Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Chex Systems, Inc. (ChexSystems) is a nationwide specialty consumer reporting agency under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Chexsystems' clients regularly contribute information on closed checking and savings accounts. ChexSystems provides services to financial institutions and other types of companies that have a permissible purpose under the FCRA. ChexSystems' services primarily assist its clients in assessing the risk of opening new accounts.

Chex Systems, Inc. is a nationwide specialty consumer-reporting agency governed by the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and any applicable state statutes.

ChexSystems is governed by the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This consumer protection legislation is designed to ensure that the gathering and sharing of consumer information is done accurately, fairly and with respect for the consumer's right to privacy. You can request a copy of your consumer disclosure report at any time. In accordance with the FCRA, your consumer report can only be disclosed to others having a permissible purpose (legal right) for that information.

Examples of legitimate requests include:

• According to your written instructions
• A business transaction initiated by you
• Pursuant to a court order or federal grand jury subpoena
• Your application for a license or other benefit granted by the government, when consideration of financial responsibility is required by law
• A child support determination, under certain circumstances

ChexSystems currently supports online transactions using Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 or higher browser. ChexSystems recognizes the privacy of the information you provide to us and takes steps to ensure the privacy and security of consumer transactions. We use Secure Socket Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS) to encrypt internet transactions, which makes it safe to enter and transmit personal information over the Internet.

Our current practice is to retain record of reported information for a period of five years from the report date unless the source of the information requests its removal or ChexSystems becomes obligated to remove it under applicable law or policy.

The source of the information is under no obligation to remove an accurate report of account mishandling, even after payment of monies owed. However, the source of information is obligated to update the report with a paid in full or settled in full date when applicable.

You can request a copy of your consumer disclosure report from ChexSystems.

If you are submitting a request on behalf of someone other than yourself, and that person is not a minor, you must submit the request by mail or fax and you must include the following documentation authorizing ChexSystems to communicate with and provide information to you:

• A notarized Power of Attorney or
• A notarized copy of specific written instructions signed by the consumer

If you are submitting a request on behalf of a minor, you must submit the request by mail or fax and you must include all of the following documentation:

• A notarized copy of the minor's birth certificate
• A legible copy of the minor's Social Security card
• A legible copy of the parent or legal guardian's driver's license or state identification card
• Proof of address for the parent or legal guardian (in the form of a pay stub, utility bill or other official document bearing the address to which correspondence is to be sent)
• If your name does not appear on the birth certificate, a copy of a document confirming legal guardianship is required. The proof of guardianship must be an official court or other legally binding document.

You have a right to dispute any information in your consumer file that you believe may be inaccurate or incomplete. Please select the following link to obtain information about how to submit your dispute.

You may be entitled to add a brief statement to your consumer file describing the nature of your dispute of the information. Please select the following link to obtain information about how to submit your statement.

Under the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), consumer credit reporting agencies are permitted to include your name on lists used by creditors or insurers to make pre-screened offers of credit or insurance that are not initiated by you.

The FCRA also provides you the right to Opt-Out, which prevents consumer credit reporting agencies from providing your credit file information for pre-screened offers. If you choose to opt-out, your name and address will be removed from the lists these offers are based on. You may opt-out with the nationwide credit bureaus at 888.5 OPTOUT (888.567.8688). You may opt-out with ChexSystems at 877.OPTOUT 5 (877.678.6885). You may also click here to submit an online request to opt-out with ChexSystems.

Consumers under the age of 21 will not be considered for prescreened offers unless specific consent is provided. If you are under 21 and would like Chex Systems, Inc. to allow prescreened offers of credit and insurance for you, your explicit consent must be submitted in writing to Chex Systems, Inc. Attn: Consumer Relations at 7805 Hudson Road, Suite 100, Woodbury, MN 55125.

You may submit a complaint to Chex Systems, Inc. by:

Mail
Chex Systems, Inc.
Attn: Complaints
7805 Hudson Road, Suite 100
Woodbury, MN 55125

Fax
602.659.2197

You may contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau by:
 

If you are using Internet Explorer, you will see a lock icon displayed in the address bar when you are on a secure page. You will also see HTTPS preceding the URL.

ChexSystems neither approves nor declines accounts. The decision depends on the policies of the institution you attempt to do business with.

Chex Systems, Inc. (ChexSystems) defines standard proof of identity as the following information. Keep in mind that there may be instances where ChexSystems requests other information as needed to complete your request.

• Name
• Social Security Number
• Driver's License or State Identification
• Current Address
• Previous Addresses

We ask for this information to ensure that we make a complete and accurate search and are able to identify and provide you with all information that may pertain to you.

Identifying Information means any name or number that may be used, alone or in conjunction with any other information, to identify a specific person, including any: Name, social security number, date of birth, official state or government issued driver's license or identification number, alien registration number, government passport number, employer or taxpayer identification number; unique biometric data, such as fingerprint, voice print, retina or iris image, or other unique physical representation; unique electronic identification number, address, or routing code; or Telecommunication identifying information or access device.

This information is masked to protect the privacy of your personal information. If you would like to receive a copy of your report with unmasked data, please submit your request in writing, with a clear indication of what information you would like to receive unmasked.

We are required by law to communicate directly with the individual to whom the information pertains. We strictly adhere to this to protect consumer privacy.  To communicate with anyone else, we must first receive a notarized Power of Attorney or notarized specific written instructions, signed by the consumer whose information is being requested, authorizing us to communicate with and disclose information to the person named in the notarized document.

In order to complete the forms electronically, please save a copy of the form to your computer. Complete the form, save the information and name the file. You will then have the ability to print the form and either mail or fax to ChexSystems.

The FTC has published a summary of your rights under the FCRA. This information can be found by selecting the following link:  ChexSystems FCRA Summary of Rights.