Errors on Your Credit Report? Get in Touch with LeavenLaw!

Having an accurate score on your credit report is invaluable in countless arenas of your life. Credit bureaus and credit reporting agencies track information regarding your fiscal life often and then sell these to creditors, lenders and other companies who are inquiring. There are countless credit reporting agencies, but the truth is that this industry is dominated by Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. The score that you are given will have an enormous impact on your ability to get a loan, buy a home and other areas - and therefore, if it is inaccurate, it is important that you pursue all necessary courses of action to right the matter.

In most cases, the bureaus will allow for a process which allows for consumers to step forward and specify any inaccurate information. The agencies are then supposed to check with the associated company, correct the error and resolve the issue. Unfortunately, this does not always occur. In many situations, if the process does not work in correcting the error, it is important that you get a lawyer on your side who can file a lawsuit to fight for damages that have been sustained.

Fair Credit Reporting Act

Consumers can insist that their credit report completely and accurately reflect their credit history and that their credit report be viewed only by those who are authorized to do so. Negative information on a credit report can severely damage your credit score and your ability to obtain credit to buy things like a home or car - it’s vitally important that your credit report be accurate. The Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA") provides a civil remedy for consumers who have been harmed by incorrect information placed on their credit reports by the credit bureaus or those who report credit information (i.e., "Furnishers") to the credit bureaus.

The FCRA may provide a remedy for you if you notice:

  • someone viewed your credit report without your permission (See Impermissible Purpose)
  • inaccurate information on your credit report (See Simple Reporting Errors)
  • unfamiliar accounts
  • indicators of identity theft
  • someone else’s credit data on your report
  • incorrect entries by creditors / credit furnishers
  • the presence of obsolete information, old addresses, etc.
  • or any other inaccurate or incorrect entry on your credit report.

Mixed File / Mistaken Identity

It is not uncommon for consumers - especially those with common names - to have another consumer’s financial and credit information reported on the wrong credit file. This is called a "mixed file" or a case of "mistaken identity." If this happens to you, gather your credit report and call LeavenLaw to set a free consultation to review your case. (855) 532-8365.

Identity Theft

The attorneys at LeavenLaw have experience helping consumers whose identities have been stolen and suffered damages as a result of the theft. It is vitally important that key personal identifiers - especially It is critical that individuals Social Security numbers, bank account or credit card numbers, addresses and telephone numbers, and other valuable identifying data is protected and is kept out of the hands of individuals looking to profit from your good name and credit history.

Indicators that may signal that you have been a victim of identity theft include:

  • Unauthorized charges on your credit card or bank accounts
  • Receiving collection calls from a debt collector you regarding a debt you did not open or use
  • Receiving bills from a credit account you did not open or use
  • Being turned down for a job because of information on your credit information
  • Receiving late periodic billing statements from your credit cards or other loan providers
  • Being turned down for a loan, mortgage, credit card or auto loan due to unauthorized debts on your credit report
  • New accounts that you did not open or authorize appear on your credit report

If you think you may be a victim of identity theft, pull a copy of your credit report, review and call us to discuss your rights.

Reviewing Your Credit Report

After you have pulled your credit report, go over it to ensure that the information reported is accurate. Specifically, you should be looking for things like:

  • Discharged debt still be reported as owing
  • Inaccurate or simple reporting errors
  • Impermissible pulls of your credit report
  • Debts reported that are not yours (See Mixed File above)

Where to Send Your Dispute Letters

You may send a dispute letter to each CRA from whom you have ordered, received, and reviewed, a copy of your report if you think there are errors or wrong information. The addresses for dispute letters to the big 3 CRA’s are:

TransUnion LLC

Consumer Disclosure Center
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022-2000
(800) 916-8800

Equifax Information Services, LLC

Complaint Department
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374
(888) 873-5420

Experian

NCAC 701 Experian Parkway
Allen, TX 75013
(800) 583-4080

If you would like to learn more about how we at LeavenLaw can help you correct an erroneous error on a credit report or to get the creditors, debt collectors or credit reporting agencies to pay your damages and fees, please call us at (727) 347-7828.