FCRA Attorney

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is United States federal legislation that promotes accuracy, fairness and privacy for data used by consumer reporting agencies. Consumer reporting agencies include credit bureaus and financial agencies that collect, store, and use consumer information for conducting background checks. The most common examples of such agencies are Transunion, Equifax and Experian. The Fair Credit Reporting Act protects consumers who are affected by misleading or incorrect information regarding their credit.

Decisions about your creditworthiness and capacity for debt are all based on the information contained in your credit report. Credit information that is not accurate can have a damaging impact on your ability to secure credit. Incorrect credit information may hamper your ability to secure a mortgage, obtain a credit card, or receive a car loan. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) regulates the credit reporting agencies as well as the parties that provide information to them.

Common errors made by credit reporting agencies in credit reports include:

Frequently Asked Questions About the FCRA

Q: What are some of the most common FCRA violations or issues related to consumers’ credit reports?  

A: There are many types of potential issues you may encounter related to your credit report, covered by the FCRA. For example, your report may show creditors or accounts that do not belong to you; inaccurate account opening, closing or payment dates; default, charge-offs or settlement information that is inaccurate or incomplete; and other issues that could materially impact your ability to obtain and use credit. A skilled credit reporting lawyer can help you fight these types of violations and clean up your credit report.

Q: Does a consumer need to prove that an FCRA violation was willful to recover?

A: The short answer is no. FCRA provisions and penalties for companies that violate those provisions apply whether the violation is negligent or willful. Victims harmed by an FCRA violation may be entitled to recover damages, including attorneys’ fees and expenses.

Q: How can consumers obtain a copy of their credit reports?

A: It is important to review your credit reports periodically to ensure the information they contain is accurate and complete. You can request one free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — once each year. Work with a Stein Saks, PLLC attorney to obtain your free copies.

Why Work With an Attorney to Fix Credit Report Inaccuracies?

When choosing to engage an FCRA attorney from Stein Saks, PLLC, you can be confident your credit reputation is in experienced and capable hands. Our attorneys and staff understand how the FCRA applies, and are not afraid to go head to head with creditors to protect consumers’ rights.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act lawyers at our firm represent consumers who have been harmed by credit reporting errors. We help our clients to defend and correct their credit reputation. We may obtain compensation for our clients as a result of any harm that they have suffered. Your credit report attorney will sue the credit bureaus on your behalf if your credit reports are not repaired. Call Stein Saks, PLLC for a free consultation with an FCRA lawyer and we will tell you what options are available to you.