FCRA lawyers are familiar with the laws that govern credit reporting agencies. They can help you when you have a dispute about inaccuracies on your credit report. They can also sue on your behalf if the credit bureau or other party that made the mistake fails to correct it. You may be entitled to compensation for your attorney fees if you win your case.
Incorrect information on your credit report can have a serious effect on your life. For example, it can prevent you from getting loans and even jobs. You might not realize that you have a problem until it’s too late. If you have a dispute about incorrect information on your credit report, the first step is to write a letter to the consumer reporting agency (CRA). In the letter, you should outline the inaccurate information and request that it be corrected.
You should also send a copy of the letter to the information provider. The CRA and the information provider must then investigate the dispute, unless they think it is frivolous. If the CRA and the information provider agree that the information is inaccurate, they must correct it on your report. In addition, the CRA must notify you of the results of the investigation.
If the CRA does not correct the inaccurate information or if it refuses to do so after you have disputed it, you can file a lawsuit in federal court against them. A successful lawsuit can result in compensatory damages and other penalties.
The FCRA provides many other protections for consumers. For instance, it prohibits businesses from pulling your credit report without a permissible purpose. A permissible purpose would be when you are applying for credit or employment. Successful small claims court lawsuits have been filed by consumers against companies that violate this law by accessing their credit reports for unwarranted purposes.
Another way the FCRA protects consumers is by requiring that a CRA provide you with a free copy of your credit report upon request. The CRA must also tell you if the information in your credit report is inaccurate and how you can dispute it. The CRA is also required to send you notice of any errors on your credit report that are not corrected in 30 days.
The attorneys at Houston Harbaugh have defended credit reporting agencies, credit resellers, and creditors in scores of FCRA lawsuits since 2003. They have also served as national or “quarterback” counsel in single-consumer and class action FCRA lawsuits from Maine to California and Minnesota to Texas.
If you believe that your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act have been violated, contact us today for a free consultation. We can discuss the facts of your case and recommend a course of action to take.
We can file a lawsuit on your behalf and hold the CRA accountable for its actions. You may be able to recover statutory damages up to $1,000 per error, as well as punitive damages and your fcra consumer attorney fees.