TRW Inc., in two suits filed Tuesday, said federal law prohibits attorneys general in six states from bringing legal action against its besieged consumer credit business.

The company named as defendants the attorneys general of New York and Texas. TRW, one of the nation's largest credit agencies, said it meets "not only the letter but the spirit" of the law.

On Monday, the attorneys general from Texas, California and three other states sued TRW in Dallas, accusing the company of illegal practices that damaged the credit of thousands of consumers. New York's attorney general filed a similar suit on Tuesday in Manhattan.

The suits maintained that TRW's Credit Data division invaded the privacy of thousands of consumers by selling credit-derived information to junk mailers. The suits also alleged that TRW damaged the credit of many consumers by failing to promptly correct errors on credit reports.

TRW maintains that the suits are improper because the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act supersedes state laws. In a statement, the company said the lawsuits "followed months of discussions with both attorneys general's offices. The discussions have unfortunately reached an impasse."

The company said it would "protect its rights to provide consumer credit information to its customers" so that they "may serve the needs of consumers."

The lawsuits against TRW come as the credit-reporting industry faces increasing scrutiny for allegedly poor record-keeping that has cost consumers loans, credit cards and even jobs. Congress is reviewing five proposals to strengthen the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the California Legislature is considering ways to tighten the state's laws.

Meanwhile, TRW is appealing what is believed to be the largest damages award in credit-reporting lawsuit. In April, a Wyoming jury awarded $290,000 to Paul K. Jacques, who said he was denied an auto loan because TRW confused him with his father, Paul J. Jacques. Industry analysts said it is probable that TRW will be hit with other suits from consumers, especially in wake of the suits by the six attorneys general. But these analysts said the suits probably will not have a large financial impact on TRW, an aerospace and defense contractor with $8 billion in annual revenue. Its consumer credit business, though highly profitable, accounts for about $300 million in annual revenue.