A Practice Note explaining key issues counsel should consider when litigating private consumer lawsuits under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which governs the collection, maintenance, and disclosure of consumers' personal information. This Note addresses the scope of the FCRA and the entities it covers, preemption of state-law claims, the required mental state for civil liability under the FCRA, available damages and remedies under the FCRA, common bases for liability under the FCRA, common defenses to FCRA claims, and special considerations for FCRA class actions.