HOW TO DISPUTE ERRORS ON YOUR CREDIT REPORT LIKE CREDIT LAWYERS

Many consumers ask are there attorneys that fix credit? The answer is yes, there can be if you have a bona fide dispute.  Consumer attorneys can help you fix credit report errors by helping you dispute credit report errors with the credit bureaus.  If this is not successful, your credit lawyer can represent you in a lawsuit in court brought pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act.  Many times, the failure to fix credit report errors can be the result of an unreasonable investigation by the credit bureau or furnisher, or unreasonable procedures by the credit bureaus.

UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF DISPUTING CREDIT REPORT ERRORS

Maintaining an accurate credit report is essential in the digital age. Credit errors on your credit report can impact your ability to secure loans, favorable loan terms, credit cards, or even a mortgage. It is essential to regularly check your credit report for inaccuracies and to dispute any errors with the credit report agencies. Credit lawyers can also help you review your credit report for common errors and dispute these errors with credit reporting agencies.

RECOGNIZING COMMON CREDIT REPORT ERRORS ENCOUNTERED BY CREDIT LAWYERS 

​Credit report errors can come in various forms, such as incorrect personal information, fraudulent accounts, or inaccurate payment history. It is your responsibility to review your credit report carefully and identify any discrepancies that could be harming your credit score.
Failing to correctly report a debt discharged in bankruptcy:
  • Once a debt is in bankruptcy, the debt should be reported as discharged and with a zero balance.
  • However, sometime discharged debts are incorrectly reported as “Charged Off” or with a balance or past due balance.  It is important to dispute this type of credit report error after bankruptcy.
Listing a consumer the account owner or debtor where the consumer is only an authorized user.
  • This type of credit report error can harm the authorized user where the account is delinquent or discharged in bankruptcy.
  • If you are only an authorized user, this is not the same as a joint account holder and you should not be reported liable for this debt on your credit report.
Reporting old debts as new (re-aged debts):
  • Another common credit report error occurs where a furnisher “re-ages” an account by reporting the account as new or recently defaulted or with different account information such as a different account name or number.
Mixed Credit Files:
  • This type of credit report error can be devastating and occurs when another consumer’s credit information is mixed with your credit report. This can be a case of mistaken identity, but the effects can be harmful to your credit.
Identity Theft:

THE CREDIT REPORT DISPUTE PROCES IS INTENDED TO FIX CREDIT REPORT ERRORS

Once you or your credit lawyer has identified errors on your credit report, the next step is to dispute these errors on your credit report. Disputing credit report errors is one of the first steps to removing credit report errors. You should dispute credit report errors with the credit bureaus in writing, and clearly list and outline the inaccuracies and errors in your credit report. You should also provide any supporting documentation that you have when disputing credit report errors.  In cases of identity theft credit report errors, you should include an identity theft report which contains an identity theft affidavit and/or police report of the identity theft when disputing credit report errors.  You should be sure to include your full name, address, and account information on your dispute and send the dispute with tracking information to ensure that your credit report dispute was received by the credit reporting agency.

RESOLVING CREDIT REPORT DISPUTES WITH THE CREDIT BUREAU

After submitting your credit report disputes to the credit bureaus, the credit bureaus are required to conduct an investigation to verify the accuracy of the reported information. This can involve forwarding your credit report to the furnisher, as well as the credit reporting agency conducting its own independent investigation.  During the dispute review, it is crucial to stay informed and to be prepared to provide any additional documentation requested by the credit reporting agencies. 

Monitoring the outcome of your credit report dispute - the credit report dispute results

Once the investigation by the credit reporting agency is complete, the credit bureau will notify you of the outcome of the dispute, i.e., the dispute results. If the disputed credit report errors have been corrected, you should review your updated credit report to verify the changes accurately reflect the changes. If the inaccuracies persist, you may be able to sue the credit reporting agency as well as any furnisher reporting an inaccuracy with the help of a credit lawyer.  The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows consumers to sue credit reporting agencies for failing to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy as well as failing to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of your credit report dispute.  Likewise, furnishers can also be sued under the Fair Credit Reporting Act for failing to conduct a reasonable investigation of your credit dispute. 

SPEAK TO A KNOWLEDGEABLE CREDIT LAWYER IN MICHIGAN ABOUT YOUR CREDIT REPORT AND CREDIT REPORT DISPUTES

Are you looking for attorneys that fix credit report mistakes?  We can help you dispute credit report errors and if needed pursue available remedies in court if the credit bureaus or furnishers refuse to report accurate credit information.  Our consumer attorneys have helped countless consumers recover damages under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) for inaccurate credit reporting and credit report errors when the consumer's credit report dispute did not result in the necessary corrections.  We offer reasonable fees that are contingent on the outcome of a credit lawsuit, meaning you will not owe us any attorneys' fees if we do not recover damages on your behalf.  Attorney Nick Hadous is an accomplished litigator and serves on the Litigation Advisory Board for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) where he is a content contributor and author in consumer protection litigation including the FCRA and disputing credit reports under the FCRA.  If you have errors on your credit report that you would like to discuss or need help with a credit report dispute, please contact us for a phone or Zoom consultation by calling us today or using the contact form below.