R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 6-13.1 § 6-13.1-24
Registration with secretary of state
Operative Text
Any credit bureau doing business in this state shall immediately register in the office of the secretary of state and shall state its corporate or company name; agent for service of process; business address; and phone number. Any credit bureau shall notify the office of secretary of state, in writing, of any change in name, agent, address, or telephone number within thirty (30) days of the change.
Rhode Island General Laws § 6-13.1-24 requires any credit bureau operating in the state to register with the Secretary of State's office, providing its corporate or company name, agent for service of process, business address, and phone number. If any of that information changes, the credit bureau must notify the Secretary of State in writing within 30 days of the change. This provision is designed to ensure that credit bureaus operating in Rhode Island maintain current, publicly accessible contact and identification information with the state.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-24, landlords who rely on credit bureaus to screen tenants should be aware that any credit bureau they use is required to be registered with the Rhode Island Secretary of State. Compliant operators typically verify that the consumer reporting agencies they engage with maintain current registration information, including a valid agent for service of process and business address. Keeping records of which credit bureaus are used for tenant screening can help demonstrate due diligence in the event a question arises about a bureau's compliance status.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Rhode Island General Laws § 6-13.1-24 gives tenants a basis to check whether a credit bureau that has reported information about them is properly registered with the Rhode Island Secretary of State. If a credit bureau operating in the state has failed to register or maintain current registration details, that may be relevant to any dispute involving that bureau's activities. Tenants who believe a credit bureau is operating out of compliance with § 6-13.1-24 can consult a tenant-rights organization or review the Secretary of State's public records to learn more about their options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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