As many as 1 in 3 Americans have errors or mistakes on their credit reports, and as many as 1 in 5 Americans have errors or mistakes that are serious enough to affect their credit scores to point of being denied new credit or refinancing existing credit. Too many consumers currently face unwarranted financial dilemmas as a result of inaccurate credit reporting. Credit report errors can impact one’s ability to retain current employment and affect one’s ability to obtain new credit, get a car loan and even secure insurance.
Free Attorney Services for Credit Report Errors and Credit Repair
Struggling to pay your bills can quickly drag your credit score down, but the fact is that failure to make payments on debt is not the only way that your credit score can be ruined. Errors on credit reports are more common than you may think. These mistakes can be challenging to have removed, and can lead to constant calls from debt collection agencies. For these reasons, it is recommended that you consult with an experienced attorney to get help repairing these issues and stopping any harassment be creditors. Alternatively, you can reference our free infographic - How To Dispute Credit Report Errors for free.
Getting Your Free Credit Report
You may think that getting a free credit report is unnecessary, because you know what it contained on the report. However, the fact is that over one-quarter of people in the U.S. have errors on their credit report which impacts their credit score; this makes it essential to access your report and verify that it is error-free. This is the first step to learning whether there is a problem that must be addressed.
How do you get a free credit report? Do not trust every website that offers to provide you with this information. Some of these websites are simply attempting to steal information including names, addresses and social security numbers. The good news is that AnnualCreditReport.com offers free credit reports to consumers. The Federal Trade Commission verifies that this website is a valid provider of free annual credit reports.
Be sure to check the URL before entering personal information. Some scam artists have registered versions of the website address that include slight typos in hopes that consumers will accidentally visit their website. Verify that the URL reads AnnualCreditReport.com before providing any sensitive personal information.
What should you do when you receive your credit report? Follow these steps to properly review the information.
- Go over your basic personal information. This is especially important if you have recently moved, switched jobs or changed your name.
- Review each credit account. Ensure that you have actually opened each of these accounts.
- Verify the amount due on each account. Use recent statements from banks or other creditors to verify the amount due.
- Look for incorrect payment information. Make sure that a creditor has not reported a missed or past due payment if you have always paid on time.
- Pay attention to credit inquiries. A credit inquiry appears on your report when you apply for credit. Inquiries from companies that you are not familiar with may result from an attempt to steal your identity.
- Look for judgment information as well as bankruptcies and foreclosures that are listed on your credit reports. Take note of these items. If you have had a bankruptcy or foreclosure, make sure that the date for each item is correct. This information will eventually be taken off of your credit report, so you want to make sure that the reference date is accurate.
Credit Repair Organizations Act
The Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) falls under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. It takes into consideration the fact that credit history and credit score have become more important in recent years. People are dependent on positive credit scores to qualify them for housing, transportation and even employment. Consumers who have had credit problems in the past may consult a credit repair organization for help, but the unfortunate truth is that some of the organizations utilize unfair business practices to take advantage of people who are desperate for assistance. The CROA requires credit repair organizations to be transparent about their business practices in order to allow consumers to make an informed decision. It also prohibits the use of deceptive advertising and puts an end to practices that have hurt consumers in the past. For example, the CROA dictates that these organizations may not request compensation for services from the consumer until they have completed the service. Trustworthy credit repair organizations typically request payment after negative items have been successfully removed from a credit report. This allows the consumer to ensure that they are benefiting from the services of an organization before any money is exchanged.