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Solve Credit Report Problems By Disputing Errors To Repair Your Credit

If you need to dispute a credit report, SmithMarco, P.C., has experienced credit report attorneys who can provide helpful expertise in legal consumer credit repair as well as credit report disputes. Unfortunately, credit report errors are a common problem, and it is important to ensure your personal information is correct and that your rights are not being violated due to inconsistencies or errors. There are many possible credit report errors such as mixed credit files, a public record error, inaccurate collection amounts, inaccurate employment reports and identity theft.

Credit reporting agencies have a duty to report items on your credit report with the maximum possible accuracy. If any credit reporting agency is reporting anything on your credit file inaccurately, the Fair Credit Reporting Act provides a method of disputing these errors. At SmithMarco, P.C., we explain clients’ rights and help them find expeditious ways to repair their credit.

About The Fair Credit Reporting Act And Your Rights

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) provides that upon receipt of a credit report dispute from a consumer, the agency must conduct a reasonable investigation into your dispute. The act provides that the agency must:

  • Conduct a reasonable investigation into your claims.
  • Notify the creditor of your dispute during an investigation.
  • Provide the creditor with any relevant information that you provided the credit reporting agency as part of your dispute.
  • Report back the results of the investigation to you within 30 days of their receipt of your dispute. (If you provide them additional information within that 30-day period, the credit reporting agencies are entitled to an extra 15 days to conduct the investigation.)
  • Remove and delete any inaccurate information or information that cannot be verified.
  • Provide a notice that, if you request a description of the procedure used to determine the accuracy and completeness of your credit report, it shall be provided to you, and include the business name and address of any furnisher of information contacted as part of the investigation and the telephone number of such furnisher, if reasonably available.
  • Provide a notice that you have the right to add a statement to your file disputing the accuracy or completeness of the information.

If a credit reporting agency fails to take these steps to repair your credit and fails to conduct a reasonable investigation and remove the inaccurate information from your credit file after a credit report dispute, contact us for a free case review. We are experienced and knowledgeable credit repair attorneys.

How To Dispute Errors On Your Credit Report

Providing a properly detailed dispute over your credit report is important to ensure that a proper investigation is performed. The better your dispute, the better your consumer rights are protected. Your submitted dispute should:

  • Always be in writing, not online.
  • Clearly identify who you are – not just by name. Include the address, previous address and your Social Security number.
  • State clearly what the dispute is (i.e., the account does not belong to you but another family member, the account was a result of identity theft, the account was paid in full, etc.)
  • Not ramble. (You don’t need to write the whole story. Identify what is correct clearly and concisely.)
  • Include any documents that support your claim, as described below:
    • If your dispute involves allegations of identity theft, obtain a police report and complete a Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
    • If you are claiming the payment history is reported incorrectly, then provide proof of payments for that time period where it is in dispute.
    • If you have a letter from the creditor, enclose it.

For more information, please see our page on Disputing a Credit Report.

Answering Your Common Questions

We know how complicated these issues can be, and we want to be the law firm that provides you with the answers you need. Before you meet with us, we have taken the time to address some typical questions here:

What are some common credit report errors?

Human error can play a major role in creating these kinds of errors. In fact, the most common credit report errors are usually inaccurate personal information, account information or incorrectly recorded balance information.

How common are credit report errors?

Considering how damaging an error on a credit report can be, it would make sense that these errors are not common. It may feel like your credit report issue is impossible or a one in a million event, but according to the Federal Trade Commission, 20% of reports have one or more errors within them.

Where do I report credit report errors?

Your first step to reporting an error is with the reporting company itself, such as Experian, Equifax or Transunion. Make sure you submit the reporting in writing, as well as why you believe the error is wrong and provide supporting evidence to support your claim.

How can credit report errors hurt me?

When your credit report inaccurately reflects your credit, it can limit the amount of money you are able to borrow, your ability to qualify for loans and determine how much you will have to pay back because of your bad credit score. If a business you are attempting to work for conducts a search of your finances as part of the application, an error can keep you from earning the employment you deserve. A poor credit score can also keep you from renting a place.

Contact Us, Your Readily Available Credit Report Attorneys

If you have an error or inaccurate information on your credit report, you can take action to get them changed or removed. Do not allow them to stay on your report and further harm your name and make sure you are aware of your credit report and consumer rights.

Please do not hesitate to contact SmithMarco, P.C., for a free case review today. Call 888-915-0836 or complete an online inquiry form for a prompt response.