On February 6, the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas issued a 90-day stay of the upcoming March 17 effective date of the CFPB’s rule banning medical debt from appearing on credit reports. The plaintiffs are two trade groups representing consumer reporting agencies and state and federally chartered credit unions that use credit reports. The order also granted the CFPB’s request for a 90-day stay of the underlying lawsuit challenging the rule.

The CFPB announced the rulemaking in January (covered by InfoBytes here). The final rule amends the FCRA’s implementing Regulation V and would prohibit credit reporting companies from including unpaid medical bills on credit reports sent to lenders, as well as prohibit lenders from considering medical information when making credit decisions.