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60 MINUTES SET-OUT TO INVESTIGATE THE CONSUMER CREDIT REPORTING INDUSTRY, A FOUR-BILLION-DOLLAR-A-YEAR INDUSTRY WHICH KEEPS FILES ON 200 MILLION AMERICANS AND TRAFFICS IN OUR FINANCIAL REPUTATIONS. THE CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES COLLECT DATA ABOUT CONSUMERS FROM CREDIT CARD COMPANIES, BANKS, CAR DEALERSHIPS, COLLECTION AGENCIES, AND COURT RECORDS; THEY COLLATE THE DATA AND CREATE CREDIT REPORTS WHICH THEY SELL TO BUSINESSES THAT USE THE REPORTS TO JUDGE OUR CREDITWORTHINESS AND RELIABILITY. AN ERROR ON A CREDIT REPORT CAN COST CONSUMERS A LOT OF MONEY AND A LOT OF HARDSHIP; AN ERROR CAN INCREASE THE INTEREST RATE ON LOANS, PREVENT SOMEONE FROM GETTING A MORTGAGE OR BUYING A CAR, LANDING A JOB OR GAINING SECURITY CLEARANCE.