THE FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT

There is a file out there that is all about you.  It contains information about whether you have been sued, arrested, filed for bankruptcy, have a tax lien, or whether you pay your bills.  Debt collectors and debt buyers use this file to motivate you to pay your debt by reporting information on it for other creditors, employers, insurance companies and charge accounts to see.

If the debt collector or the debt buyer falsely reports information or refuses to remove incorrect information after notice you have a right to bring a lawsuit to force a correction.  You may be entitled to damages and to have your attorney fees and costs paid.

Companies that gather and sell your personal financial information are called consumer "reporting agencies" or "credit bureaus."  There are FOUR major bureaus: Experian, Trans Union, Equifax and CSC.  

These bureaus sell the information as a "consumer report" to companies looking to lend you money, hire you or provide certain services to you.

Because there is room for so much error in the sharing of this financial information,  Congress in 1970 created a law that gives the consumer some rights in dealing with the consumer reporting agency.   This act requires the bureaus to provide complete and correct information.  

Your goal is to make sure your credit report contains correct, up to date and complete information.  You do not need to use a "credit repair organization" to do so.   

Visit the  "cleaning the credit report"  page to see how you may able to do so on your own.