A more thorough explanation:

An investigative consumer report is a report that contains personal information about a consumer. These reports are created by investigative consumer report agencies and may be requested when applying for things like employment or housing. The information in these reports is obtained through personal interviews with neighbors, friends, or associates of the consumer, or through other means.

For example, the Fair Credit Reporting Act defines an investigative consumer report as a report that includes information on a consumer's character, general reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living that is obtained through personal interviews with people who know the consumer. However, this type of report does not include specific factual information on a consumer's credit record obtained directly from a creditor or a consumer reporting agency.

In California, an investigative consumer report is defined as a report that includes information on a consumer's character, general reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living that is obtained through any means. However, this type of report does not include a report that is limited to specific factual information about a consumer's credit record or manner of obtaining credit that is obtained directly from a creditor or a consumer reporting agency.

Overall, an investigative consumer report is a report that contains personal information about a consumer that is obtained through personal interviews or other means. These reports are subject to certain legal limitations and are often used in the context of employment or housing applications.