Are courts and government agencies considered "furnishers" under the FCRA?

"Furnishers" under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) are typically defined as entities that provide consumer information to credit reporting agencies. This definition generally includes creditors, lenders, and service providers that report data related to consumer accounts, such as payment history and account status.

Courts and government agencies do not typically fall within this definition. While they may have information that impacts consumer credit reports—such as judgments, liens, or certain regulatory actions—they are not in the business of furnishing information to credit reporting agencies in the same way that financial institutions do. Instead, they operate as information sources rather than active data furnishers, and their reporting is generally limited to specific legal or regulatory obligations rather than ongoing credit reporting.

Thus, the understanding that courts and government agencies are not considered "furnishers" aligns with the standards and definitions established by the FCRA, which focuses on the role and responsibilities of entities that routinely provide consumer credit information.