What can I do if a credit bureau did not properly investigate my identity theft dispute?

When you discover fraudulent accounts and submit a dispute, credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion have a legal duty to act. If you believe a credit bureau did not properly investigate your identity theft dispute, you are likely facing a common but serious form of industry negligence.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a credit bureau’s failure to meaningfully review your evidence or conduct a genuine investigation is a federal violation of 15 U.S.C. §1681i.

What does the law require credit bureaus to do in case of an identity theft dispute?

Section 15 U.S.C. §1681i requires credit bureaus to conduct a “reasonable investigation” into disputed information. This means:

• They must review the evidence you submitted, such as an FTC Identity Theft Report or police report,
• They cannot simply ask the creditor whether the account is valid and accept that answer,
• They must independently evaluate whether the information is accurate.

If a bureau ignores your documentation and blindly relies on the creditor’s response, it has failed its legal obligations under §1681i.

What happens when a credit bureau violates §1681i?

When we prove in court that a credit bureau failed to properly investigate an identity theft dispute, powerful legal remedies become available to you:

• Forced deletion
  A court can order the permanent removal of the fraudulent information the bureau refused to correct.
• Monetary damages
  You may recover compensation for financial harm (such as loan denials or higher interest rates) and for emotional distress caused by the bureau’s negligence.
• Attorney’s fees paid by the bureau
  Under 15 U.S.C. §§1681n and 1681o, credit bureaus must pay your attorney’s fees if you win. This allows you to pursue justice without paying out of pocket.

What is the next step?

Once a credit bureau fails to conduct a reasonable investigation, the dispute-letter phase is over and the legal enforcement phase begins. As experienced FCRA attorneys, we use violations of 15 U.S.C. §1681i as the foundation to clean your credit, restore your financial reputation, and hold credit bureaus accountable for their misconduct.