Frequently Asked Questions About Errors on Credit Reports and Background Checks 

Errors/Inaccuracies on Your Credit Report

Q: What Causes Errors/Inaccuracies on My Credit Report?

A: Mistakes on your credit report could be the result of multiple issues, including identity theft whereby someone used your personal information to obtain credit; a “mixed” credit file where someone else’s information is inadvertently put into your report; or a status error where a financial institution or credit bureau (credit reporting agency) has reported false information about the status of your account.

Q: How Do I Correct Errors/Mistakes on My Credit Report?

A: An important first step in the process of correcting inaccuracies on your credit reports is to identify which credit report(s) the errors appear on. A good starting place is to go to www.annualcreditreport.com to obtain copies of your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion credit reports. This service is mandated by federal law and does not cost you anything or harm your credit score. Rather, it allows you to download and save copies of your reports so you can identify what is being reported to each of the bureaus (credit reporting agencies).

Next, you will want to file a dispute with each credit reporting agency that is reporting false information about you. So, for example, if the inaccurate information appears on all three of your credit reports (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) you will want to file a dispute with each one of those entities individually. These disputes can be done online by visiting their respective websites (www.equifax.com, www.experian.com, www.transunion.com), by phone by calling their respective hotline numbers (Trans Union: 800-916-8800, Experian: 888-397-3742, Equifax: 888-378-4329), or by sending written disputes to the following locations (Trans Union: P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016, Experian: P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013, Equifax: P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374-0256). 

No matter how you choose to dispute the inaccurate information on your credit report, it is imperative that you provide the credit reporting agencies with all of the information they need to conduct a reasonable investigation. For example, if you believe you are the victim of identity theft, you must include a police report or identity theft affidavit (you can prepare one online at IdentityTheft.gov which is a government website that allows you to complete and save a sworn to affidavit to be included with your dispute.) Disputing to the credit agencies is the only way to hold the companies committing the errors responsible under federal law. 

 At The Consumer Lawyers, we recommend sending the disputes by certified mail so that you can track them and making sure to maintain copies of what you send to the credit reporting agencies so that you have proof of what they received from you. 

Upon receipt of your disputes, the credit reporting agencies are required by federal law to conduct a reasonable investigation into your dispute. This typically consists of them contacting the “furnisher”  or underlying financial institution, to verify certain key pieces of information about you. Thereafter, the credit reporting agencies and furnisher are all required to send you a notice regarding the results of the investigation. 

Q: What Will The Results of the Credit Reporting Agency Investigation Look Like?

A: In many instances, the bureaus will have been able to identify that the information they are reporting is false and they will send you back notice that the false information they were reporting has been DELETED. If that happens, congratulations! Your issue has been resolved.  In other instances, they may come back asking you for more information if you did not provide a detailed enough explanation. In this instance you should provide a follow up dispute containing more information. Lastly, in some instances the inaccurate information has been VERIFIED by the credit bureaus and furnisher. This means that despite conducting an investigation into your dispute, the furnisher and credit reporting agencies have determined that the information they are reporting is accurate and should stay on your credit file.

Q: What Do I Do If the False Information on my Credit Report is VERIFIED by a Furnisher or Credit Bureau? 

A: If the inaccurate information on your credit report is verified following your dispute, you may want to consider hiring a lawyer to file a lawsuit in order to request a Court to force the credit bureaus and furnishers to correct the inaccurate information and compensate you for their mistakes and your damages, meaning the way the false reporting has harmed you. This could include things as simple as your waste of time or emotional distress, or as major as denials of credit or increased interest rates. 

First, it is important to know that federal law protects you from inaccurate information on your credit report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows you to sue the credit bureaus or a furnisher of information (bank, financial institution, debt collector, etc.) in certain instances. A lawyer who handles Fair Credit Reporting Act cases can walk you through the process, which typically includes filing a federal lawsuit to not only correct the false reporting but to seek compensation for your damages, or how you were harmed. 

Most Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no fees or costs up front, but rather a percentage of the total recovery if you win your case.