What are investigative consumer reports characterized by?

Investigative consumer reports are characterized by their inclusion of interviews with acquaintances, friends, or associates of the consumer. This means that these reports often delve into aspects of a consumer's background and personal history beyond simple credit data. The purpose of these reports is to gather a more comprehensive understanding of a consumer's character, reputation, and lifestyle, which can involve insights from those who know the individual personally.

This contrasts sharply with options related to financial transactions or credit data, which do not encompass the breadth of personal insights that investigative reports aim to provide. Additionally, reports created without consumer involvement do not align with the foundational principles of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which mandates that consumers be informed when these reports are generated about them and provides certain rights regarding the information collected. Therefore, the inclusion of firsthand accounts in investigative consumer reports is central to their definition and purpose.