Four U.S. senators sent letters to TransUnion and Experian on Thursday demanding answers about a significant decline in how often the credit bureaus correct errors on consumer reports.
The inquiry follows a ProPublica investigation from March that found both companies had substantially reduced relief provided to complaints filed through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. According to CFPB data, TransUnion's rate of relief dropped sharply beginning in summer 2025, reaching roughly half its historical average by October. Experian went from providing relief to nearly 20% of consumer complaints in 2024 to less than 1% in 2025.
The decline coincided with the Trump administration's attempts to conduct mass layoffs at the CFPB and scale back much of the agency's oversight of the financial sector, according to ProPublica's reporting. The third major credit bureau, Equifax, did not see a similar drop in relief rates.
What the Right Is Saying
TransUnion provided a statement saying it would "appreciate the opportunity for meaningful engagement with policymakers regarding the robust and compliant processes TransUnion deploys." The company said it would respond directly to the senators' letter. Experian did not respond to requests for comment from ProPublica, though the company previously stated it investigates "all legitimate" complaints.
Industry representatives have argued that many recent consumer complaints are illegitimate rather than valid error disputes. Credit bureaus have pointed to a high volume of complaints filed by third-party credit repair organizations that charge consumers to challenge negative information on their reports—a practice critics say clutters the system without addressing genuine errors.
Equifax, which did not see a similar decline in relief rates, said it would engage with the letter and noted the company works to make it easier for consumers to "correct any potential errors quickly." The company entered a settlement with the CFPB last year aimed at fixing deficiencies in its consumer dispute processes.
What the Left Is Saying
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., the ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee and a key architect behind the creation of the CFPB, led the letters. Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Andy Kim of New Jersey, and Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware also signed on.
In their letter to Experian, the senators called ProPublica's findings "greatly concerning" and said they "raise significant questions about the legality" of the company's practices. The letter stated that the "drastic drop in responsiveness means that American consumers may be getting denied a mortgage or housing simply due to an error on their report that your company failed to correct."
Consumer advocates have pointed to the CFPB's reduced capacity as a factor in diminished oversight of credit reporting practices. Over 4 million consumer complaints about credit reporting were filed with the CFPB last year, according to agency data.
Warren and her colleagues requested detailed information from both companies on disputes, complaint handling processes, staffing levels, and correspondence with the CFPB—including communication regarding dropped or halted enforcement actions against TransUnion that ProPublica identified in its investigation.
What the Numbers Show
TransUnion's rate of relief to CFPB complaints had remained relatively steady for several years before dropping sharply in summer 2025. By October, it was providing relief roughly half as often as previous levels, according to ProPublica's analysis of CFPB data.
Experian's decline was even more dramatic: the bureau provided relief to nearly 20% of consumer complaints in 2024 but less than 1% in 2025, based on CFPB complaint data reviewed by ProPublica.
The third major credit bureau, Equifax, maintained consistent relief rates throughout this period. Last year, prior to President Donald Trump's inauguration, Equifax entered a settlement with the CFPB addressing deficiencies in its consumer dispute processes—though that agreement did not specifically mention CFPB complaints.
Over 4 million consumer complaints related to credit reporting were filed with the CFPB last year, representing a significant volume of disputes requiring resolution by the bureaus.
The Bottom Line
The senators have requested responses from TransUnion and Experian by late February. The inquiry puts political pressure on both companies amid ongoing debate about CFPB oversight capacity under the current administration.
TransUnion settled a lawsuit shortly after ProPublica's story was published involving Rebecca Sheppard, a Colorado accountant who spent nearly a year trying to remove a $240,000 debt she did not owe from her credit report. Cases against Equifax and Experian remain pending, with both companies having denied the allegations in court.
What to watch: Whether Congress pursues legislative fixes to strengthen consumer protections around credit reporting disputes, or whether oversight efforts remain focused on existing regulatory channels.