It is important for consumers to know that there is no affirmative duty for a company to report anything, which means a consumer cannot sue someone for not reporting true information. For example, if a consumer purchases a car, they might be told by the car dealer that the purchase will improve their credit if they were to make all of the payments on time, but that car dealer would have no duty under the law to report any information to credit reporting agencies. While anything can be removed from a credit report, we usually deal with the removal of items which are objectively false. For instance, if someone makes all of their payments on time but suddenly finds a 30-day late fee from two years prior, then that is something that could be challenged. We can usually prove that a person has made all of their payments by referencing their checking account records.
How Do I Dispute An Item On My Credit Report?
If a person needs to dispute an item on their credit report, they will have to do so through the credit bureaus. This is something that the credit bureaus want a person to do online, but I don’t believe that the online system they have set up is adequate, since it leaves too much wiggle room for them to circumvent any subsequent lawsuit. Anyone who has identified a false item on their credit report should consult with a consumer advocate or someone who regularly handles these issues.
What Can I Do About Post-Bankruptcy Credit Reporting Errors?
Post-bankruptcy credit reporting errors are best handled by an attorney.
What Are Some Common Credit Reporting Errors?
There is a broad range of errors that we look for, the most common of which have to do with a phenomenon called mismerge, which occurs when someone else’s information ends up on a person’s consumer credit report. For example, it might be an address that belongs to someone who has a similar name or a similar Social Security number. The most common errors involve Social Security numbers and basic identity factors. While these errors don’t necessarily affect a consumer’s ability to get credit, they can be red flags in terms of other errors that relate to payment history, ability and willingness to pay bills, etc. Incorrect 30-day late fees applied in error are also somewhat common. Less commonly, we encounter completely false trade lines, which refer to debts that don’t belong to the consumer and are somehow appearing on a credit report, either as a result of a mismerge or identity theft.
If I Dispute A Debt On My Credit Report, Do I Have To Bring That To All Three Large Credit Reporting Bureaus?
If someone wants to dispute a debt on their credit report, they aren’t required to do so with all three credit bureaus, but it’s recommended in order to ensure that the problem won’t reveal itself again in the future. There is a methodical and comprehensive way to address credit reporting errors which we do here on behalf of clients to try to take care of multiple problems at once rather than wasting time by handling them in piecemeal fashion.
For more information on Removing Items From A Credit Report, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (248) 843-0550 today.