You call the electric company to turn the power on at your new place. You have paid every bill you have ever received. Your credit score is fine. And then the representative tells you that your application has been declined, or that you will need to put down a deposit of several hundred dollars before
Most consumers know that their credit report affects whether they can get a mortgage, a car loan, or a credit card. Far fewer know that a separate consumer report follows them through the insurance market, quietly shaping what they pay for auto and homeowners coverage, and in some cases whether they can get coverage at
Many people believe that filing a credit report dispute will resolve the issue. This is the intended purpose of the dispute process. However, disputes do not always result in corrections, even when errors are clear. We regularly see situations where a dispute is submitted, the process moves forward, and the response comes back with no
If you’ve ever tried to fix an error on your credit report, you already know the drill. You write a letter. You attach your proof. You wait. And weeks later, a form response comes back telling you the inaccurate information has been “verified” — even though nothing about it is actually accurate. It’s frustrating. It’s
The start of a new year is when many people set financial resolutions—paying down debt, buying a home, improving credit scores, or simply getting their finances back on track. If that’s you, the best place to start is your credit report. Before you can improve your financial health, you need to make sure the information
Social media is full of advice about “cleaning” your credit report, much of it dangerously inaccurate. Every day, people are told they can dispute any negative information and have it instantly removed. Others claim you can sue the credit bureaus simply because you don’t like what’s on your report. The truth? Your rights under the
Imagine checking your mail and finding a letter from TransUnion, one of the three major credit bureaus that holds the keys to your financial identity. At first, you might expect routine account information. Instead, you discover unsettling news: your Social Security number, date of birth, and other sensitive details may have been exposed in a
In a significant win for consumers, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit recently ruled that companies reporting information to credit bureaus—known as “furnishers”—can be held accountable under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) for failing to investigate disputes that involve both legal and factual issues, as long as the disputed information is
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently imposed a significant fine on Equifax, one of the three largest credit reporting agencies in the United States. This action has drawn attention to the practices of credit reporting agencies and their responsibilities toward consumers. Below, we explore the reasons behind the fine, its implications for Equifax, and
At Francis Mailman Soumilas, P.C., we are committed to protecting consumers from the devastating consequences of bureaucratic errors. A recent case handled by firm partner, Jim Francis, highlights the profound impact such mistakes can have and underscores the importance of vigilant legal advocacy. In December 2023, Joyce Evans, a retired federal employee, received a letter