How to Dispute Your Record with Contemporary Information Corp (CIC)

What Contemporary Information Corp (CIC) Does

Tenant screening companies provide background check reports to landlords and property managers. These reports often include criminal history, eviction records, and credit information. If your record has been expunged or sealed, these companies may still have old data in their databases that shows up when you apply for housing.

Dispute Contact Information

Use the following contact information to send your FCRA dispute to Contemporary Information Corp (CIC). The recommended method is online portal, but sending via certified mail in addition to any other method is recommended to preserve your legal rights.

How to File an FCRA Dispute with Contemporary Information Corp (CIC)

The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to dispute any information in your consumer file that you believe is inaccurate, incomplete, or should not be reported. Here is the step-by-step process for disputing your record with Contemporary Information Corp (CIC).

1. Step 1. Gather your documentation: a copy of your court order (expungement, sealing, dismissal, or set-aside), a government-issued photo ID, and any case disposition paperwork. The more specific your documentation, the faster the investigation.
2. Step 2. Request a copy of your consumer report from Contemporary Information Corp (CIC). Under the FCRA, you are entitled to one free copy per year, or a free copy if you have been denied employment or housing based on their report. Review it to identify the specific item you need to dispute.
3. Step 3. Write a dispute letter that identifies the specific record you are disputing, explains why it is inaccurate or should not be reported (e.g., "This record was expunged by court order on [date]"), and requests correction or deletion. Include your full name, date of birth, and current address so the company can locate your file.
4. Step 4. You can submit your dispute through Contemporary Information Corp (CIC)'s online portal. However, consider also sending a certified mail copy — online portals may include arbitration agreements in their terms of service that could limit your legal options if the company fails to comply.
5. Step 5. The company has 30 days from receiving your dispute to complete their investigation. Under 15 U.S.C. Section 1681i, they must either verify the accuracy of the reported information, correct it, or delete it. If they cannot verify it, they are required by law to remove it.
6. Step 6. If the company does not respond within 30 days, or responds but refuses to correct an inaccurate record, you have several options: file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov/complaint, consult a consumer protection attorney (many take FCRA cases on contingency), or contact your state attorney general's office.

Your Legal Rights Under the FCRA

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates companies like Contemporary Information Corp (CIC) that compile and sell consumer information. It gives you specific, enforceable rights — these are not requests or suggestions. Companies that violate these rights face real legal consequences, including statutory damages of $100 to $1,000 per willful violation, plus attorney fees.

The Bigger Picture: Contemporary Information Corp (CIC) Is One of 164+ Companies

Disputing your record with Contemporary Information Corp (CIC) is one step. But your arrest or criminal record data has likely been scraped and distributed across the private background check industry — a network of 164+ companies that independently maintain their own databases.

Filing a dispute with Contemporary Information Corp (CIC) does not automatically update other companies. Each company maintains its own database and requires its own dispute. People who go the fully DIY route typically spend 20 to 40 hours researching companies, writing individualized letters, tracking responses, and following up when the 30-day windows expire.

That said, this is absolutely something you can do yourself. The law is on your side. The FCRA gives you real leverage. The main obstacle is not complexity — it is time and organization.

Other Tenant Screening Companies

These companies operate in the same category as Contemporary Information Corp (CIC). If your record appears in one company's database, it may also appear in others.