Consumer rights to credit are protected by U.S. law. Credit must be extended without discrimination to all who qualify. It is illegal for companies to discriminate based on the sex and marital status of the applicant when extending credit. You have the right to:

• Obtain credit in your own name if you meet the creditor's criteria.
• Refuse to answer questions about your plans for having or raising children.
• Keep your own credit accounts after major life events such as marriage, divorce or widowhood as long as you meet the creditor's criteria.
• Know the specific reason your application for credit has been denied.
• Obtain a copy of your credit report from one of the three major U.S. credit bureaus. You are entitled to a free credit report if you have recently been denied credit.
• Have your side of the story placed in credit bureau files if unfavorable information cannot be eliminated.