th Congress House

Credit Repair Organizations Act

Official title: To prevent consumer abuse by credit repair organizations.

Introduced: January 3, 1989 See on congress.gov
Commerce Administrative remediesCivil actions and liabilityConsumer creditConsumer protection
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ContractsFinance and Financial SectorTorts
This bill died when the 101st Congress ended
It never became law before the 101st Congress (1989–1990) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 15, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs and Coinage.
Jan 3, 1989
Referred to the House Committee on Banking, Finance + Urban Affrs.
Jan 3, 1989
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 15, 1989

Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs and Coinage.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Credit Repair Organizations Act - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to prohibit any credit repair organization (any person who provides a service for the purpose of improving a consumer's credit record) from: (1) charging or receiving any money prior to the completion of its services (unless it has obtained a $50,000 surety bond); (2) charging or receiving money solely for the referral of a customer to a retailer if the credit which may be extended to the buyer is upon substantially the same terms as those available to the general public; (3) advising any client to make an untrue or misleading statement; or (4) using any untrue or misleading statement.

Requires the organization to provide the consumer with a written disclosure statement which includes a description of: (1) the consumer's rights; (2) the services to be provided by the organization; and (3) the total amount the consumer will be charged. Sets forth contract requirements and the rights of the consumer with regard to cancellation of such contract.

Subjects any organization which fails to comply with any provision of this Act to Federal civil liability.

Provides for the administrative enforcement of this Act by the Federal Trade Commission, as provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 56: Credit Repair Organizations Act. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-56/
MLA
"H.R. 56: Credit Repair Organizations Act." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-56/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 56, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-56/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 56: Credit Repair Organizations Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-56/)
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