Securing your Credit Report
Safeguarding your credit report is paramount, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is your ally in this endeavor. This federal law provides protection for both you and your credit report, encompassing credit agencies that gather information and entities that furnish them with data. Your credit report, maintained by major credit reporting agencies such as Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, comprises a comprehensive record of all your past and present credit transactions, significantly influencing your credit rating. This credit score, along with the information in the credit reports, holds significant weight in determining your eligibility for various opportunities, including jobs, mortgages, loans, credit cards, and insurance.
Should you require assistance in rectifying inaccuracies in your credit report, our team of experienced FCRA Lawyers is here to help. The FCRA grants you rights to monitor your credit reports and have any erroneous information rectified through a dispute process. Additionally, you have the power to take legal action against credit reporting agencies and data furnishers for improper investigation and correction of errors in your reports. Moreover, those who wrongfully report or access your credit information, including creditors and debt collectors, can be held accountable under the law.
Empower yourself with the FCRA and take control of your credit report. If you need expert guidance in resolving credit report issues, do not hesitate to reach out to us. Our dedicated team is ready to assist you in protecting and maintaining a healthy credit profile.
Take Action Against FCRA Violations to Safeguard Your Rights
If you have experienced improper credit reporting, we are here to help. Contact us for a complimentary consultation to discuss your situation. You may require the expertise of a skilled FCRA lawyer to rectify your credit report effectively. Below, you’ll find a list of FCRA violations that you are protected from:
- Inaccurate Credit Reporting
- Reporting Outdated Information
- Misidentifying Accounts
- Unauthorized Credit Inquiries
- Failure to Investigate Disputes
- Violating Consumer Rights Under the FCRA
The FCRA empowers you to take legal action against improper credit reporting. By pursuing a lawsuit, you can put a stop to such practices, seek damages, and have your attorney’s fees covered by the responsible party. Our experienced team is dedicated to helping you bring a lawsuit under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and restoring accuracy to your credit report.
Take control of your credit situation today by reaching out to us for expert guidance and support. We are committed to advocating for your rights and securing a positive resolution for your credit report.
Common Violations of the FCRA
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) sets strict standards for the reporting and furnishing of credit information to ensure accuracy and fairness in credit reporting. Unfortunately, several common violations occur, including:
Furnishing and Reporting Old Information:
- Failing to update and keep the information accurate.
- Reporting debts discharged in bankruptcy.
- Reporting information beyond the allowed time frames (e.g., more than seven years or ten years for civil judgments).
- Incorrectly re-aging old debts, making them appear newer than they are.
- Reporting an account as active when it was voluntarily closed by the consumer.
Furnishing and Reporting Inaccurate Information:
- Labeling a debt as charged off instead of showing it as settled or paid in full.
- Misrepresenting the amount due or indicating late payments when payment was made on time.
- Providing credit information despite reported identity theft.
- Incorrectly listing a person as a debtor on an account where they were only an authorized user.
Mixed Files
- Inaccurately combining credit information of multiple individuals within your credit report.
Debt Dispute and Privacy Violations
When you submit a written dispute regarding the accuracy of items on your credit report, credit reporting agencies and furnishers are obligated to conduct a reasonable investigation. This duty includes correcting any inaccuracies or removing disputed debts from the report. Failure to fulfill these obligations may lead to potential claims for damages.
Debt Dispute Violations by Credit Reporting Agencies:
- Not notifying the creditor about your dispute.
- Failing to conduct a thorough investigation of your dispute.
- Not correcting or removing inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information within 30 days of receiving your written dispute.
Debt Dispute Violations by Creditors and Other Furnishers:
- Not informing every credit reporting agency about your dispute.
- Failing to provide corrected information to the credit reporting agency after investigating your dispute.
- Continuously submitting incorrect information, knowing or should have known its inaccuracy.
- Not conducting an internal investigation of your dispute within 30 days.
- Not offering a reasonable procedure for you to submit your written dispute.
- Not informing you of the results of their investigation within 5 days of completion.
Privacy Violations:
Credit reporting agencies are authorized to release your credit report only to individuals with a “valid need,” including:
- Creditors
- Landlords
- Insurers
- Utilities
- Employers (with your express consent)
Improper Requests for Credit Reports:
Authorized individuals must have a “permissible purpose” every time they access your credit report from a credit reporting agency. Examples of impermissible purposes include:
- Employers pulling your report without your specific permission.
- Creditors pulling your report after bankruptcy discharge.
Notice Violations:
You have the legal right to receive notice regarding the reporting and handling of your credit reports in the following situations:
- When a creditor reports negative information to a credit reporting agency.
- When an authorized person makes a negative decision based on your credit report.
- If your credit score was used in a creditor’s decision, they must notify you.
- You have the right to dispute inaccurate information and obtain a free credit report.
- Creditors or authorized persons must identify the source of credit information they obtained from you.
Resolving Credit Report Issues - Your Path to Financial Recovery
Based on your specific circumstances, we offer an array of tailored solutions to address credit report discrepancies. Our primary goal is to hold companies accountable for any errors and fraudulent activities. Through legal action, we can initiate a lawsuit to correct inaccuracies on your credit report and pursue compensation for any damages you have incurred. It is important to note that our services come at no cost to you; we are remunerated only from a portion of the money recovered on your behalf.
Contact us today or utilize the provided form to share your information. Following a thorough review, we will promptly schedule a meeting to discuss your credit report concerns and present how we can effectively assist you. Your financial recovery is our priority, and we are dedicated to providing the support and expertise needed to restore accuracy to your credit report.