Following the highly popular CDIA Connect session, join us for a companion webinar that takes a deeper look at the rising threat of credit washing and its effects on the integrity of the credit reporting system. This extended discussion with Lee-Madeline Dowls, Managing Director of Operational Compliance and Remediation, Stellantis Financial Services, Jason Kratovil, Head of Policy and External Affairs, SentiLink, Andrew Smith, Partner, Covington & Burling, LLP and Moderator, Dan Smith, President & CEO, CDIA, will build on the insights introduced during the session, providing additional perspectives, examples, and practical strategies for addressing this evolving risk.
Attendees will learn how this practice can distort credit risk assessments, undermine confidence in credit data, and create downstream losses for lenders and other market participants. Speakers will explore current patterns and red flags associated with credit washing, discuss how it interacts with broader fraud and dispute-management trends, and highlight emerging practices for identifying and addressing suspicious activity. The session will also consider how industry stakeholders can work together to protect consumers while preserving accurate, reliable credit reporting.
Key takeaways include:
- How credit washing exploits identity‑theft dispute and blocking requirements under the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act)
- The data quality and governance gaps that allow legitimate tradelines to be suppressed
- Risks to lenders and consumers created by distorted credit profiles and inflated scores
- Regulatory, litigation, and reputational exposure tied to weak dispute and data‑handling controls
- Practical approaches to balancing fraud prevention with consumer protection and fairness
