Reasonable Investigation
A reasonable investigation is the standard of review the FCRA requires of bureaus (under 611) and furnishers (under 623) when responding to a dispute — more than a perfunctory confirmation of existing data.
Why it matters in credit repair
The reasonableness of an investigation is often the crux of a dispute. An investigation that merely rubber-stamps a furnisher's automated response may fail this standard.
How it appears on a credit report
It is a legal standard applied to the dispute process, evidenced by how substantively a dispute was handled.
Example
A bureau "verifies" a disputed account without addressing the specific documented discrepancy, raising whether the investigation was reasonable.
Common misunderstanding
Consumers sometimes assume any response counts. Courts have treated reasonableness as fact-specific, weighing the substance of the dispute and the response.
Related terms
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