The Equal Credit Opportunity Act, or ECOA, (E-C-O-A) is a federal law designed to prevent certain types of discrimination against those applying for credit.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act is a large body of law that regulates the use and maintenance of consumer credit files. Its basic purpose is to ensure fair, accurate information and to protect the consumer's privacy.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA (F-D-C-P-A), is a set of guidelines intended to prevent abusive, deceptive, and unfair practices by those collecting debts.

The Truth in Lending Act is a federal law designed to help consumers compare the terms of various lenders. There are many ways to calculate interest and various fees which may be charged, all of which affect the total cost of your loan.