Which of the following items cannot be included in a consumer report according to the FCRA?

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), specific guidelines determine what can and cannot be included in a consumer report, particularly concerning the age of certain derogatory items. A collection account may remain on a consumer report for a maximum of seven years from the date of the first delinquency leading to the collection. Since the example indicates that the collection account is 8 years old, it exceeds this permissible timeframe and, therefore, cannot be included in a consumer report.

In contrast, the other items mentioned in the options either adhere to the restrictions of how long they can remain in a report or are not subject to the same limits. For instance, a misdemeanor conviction remains reportable for 5 years, while a felony conviction can remain indefinitely. An arrest record can be reported for 7 years. Thus, the collection account is the only item that, due to its age, cannot legally be included in a consumer report according to FCRA regulations.