Credit Report Attorney Corrects Errors on Credit
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The Best Way to Fix Mistakes in Your Credit Report and Protect Your Rights is to Work with a Credit Report Lawyer.
A credit report attorney practices consumer protection law focused on helping clients handle and fix errors in credit reports. “Consumer” means anyone who buys goods and services, which is all of us! Credit reports are important because companies called creditors use them to decide whether to approve an application for a mortgage, car loan, job opportunity, rental property, vacation property, home equity loan, insurance coverage, credit card, benefits programs, etc.
Mistakes in credit reports happen every day, negatively impacting the lives of thousands of people. Independent research found that slightly over one-third of people have mistakes in a report. When errors cause you harm, a credit reporting lawyer applies federal and state laws to your issues to help dispute the errors on your credit, fix your credit file, improve your credit score, sue the credit bureaus, and get you compensation if you are entitled to it.
An attorney that specializes in credit reporting does the same work as lawyers that handle credit reports for people harmed by errors.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act
The federal government enacted the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to protect consumers.
The FCRA ensures that people have certain legal rights and protections and that the companies in charge of gathering, reviewing, and reporting data do so accurately and carefully. Those companies are called consumer reporting agencies (CRAs). The largest and most well-known CRAs are the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Sometimes people think CRA stands for credit reporting agencies, so we use this term interchangeably.
The FCRA gives you certain rights, such as the right to:
- know which information in a credit report caused a denial;
- review your credit reports for free;
- dispute errors in credit reports, including mixed credit files, non-reportable data, false deceased designations, and false data caused by identity theft;
- file lawsuits against the companies that harm you;
- seek compensation when errors show up in credit reports.
The FCRA also obligates credit agencies to:
- produce accurate credit reports;
- investigate and respond within 30 days;
- fix credit reporting errors;
- pay compensation to people harmed by errors;
- pay for your legal costs and fees if you file a lawsuit and win.
What Do Credit Reporting Lawyers Do?
A credit report lawyer helps to protect consumers who are harmed by inaccurate, misleading, or false information in a credit report. The lawyers do this by fighting credit bureaus to restore your good credit.
- Know the law. A credit report attorney knows the federal laws, like the FCRA, that protect you, but also knows the specific state laws where you live. Because of this, they are sometimes called a Fair Credit Reporting Act lawyer or FCRA lawyer.
- Identify the problem. A credit lawyer reviews the reports and data from other sources to identify the problem with your report. All kinds of mistakes can happen, including a mixed or merged credit file, deceased reporting, identity theft problems, etc. Then creditors deny you access to opportunities.
- Provide legal advice and guidance. A credit report lawyer guides you through the dispute process. Without an attorney, it may involve stalls, delays, inadequate investigations, and failure to correct errors adequately. A lawyer advises best practices for when and how to file, sets expectations, leads the process, and knows when and if it’s time to sue.
- File a credit dispute. Whether it’s a mixed credit report, identity theft, or some other credit reporting errors, a credit reporting attorney knows how to file a dispute to quickly and completely resolve the mistakes. The lawyer advises on all the documents you’ll need, drafts the letter, marks up all supporting documentation, and submits the entire package.
- Sues reporting agencies for FCRA violations. When credit report errors are not easily, quickly, or satisfactorily resolved, suing CRAs becomes necessary. A credit lawyer knows the specifics of how to do this and how to restore your credit score.
- Gets you compensation. If you’re entitled to compensation because of the type or extent of the harm you suffered, then your lawyer can ensure that you get the maximum amount possible.
Disputing Errors on Your Credit Report
We recommend working with a credit attorney to dispute errors on your credit report, but you can give it a shot on your own. The basic procedures you’ll follow to fix mistakes are:
- review your credit reports from all three credit bureaus.
- clearly mark all inaccurate, misleading, or false information. This includes information that should not have been reported due to time limits on the reporting of certain data. Be aware that mixed data may be present, so confirm all details, including dates, names, spellings, etc.
- review the credit dispute procedures and addresses on each website.
- draft and prepare the package (letter, marked-up credit report, supporting documents).
- submit the dispute package via certified mail. The CRAs have online platforms available, but we advise against using these because it may require you to waive your right to sue the companies. Filing via certified mail preserves your ability to sue.
Suing Credit Reporting Agencies
An FCRA attorney can sue the credit agencies on your behalf. Whether to file a lawsuit depends on the nature and extent of the inaccurate information, the harm it caused, or the pace of the corrections. In other words, if the mistakes are especially awful, the harm is especially bad, the dispute process is inadequate, or they fail to correct your credit history, these are all reasons that you might sue to enforce FCRA compliance.
The law firm will know when it is time to file a lawsuit. It will also draft and handle all of the legal documents, timing, communication, requests, document gathering, negotiation, settlement, trial, etc.
Our Credit Reporting Attorneys Can Help You
At Consumer Attorneys, our team of credit lawyers knows the law, including the FCRA and all state-specific laws, which means we know your legal rights and how to protect you from a credit reporting agency that doesn’t comply with their legal obligations.
Many of the issues are due to mixed reports, but regardless of the source, these errors can show up in many ways on your credit history.
- Repossession that never occurred.
- Paid credit cards reported as outstanding debts with a creditor.
- Discharged accounts in bankruptcy reported as delinquent.
- Bankruptcy that never occurred.
- Incorrectly reporting accounts as charged off or in collections.
- Discharged tax lien reported as current debt.
- Reporting derogatory accounts older than seven years.
- Reinsertion of previously deleted accounts.
- Duplicate reporting of the same account.
- Forbearance or deferment on loans reported as delinquent.
Our credit attorneys can help with any of these issues or any other variation of inaccurate reporting that arises. So, if you are currently searching for an “FCRA lawyer near me,” you can stop searching and feel good about your choice to contact Consumer Attorneys.
Trust Our Credit Reporting Attorneys
With over seventy-five years of combined experience, we’ve helped thousands of clients challenge credit reporting issues and win. Our attorneys are skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable about FCRA compliance and other consumer protection legislation at the state and federal levels.
And, as true consumer advocates, we not only sue credit agencies, but we are also active in the National Association of Consumer Advocates and the National Consumer Law Center.
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Our Clients Speak
J
Julie
11/2022
Due to negative items on my credit report, I was unable to rent or obtain credit. The attorneys [at Consumer Attorneys] were very accommodating and thoroughly explained everything.
D
Dustin
08/2023
A
Angela
11/2022
I was fixing up my credit history due to a huge debt from credit cards. Consumer Attorneys was able to explain everything to me and they always accommodated me with anything I needed.
S
Sam
08/2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you check your credit report?
You check a credit report by requesting and reviewing it from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion, the three largest and most used national credit bureaus or credit reporting agencies (CRAs). These CRAs buy data from a wide range of sources to compile consumer credit reports. Under federal law, consumers can request a free copy of their credit report annually.
There are three ways that consumers can request a copy of their free credit report: online at annualcreditreport.com, by phone at 877-322-8228, or by mailing a request form which can be printed at annualcreditreport.com. Online requests should only be made through the above government-verified site.
Additionally, if you are denied a loan (mortgage, home equity, car financing, etc.) because of information in a credit report, you can request a copy for review. So, even if you accessed your free report earlier in the year, you are always entitled to review a current copy following a denial.
There are three ways that consumers can request a copy of their free credit report: online at annualcreditreport.com, by phone at 877-322-8228, or by mailing a request form which can be printed at annualcreditreport.com. Online requests should only be made through the above government-verified site.
Additionally, if you are denied a loan (mortgage, home equity, car financing, etc.) because of information in a credit report, you can request a copy for review. So, even if you accessed your free report earlier in the year, you are always entitled to review a current copy following a denial.
How Accurate Are Your Credit Reports?
Credit reports can certainly be accurate. But just as certainly, they can include misleading, false, or inaccurate information. Errors in credit reports can be caused by mixing up consumer identities, inaccurate reporting of the facts, failure to fact-check or update data, reporting living people as deceased, identity theft, or even simple typos in a consumer's personal information. Consumer Reports, an independent, non-profit consumer advocacy organization, found that up to one-third of Americans discovered erroneous information in a credit report. In fact, the risk of errors is significant enough that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends proactively checking your credit report annually rather than simply waiting to discover any potential errors when you apply for credit.
If you are made aware of errors in your credit report at any time, reach out to a credit reporting attorney to discuss your situation and make a plan. At Consumer Attorneys, we help you navigate these errors from day one. If litigation is necessary, we sue the responsible companies, and they pay all our attorneys’ fees and costs.
If you are made aware of errors in your credit report at any time, reach out to a credit reporting attorney to discuss your situation and make a plan. At Consumer Attorneys, we help you navigate these errors from day one. If litigation is necessary, we sue the responsible companies, and they pay all our attorneys’ fees and costs.
How can I dispute a credit report?
If you discover misleading, false, or inaccurate information in your credit report, you should dispute it immediately. Timing is crucial if this discovery comes to light during a credit check and results in a loan denial or unfavorable terms.
First, contact a skilled consumer rights attorney. At Consumer Attorneys, consultations are always free, and our expert legal guidance can lessen the time, frustration, and financial consequences of an inaccurate credit report. Second, dispute the error(s) with the consumer reporting agency (CRA) reporting the mistake. To avoid the potential of losing your rights to sue in court you should always send your dispute by mail. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides dispute contact information and links to the big three CRAs: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Be sure to confirm and dispute errors with all three, if necessary. Third, provide all documentation in support of your dispute. Fourth, if you haven't already done so, contact a credit reporting attorney.
First, contact a skilled consumer rights attorney. At Consumer Attorneys, consultations are always free, and our expert legal guidance can lessen the time, frustration, and financial consequences of an inaccurate credit report. Second, dispute the error(s) with the consumer reporting agency (CRA) reporting the mistake. To avoid the potential of losing your rights to sue in court you should always send your dispute by mail. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides dispute contact information and links to the big three CRAs: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Be sure to confirm and dispute errors with all three, if necessary. Third, provide all documentation in support of your dispute. Fourth, if you haven't already done so, contact a credit reporting attorney.
What is the fastest way to dispute credit report?
The fastest way to dispute errors in a credit report is not necessarily the best way. It is likely the fastest to use the online platforms provided by the three largest and most used national credit reporting agencies (CRAs)- Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. However, the best way to dispute your credit report is in writing. Most importantly, utilizing the online dispute platform requires you to agree to the terms and conditions of the dispute, which, not surprisingly, is not in your favor. For instance, you may have to agree to arbitration stripping away your rights to sue the consumer reporting agency that is causing you harm. Second, you can stay organized, efficient, and consistent by keeping track of everything in a document that you can edit, update, and print as needed. Sign and date everything and send it via certified mail, maintaining records of every letter and document sent.
By law, CRAs have thirty days to investigate disputes identified when a credit report is requested as part of a transaction, such as a mortgage or loan application. This period can be extended by fifteen days if supporting information is submitted at a later date. For this reason, it is essential to be fully prepared at the time of the initial complaint. CRAs also have five days to notify you of the results post-investigation. And, if you are disputing an error discovered while reviewing your free annual credit report, the CRAs have an extended period of forty-five days for the investigation.
The best bet to ward off unnecessary delays and insufficient investigations is to let Consumer Attorneys guide you through the process before you even put anything in the mail.
By law, CRAs have thirty days to investigate disputes identified when a credit report is requested as part of a transaction, such as a mortgage or loan application. This period can be extended by fifteen days if supporting information is submitted at a later date. For this reason, it is essential to be fully prepared at the time of the initial complaint. CRAs also have five days to notify you of the results post-investigation. And, if you are disputing an error discovered while reviewing your free annual credit report, the CRAs have an extended period of forty-five days for the investigation.
The best bet to ward off unnecessary delays and insufficient investigations is to let Consumer Attorneys guide you through the process before you even put anything in the mail.
What are the chances of winning a credit dispute?
The chances of winning a credit dispute over misleading, false, or inaccurate information are high if you collaborate with a skilled and knowledgeable credit reporting attorney to navigate the legal landscape of consumer rights and corporate obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
While you may still be successful on your own, frequently, those gathering, reviewing, and providing consumer credit data for profit lack the incentive to complete thorough investigations of disputed information. Consumers who enter the dispute process without the aid of an attorney may run up against repeated roadblocks, such as an insistence by one or all of the companies involved that the data has been verified as accurate when only a cursory or superficial investigation has been completed. At Consumer Attorneys, this is our wheelhouse. Importantly, if litigation is necessary, we only get paid if you win, and the companies we sue pay all our attorneys’ fees and costs.
While you may still be successful on your own, frequently, those gathering, reviewing, and providing consumer credit data for profit lack the incentive to complete thorough investigations of disputed information. Consumers who enter the dispute process without the aid of an attorney may run up against repeated roadblocks, such as an insistence by one or all of the companies involved that the data has been verified as accurate when only a cursory or superficial investigation has been completed. At Consumer Attorneys, this is our wheelhouse. Importantly, if litigation is necessary, we only get paid if you win, and the companies we sue pay all our attorneys’ fees and costs.
Is there a downside to disputing credit report?
There is no downside to disputing errors on a credit report. By law, companies profiting from consumer credit data are obligated to investigate and correct any erroneous or unverifiable data. Consumers are not charged for, nor is their credit profile penalized for, disputing information or requesting corrections.
Occasionally, incorrect data from another consumer appearing in your credit report may be more favorable than yours, resulting in a lower credit score once corrected. Even if that situation seems like a net positive, maintaining identity mixups is never good. The other individual could ultimately fall into bankruptcy, commit a crime, get into an accident, accrue debt, fail a drug test, buy or sell property, etc., which would become part of your intertwined credit profile. You don't want to leave your credit report vulnerable to a stranger's unknown life circumstances.
Occasionally, incorrect data from another consumer appearing in your credit report may be more favorable than yours, resulting in a lower credit score once corrected. Even if that situation seems like a net positive, maintaining identity mixups is never good. The other individual could ultimately fall into bankruptcy, commit a crime, get into an accident, accrue debt, fail a drug test, buy or sell property, etc., which would become part of your intertwined credit profile. You don't want to leave your credit report vulnerable to a stranger's unknown life circumstances.
How credit reporting attorneys can help?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) offers broad protections for consumers whose credit scores or access to loans is negatively affected by misleading, false, or inaccurate information in a credit report. When erroneous information appears, credit reporting attorneys can help because they know about consumer rights under the FCRA and how to deal effectively with the companies that produce these reports. This is especially true since a single credit report can pull data from a wide range of sources, any one of which may provide misleading, false, or inaccurate information, and all of which tend to repeat the same errors.
When companies stall, ignore, or inadequately investigate consumer disputes, these delays or errors have real-life consequences for the consumer, including denials of mortgages, lines of credit, insurance policies, rental properties, and jobs or cause burdensome and costly unfavorable loan terms. Having an experienced attorney to guide, advise, and protect you through the process is the best way to ensure a successful outcome and protect your financial health. At Consumer Attorneys, we are well-versed in the complexities of the FCRA and will fight for consumers who find themselves financially harmed by credit reporting errors.
When companies stall, ignore, or inadequately investigate consumer disputes, these delays or errors have real-life consequences for the consumer, including denials of mortgages, lines of credit, insurance policies, rental properties, and jobs or cause burdensome and costly unfavorable loan terms. Having an experienced attorney to guide, advise, and protect you through the process is the best way to ensure a successful outcome and protect your financial health. At Consumer Attorneys, we are well-versed in the complexities of the FCRA and will fight for consumers who find themselves financially harmed by credit reporting errors.
Practice Areas
Did you lose out on a mortgage, car loan, job, rental, or other opportunity due to inaccurate, misleading, or false information in a credit report? Not only is this unfair and upsetting, but it can also have broad financial consequences. We explain why credit mistakes happen, how to fix them, and how a skilled credit report lawyer can help. See more
Did you lose out on a job, housing, or other opportunity due to inaccurate, misleading, or false information in a background check report? Not only is this unfair and upsetting, but it can also have broad financial consequences. We explain why it happens, how to fix it, what your rights are, and how a background check lawyer can help. See more
Do you know or suspect that you're the victim of identity theft? This crime has devasting financial and emotional consequences. We explain how this crime happens, how to prevent it, what your legal rights are, and how an identity theft lawyer can help. Read on to empower yourself, then reach out to recover! See more
Unscrupulous, abusive, and harassing debt collection practices can make a hard financial situation feel like mental and emotional torture. You do not have to put up with it! Learn what your rights are under the FDCPA, how to enforce them, and why a debt collection harassment lawyer is your best bet for a full financial and emotional recovery. See more
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