Fix Credit Report Mistakes and Protect Your Rights
Your credit report plays a major role in your financial life. It impacts your ability to qualify for loans, credit cards, mortgages, and even housing or employment opportunities. But what happens when errors appear on your credit report? A single mistake like an incorrect late payment, account mix-up, or outdated debt can lower your credit score and cause serious harm.
At Sanders Law Group, we help consumers fix credit report mistakes, dispute inaccuracies, and enforce their rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Common Credit Report Mistakes
Credit report errors are more common than many people realize. Some of the most frequent issues include:
1. Accounts that don’t belong to you (mixed files or identity theft)
2. Incorrect balances or payment histories
3. Outdated negative information that should have expired
4. Debts listed multiple times
5. Accounts marked as open that were closed
6. Incorrect personal information (name, address, Social Security number)
Even small mistakes can have major financial consequences, including higher interest rates, loan denials, or job application rejections.
Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law designed to protect consumers from inaccurate credit reporting. Under the FCRA, you have the right to:
1. Access Your Credit Report: You’re entitled to one free credit report every year from each of the three major bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
2. Dispute Inaccuracies: If you find errors, you can dispute them directly with the credit reporting agency.
3. Receive Timely Corrections: Credit bureaus must investigate disputes and correct or delete errors, typically within 30 days.
4. Seek Legal Remedies: If a credit bureau or furnisher fails to correct mistakes, you may be entitled to damages.
Steps to Fix Credit Report Mistakes
If you find an error on your credit report, take these steps immediately:
1. Request your credit report from all three major credit bureaus.
2. Review your report carefully for incorrect accounts, balances, or outdated information.
3. File a written dispute with the credit bureau and include supporting documents.
4. Keep detailed records of all correspondence and responses.
5. Seek legal help if errors are not corrected or continue to appear.
Why Legal Help Matters
While you can dispute errors yourself, credit bureaus don’t always take consumers seriously. Having an experienced FCRA attorney ensures that your rights are enforced. At Sanders Law Group, we:
- Hold credit bureaus accountable when they fail to correct mistakes
- Pursue compensation for financial harm caused by inaccurate reporting
- Guide you through every step of the dispute process
- Protect your credit and your future