Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

Credit Reporting Errors

At AJG Law Group, PC, we help consumers protect their rights when inaccurate or misleading credit reports affect their employment, housing, insurance, or other financial opportunities. Credit report errors are more common than most people realize, and they can have serious consequences on your financial future, creditworthiness, and access to essential services.

Common Credit Report Errors

The following are among the most frequently reported types of credit report errors that may entitle you to legal relief:

Deceased Notation

A rare but serious error occurs when a credit bureau mistakenly marks a living consumer as deceased. This can result in closed accounts, blocked access to credit, and significant disruptions to daily financial life.

Inaccurate Information

Errors such as incorrect account balances, paid debts reported as unpaid, duplicate account listings, and misreported late payments can unfairly lower your credit score and negatively affect your housing, employment, or insurance opportunities. Inaccurate public records appearing in your name, and the misreporting of account information by creditors or debt collectors, can also cause substantial harm.

Mixed Files

A mixed file occurs when another person’s credit history is associated with your report due to similar names, shared addresses, or data entry errors. Mixed files can cause lasting damage to your credit profile if not identified and corrected promptly.

Outdated Information

Federal law limits how long most negative information may remain on a credit report. When outdated information continues to appear beyond the legally permitted reporting period, it may constitute a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) establishes specific obligations for credit reporting agencies and those who furnish information to them. Under the FCRA, credit reporting agencies are required to:

• Provide consumers access to their credit reports and accept disputes regarding inaccurate information
• Investigate disputed information and correct or delete inaccuracies within 30 days of receiving a dispute
• Use reasonable procedures to ensure the maximum possible accuracy of consumer credit information
• Provide compensation to consumers when violations of the FCRA cause harm

Employers, landlords, and insurers who use consumer credit information to make decisions are also subject to strict requirements under the FCRA, including providing notice and obtaining proper authorization before accessing your credit report.

Available Damages for Credit Reporting Errors

If your credit report has been mishandled in violation of the FCRA, the law provides several categories of recoverable damages:

• Actual Damages:  Compensation for financial harm such as credit denials, increased interest rates, lost employment or housing opportunities, and emotional distress caused by inaccurate reporting.
• Statutory Damages:  The FCRA authorizes statutory damages of up to $1,000 per violation, regardless of whether you can demonstrate specific financial harm.
• Punitive Damages:  Additional compensation may be awarded when a company’s conduct is found to be intentional or reckless.
• Attorney Fees and Costs: If you prevail, the FCRA requires the defendant to pay your reasonable attorney fees and litigation costs. You pay nothing out of pocket.

At AJG Law Group, PC, we pursue every available remedy on behalf of our clients — correcting errors, restoring creditworthiness, and holding credit reporting agencies and furnishers accountable under the law.