Your Rights in Credit

Prohibited Practices in Credit Services

Under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, credit is a protected area, and it is illegal to treat you differently in credit because of your: race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, public assistance, sexual orientation.

With limited exceptions, the following actions constitute a violation the Human Rights Act in credit when, because of your protected class status,

Stores and any other institutions offering personal or commercial credit, credit card issuers - deny the extension of personal or commercial credit because of a person's membership in a protected class.

Set requirements for obtaining credit because of a person's membership in a protected class.

Deny credit because a tenant is receiving federal, state, or local housing subsidies.

Credit card issuers - Refuse to issue a credit card to a woman under her current or former surname.

Unless there is an intent to defraud or mislead.