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Overview
The Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA) is the voice of the consumer reporting industry, representing consumer reporting agencies including the nationwide credit bureaus, regional and specialized credit bureaus, background check companies, and others. Founded in 1906, CDIA promotes the responsible use of consumer data to help consumers achieve their financial goals, and to help businesses, governments and volunteer organizations avoid fraud and manage risk. Through data and analytics, CDIA members empower economic opportunity, helping ensure fair and safe transactions for consumers, facilitating competition and expanding consumers’ access to financial and other products suited to their unique needs.
Dan Smith
President & CEO
Eric J. Ellman
Senior Vice President, Public Policy & Legal Affairs
Sheila M. Greenwood
Senior Vice President of Congressional Affairs and Chief of Staff
Anita Appel (Popwell)
Vice President, Education Services
Jackie Gulley
Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs
Sarah M. Ohs
Vice President, Government Relations
Kristine Poplawski Thomas
Vice President, Marketing, Events & Strategic Partnerships
Zachary Taylor
Director of Government Relations
Ally Zimmel
Manager, Education Services
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History
1906
(Rochester, NY) National Association of Retail Credit Agencies founded
1929
Association becomes a division of the National Retail Credit Association
1934
Association spins off from NCRA; becomes National Consumer Credit Reporting Corporation
1937
Renamed Associated Credit Bureaus of America (relocates to St. Louis, MO)
1964
ACB of A moves to Houston, TX (later renamed as Associated Credit Bureaus) Crediscope adopted – first uniform standards
for reporting of credit payments by lenders1970
Fair Credit Reporting Act [FCRA] enacted (substantially amended in 1996 and 2003)
mid 1970s
Metro Format developed by credit reporting industry – a standard format to ensure greater precision in reported data
1991
ACB relocates to Washington, DC
1997
Association introduces Metro 2® Format, an updated and more robust version of Metro
2001
Name changed to Consumer Data Industry Association
2003
Fair & Accurate Credit Transactions [FACT] Act passed
2006
Association celebrates Centennial Anniversary
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Industry
With consumer spending accounting for approximately 70% of the U.S. gross domestic product, CDIA members provide organizations with information and analytical products that are key to the success of our nation’s economy. Credit bureaus and specialty agencies offer fraud prevention and risk management tools that assist companies in assessing risk while ensuring fair and safe transactions for consumers. Resident and employment background check companies play a critical role in making our communities safer as well. CDIA members adhere to the Fair Credit Reporting Act which regulates how consumer reporting agencies use individuals’ information and protects consumer rights. The result is a detailed regulatory credit system that limits the sharing of information for permissible purposes only and has strict requirements on accuracy, consumer access and correction.
For information on eligibility for CDIA membership, please contact cdia@cdiaonline.org.
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Education Services
Robust regulatory compliance training promotes the health of the entire consumer data industry. CDIA Educational Services (CDIA ES)—drawing on CDIA’s more than 100 years of experience serving the consumer reporting industry—supplies comprehensive training solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of consumer reporting agencies, credit grantors and those who use and furnish information to consumer reporting agencies.
Now governing the ongoing training of over 25,000 employees representing various points along the consumer data industry’s spectrum, CDIA ES consults expert legal counsel from the nation’s capital to expand and enrich the training we offer our growing client base.