U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced the Ending Scam Credit Repair Act (ESCRA) to crack down on fraudulent credit repair organizations that exploit consumers.
Introduce and support legislation to crack down on fraudulent credit repair organizations that exploit consumers.
Occurrences
introduced the Ending Scam Credit Repair Act to crack down on fraudulent credit repair organizations
The Ending Scam Credit Repair Act, introduced by Senators Coons and Murkowski, aims to address issues within the credit repair industry by banning upfront fees, prohibiting 'jamming' practices, requiring state registration of credit repair organizations, increasing civil penalties for violations, and mandating clear disclosures to consumers.
Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Murkowski introduced the Ending Scam Credit Repair Act (ESCRA) to address fraudulent practices by credit repair organizations.
Mr. Coons (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Bill Title: Ending Scam Credit Repair Act. Short Title: Ending Scam Credit Repair Act. Full Title: To amend the Credit Repair Organizations Act to add additional protections against harmful practices within the credit repair organization industry, and for other purposes.
Evidence
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On March 20, 2026, Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Murkowski introduced the Ending Scam Credit Repair Act (ESCRA) to address fraudulent practices by credit repair organizations. The bill aims to prohibit these organizations from collecting payment until six months after providing proof of credit score improvement, requires them to register with a state, increases civil penalties for violations, mandates stronger disclosures to consumers, and bans the practice of 'jamming' financial institutions with duplicative disputes.
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The Ending Scam Credit Repair Act (S. 4144) was introduced in the Senate on March 19, 2026, by Senator Coons and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. The bill seeks to amend the Credit Repair Organizations Act to add additional protections against harmful practices within the credit repair industry.
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On March 24, 2026, Senators Lisa Murkowski and Chris Coons introduced the Ending Scam Credit Repair Act to crack down on fraudulent credit repair organizations. The legislation includes provisions to prohibit upfront fees, ban 'jamming' practices, require state registration of credit repair organizations, and increase civil penalties for violations.
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The American Financial Services Association (AFSA) expressed support for the Ending Scam Credit Repair Act introduced by Senators Coons and Murkowski. AFSA highlighted that the bill aims to establish stronger protections and accountability standards for credit repair organizations, preventing them from inundating financial institutions with duplicative and meritless credit dispute requests.
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On March 23, 2026, the American Bankers Association reported that Senators Coons and Murkowski introduced the Ending Scam Credit Repair Act to strengthen consumer protections against deceptive practices by credit repair organizations. The bill includes provisions to prohibit upfront fees, ban 'jamming' tactics, and require stronger disclosures to consumers.
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On April 1, 2026, it was reported that Senators Coons and Murkowski introduced the Ending Scam Credit Repair Act to address fraudulent practices by credit repair organizations. The bill aims to impose new guardrails, including prohibiting upfront fees, banning 'jamming' practices, requiring state registration, and increasing civil penalties for violations.
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On March 26, 2026, it was reported that Senators Coons and Murkowski introduced the Ending Scam Credit Repair Act, which would prohibit credit repair organizations from collecting payment until six months after proving a consumer's credit score improvement. The bill also bans 'jamming' and requires state registration of credit repair companies.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
The Ending Scam Credit Repair Act, introduced by Senators Coons and Murkowski, aims to address issues within the credit repair industry by banning upfront fees, prohibiting 'jamming' practices, requiring state registration of credit repair organizations, increasing civil penalties for violations, and mandating clear disclosures to consumers.
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The introduced Senate bill states that Mr. Coons, for himself and Ms. Murkowski, introduced S. 4144, the Ending Scam Credit Repair Act, on March 19, 2026, and that it was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. The bill would amend the Credit Repair Organizations Act to add protections against harmful practices, including restricting advance payment until documented credit improvement, limiting repeated dispute submissions or jamming, strengthening disclosures, and adding $500-per-violation damages.
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The September 8, 2026 GovInfo Congressional Record Index entry for the Credit Repair Organizations Act lists S. 4144 under bills and resolutions and describes it as a bill to add additional protections against harmful practices within the credit repair organization industry, pointing to the March 19 Senate Congressional Record page.
Assessments
The promise was to introduce and support legislation, not necessarily to enact it. Official evidence shows Senator Coons was the primary sponsor of S. 4144, the Ending Scam Credit Repair Act, introduced March 19, 2026, during his current Senate term. The bill directly targets fraudulent credit repair organizations through restrictions on advance fees, jamming practices, registration, disclosures, and penalties. Because the promised action was legislative introduction/support and Coons personally introduced the bill, this counts as delivered in the same term even though the bill had not become law as of the reviewed record.
Senator Coons introduced and supported the Ending Scam Credit Repair Act, directly addressing the promise to crack down on fraudulent credit repair organizations. Multiple primary sources confirm introduction and advocacy for the legislation in the same term. However, there is no evidence the bill was passed into law or fully enacted, so the outcome is partial. The effort badge is awarded for clear legislative action.