The Fair Credit Reporting Act and other consumer protection laws protect consumers from inaccurate, unfair, or discriminatory credit reports or background checks. The Fair Credit Reporting Act is a federal law that governs credit reports, background checks, and many other reports containing information about individuals. Lenders, as well as eemployers, rely more and more on credit reports when making lending as well as hiring and firing decisions. Many times, cconsumer reporting agencies that prepare these reports are more concerned with profits than with accuracy; at the Batista Law Group, we defend consumers from such practices. The credit report error attorneys at The Batista Law Group are committed to ensuring that credit report and background check information is accurate and that it is only sold or used for legal purposes.
Using the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Fair Credit Billing Act, the Federal Debt Practices Collection Act, the United States Bankruptcy Code and other consumer protection statues, the credit report error attorneys at The Batista Law Group pursue money damages for such things as loss of credit opportunities, loss of employment or job opportunities, emotional distress, damage to reputation, and in some cases, punitive damages when consumer rights have been violated. The attorneys at The Batista Law Group are dedicated to protecting consumers and ensuring that consumers receive justice when their rights have been violated by employers, consumer reporting agencies, and debt collectors.
We have extensive experienced handling credit reporting error cases; whether on an individual or class basis. In addition, at The attorneys at The Batista Law Group we take all consumer credit reporting cases on a contingent fee basis, so the consumer does not pay a fee unless there is a monetary recovery.
If you need to correct or eliminate errors from your credit report and believe that such credit report errors have caused you damaged, contact your credit report errors attorneys in Puerto Rico, The Batista Law Group, PSC.
Common Credit Reporting Errors Include
The attorneys at The Batista Law Group can help you correct errors in your credit report and obtain compensation for such errors. Some of the most common errors found in credit reports include:
Identity errors
• Errors made to your identity information (wrong name, phone number, address)
• Accounts belonging to another person with the same or a similar name as yours (this mixing of two consumers’ information in a single file is called a mixed file)
• Incorrect accounts resulting from identity theft
Incorrect reporting of account status
• Closed accounts reported as open
• You are reported as the owner of the account, when you are actually just an authorized user
• Accounts that are incorrectly reported as late or delinquent
• Incorrect date of last payment, date opened, or date of first delinquency
• Same debt listed more than once (possibly with different names)
Data management errors
• Reinsertion of incorrect information after it was corrected
• Accounts that appear multiple times with different creditors listed (especially in the case of delinquent accounts or accounts in collections)
Balance Errors
• Accounts with an incorrect current balance
• Accounts with an incorrect credit limit
My Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act
The Puerto Rico credit report errors attorneys at The Batista Law Group will help you protect your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FCRA is a federal law that requires consumer reporting agencies to adopt procedures to assure the “maximum possible accuracy” of information they compile in credit reports. The law also requires consumer reporting agencies to “exercise their grave responsibilities with fairness, impartiality and a respect for the consumer’s right to privacy.” Some of your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act include:
• Notification if the information in your file has been used against you
• Access to the information in your file
• Knowledge of your credit score
• The ability to dispute inaccurate information
• Having verified inaccurate information removed from your file within 30 days of the dispute
• Ensuring outdated negative information is not reported
• The ability to limit access to your credit report
• Mandatory consent for reports provided to employers
• Removal of your name from consumer reporting agency lists for unsolicited insurance and credit offers
• The ability to seek damages from violators
Common Violations of the FCRA Include:
Reporting Old Information to Credit Agencies
• The Failure to Report that a debt Has Been Discharged in Bankruptcy
• Continuing to Report Information older than 7 years
• Reporting old debts as new debts and/or as newer debts
Reporting Inaccurate Information to Credit Agencies
• Reporting a debt which was settled or discharged in bankruptcy as charged off
• Misstating the amount or status of a debt
• Submitting information to a CRA that is known to be incorrect
Dispute Related Violations
• Failing to disclose that a consumer disputes a debt.
• Failing to correct inaccurate information from the debtor’s file
• Failing to conduct an investigation of disputed debt within 30 days
• Failing to report results of the investigation to the debtor
Mixed Files Related Violations
A mixed Credit file is a type of credit error when the credit agencies combine your accounts information with another consumer’s information. This likely violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Some Common Mixed File Violations include:
• Mixing credit information of multiple parties
• morphing or duplicating negative credit information with a stranger who shares a similar Social Security number
• failing to distinguish the Jr. and Sr. in similar surnames
• mixing the information of persons with the same last name and similar first names, and
• combining or mixing credit files of persons with similar names living in the same city or zip code.
Common Credit Reporting Errors Include:
• your credit report include false information about an account?
• Is someone else’s information in your credit report?
• Have you had a debt discharged in bankruptcy that is not updated on your credit report?
• Are you a victim of identity theft?
If any of the above has happened to you, do not hesitate to contact the credit report errors attorneys at The Batista Law Group, PSC. Our Puerto Rico credit report attorneys are here to make sure you get the representation you deserve. First, we will help you correct any errors in your credit report. Second, on your behalf, we will seek justice and compensation for the damages such errors have caused. Call the credit report attorneys at The Batista Law Group for a free consultation.