Experienced Identity Theft Lawyers Serving Michigan Consumers
Identity theft lawyers can help you regain control. If you have been the victim of identity theft, this can be incredibly frustrating and scary. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to secure your identity and protect yourself if you are an identity theft victim. Our identity theft lawyers can help you understand the process of disputing credit report errors caused by identity theft. The process can seem daunting and consumers who have never faced identity theft may not be familiar with the resources available to help fight back against identity theft. Having an experienced identity theft attorney a.k.a. stolen identity lawyer fighting for you can bring you peace of mind and turn the tide in your favor when dealing with banks, credit card companies, and credit bureaus.
What is identity theft?
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your name and personal information without your permission for their own financial gain. Often times, a cybercriminal steals someone's identity to open a credit card in the identity theft victim's name or to obtain services in the identity theft victim's name. Identity theft can also occur when a cybercriminal gains access to an existing account to make fraudulent charges on the account. This type of identity theft is sometimes referred to as "account takeover."
What steps to take if you have been the victim of identity theft?
There are several steps you can take to protect your identity after you discover identity theft including speaking to an identity theft lawyer.
Identity theft steps to take to protect yourself include:
What is identity theft?
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your name and personal information without your permission for their own financial gain. Often times, a cybercriminal steals someone's identity to open a credit card in the identity theft victim's name or to obtain services in the identity theft victim's name. Identity theft can also occur when a cybercriminal gains access to an existing account to make fraudulent charges on the account. This type of identity theft is sometimes referred to as "account takeover."
What steps to take if you have been the victim of identity theft?
There are several steps you can take to protect your identity after you discover identity theft including speaking to an identity theft lawyer.
Identity theft steps to take to protect yourself include:
- Report identity theft to the FTC at www.identitytheft.gov to create a personal recovery plan and to obtain an FTC Identity Theft Report that you can use as proof of identity theft when recovering from identity theft.
- Report identity theft to your local police department. Some companies may require a police report of the identity theft from your local police department.
- Add a fraud alert to your credit reports. Adding a fraud alert to your credit reports notifies creditors that you may be the victim of identity theft and that they should take precautions to confirm your identity before opening an account in your name.
- Freeze your credit reports. Placing a freeze on your credit reports can block lenders from checking your report in order to open a new account. You can also unfreeze your accounts when you apply for new credit.
- Contact any credit card companies or other companies to report the identity theft or fraud. Contacting a credit card company or financial institution to report identity theft or fraud will enable them to close the account.
- Review your credit reports and monitor your credit reports. You should review your credit reports to check for the reporting of any accounts based on identity theft or fraudulent use of accounts in your name because of identity theft. If there are credit report errors because of identity theft or fraud, you can dispute the fraudulent charges with the credit bureaus and any involved bank or credit card company.
Identity Theft And Credit Reports
If you are the victim of identity theft, then you may have fraudulent accounts or charges appearing on your credit report. It is vital to speak to an experienced identity theft lawyer who can help you check your credit report for errors, and dispute errors on your credit report.
Disputing identity theft credit report errors.
You have the right to dispute identity theft credit report errors on your credit report with the credit reporting agencies Experian, Equifax, and/or Transunion. You should check all 3 credit reports because these credit bureaus are different companies and sometimes report different information. You should any dispute credit report errors in writing, explain in writing what you think your credit report contains errors, or mistakes, and include copies of any documents that support your dispute.
If you mail a dispute, your dispute letter should include your contact information, including full name, address, and telephone number. The dispute should also include any credit report or file number, if available.
Your dispute should also list each credit report error that you want fixed, including the name of the account and the account number.
Your dispute should also provide a clear explanation of why you are disputing the information, and you should request that type of relief you seek, such as the inaccurate information being removed or corrected.
You should send your dispute letter by certified mail and ask for a return receipt, so that you have a record that your dispute was received by the credit agency.
You can contact the credit reporting companies online, by mail, or by phone. However, we recommend disputes by mail for most disputes, because this will allow you to provide enough details and supporting information to substantiate your dispute. This gives you a better chance of submitting a successful credit dispute.
Equifax
Online: www.equifax.com
By mail:
Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
Experian
Online: www.experian.com
By mail:
Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
Online: www.transunion.com
By mail:
TransUnion Consumer Solutions
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016-2000
Keep copies of your credit dispute letter(s) and any supporting documents you sent with your dispute letter.
If you mail a dispute, your dispute letter should include your contact information, including full name, address, and telephone number. The dispute should also include any credit report or file number, if available.
Your dispute should also list each credit report error that you want fixed, including the name of the account and the account number.
Your dispute should also provide a clear explanation of why you are disputing the information, and you should request that type of relief you seek, such as the inaccurate information being removed or corrected.
You should send your dispute letter by certified mail and ask for a return receipt, so that you have a record that your dispute was received by the credit agency.
You can contact the credit reporting companies online, by mail, or by phone. However, we recommend disputes by mail for most disputes, because this will allow you to provide enough details and supporting information to substantiate your dispute. This gives you a better chance of submitting a successful credit dispute.
Equifax
Online: www.equifax.com
By mail:
Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
Experian
Online: www.experian.com
By mail:
Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
Online: www.transunion.com
By mail:
TransUnion Consumer Solutions
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016-2000
Keep copies of your credit dispute letter(s) and any supporting documents you sent with your dispute letter.
IDentity theft lawyers can help you correct IDENTITY THEFT credit report errors and recover damages
What if a bank or credit bureau does not remove fraudulent accounts on your credit report?
Sometimes credit bureaus report fraudulent accounts on your credit report because of identity theft and then refuse to correct these credit report errors after your credit report dispute. If the credit agencies refuses to remove a fraudulent account or an account that was opened because of identity theft after disputing your credit report, you may be entitled to damages under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
An identity theft lawyer can walk you through the process of disputing credit report errors to restore your credit report after identity theft. If disputing your credit report errors fails to result in accurate credit reporting, then an identity theft lawyer can help you sue the credit bureau or furnisher for reporting inaccurate information and then refusing to correct the information in your credit report after you disputed the errors. If you are looking for a stolen identity lawyer, our attorneys have represented consumers in numerous FCRA cases, including identity theft cases where someone fraudulently opened an account using someone else's name or used an existing account without the accountholder's knowledge or consent.
Attorney Nick Hadous is an accomplished consumer protection attorney licensed in Michigan, Arizona, and California with a track record of success in FCRA cases. He has litigated consumer law issues extensively and has been successful in numerous appeals of FCRA cases such as the Ninth Circuit . Our firm has helped consumers dispute identity theft credit report errors, and correct their credit reports through the removal of inaccurate information caused by identity theft and other common credit reporting errors. In addition, Mr. Hadous currently 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 lawsuits.
If you believe you are a victim of identity theft or if your credit report contains inaccurate information, please contact our office using our contact form to schedule a free phone or Zoom consultation.
Sometimes credit bureaus report fraudulent accounts on your credit report because of identity theft and then refuse to correct these credit report errors after your credit report dispute. If the credit agencies refuses to remove a fraudulent account or an account that was opened because of identity theft after disputing your credit report, you may be entitled to damages under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
An identity theft lawyer can walk you through the process of disputing credit report errors to restore your credit report after identity theft. If disputing your credit report errors fails to result in accurate credit reporting, then an identity theft lawyer can help you sue the credit bureau or furnisher for reporting inaccurate information and then refusing to correct the information in your credit report after you disputed the errors. If you are looking for a stolen identity lawyer, our attorneys have represented consumers in numerous FCRA cases, including identity theft cases where someone fraudulently opened an account using someone else's name or used an existing account without the accountholder's knowledge or consent.
Attorney Nick Hadous is an accomplished consumer protection attorney licensed in Michigan, Arizona, and California with a track record of success in FCRA cases. He has litigated consumer law issues extensively and has been successful in numerous appeals of FCRA cases such as the Ninth Circuit . Our firm has helped consumers dispute identity theft credit report errors, and correct their credit reports through the removal of inaccurate information caused by identity theft and other common credit reporting errors. In addition, Mr. Hadous currently 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 lawsuits.
If you believe you are a victim of identity theft or if your credit report contains inaccurate information, please contact our office using our contact form to schedule a free phone or Zoom consultation.