Which of the following should a consumer reporting agency do if it receives a request for a consumer report?

When a consumer reporting agency receives a request for a consumer report, it is essential for the agency to verify the identity of the requester before disclosing any personal information. This is a foundational requirement of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The purpose of verifying the identity is to ensure that personal and sensitive information is only shared with authorized individuals and to protect consumers from identity theft and unauthorized access to their credit information.

If an agency were to provide a report without verification, it would violate the consumer's privacy rights and potentially lead to severe consequences, such as misuse of the data or identity theft. Charging a fee without verifying the identity also poses risks, as it could lead to a scenario where unauthorized individuals pay for someone else's report. Additionally, delaying the request indefinitely would not comply with the FCRA requirements for timely handling of requests and might cause detrimental impacts on the consumer who is seeking information. Thus, identity verification is the critical and correct action needed when processing a request for a consumer report.