Credit reporting errors can prevent you from buying a house or a car, take you out of consideration for that job you applied for, and cause you serious stress and aggravation. 

If you notice an error on your credit report, you can dispute it under the provisions of a federal law called the Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA").  You can help yourself by taking the following steps:

STEP 1.  Review your credit reports from all three of the major consumer reporting agencies (credit bureaus), Experian, Trans Union and Equifax.  If you don't have a recent credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com, where you can obtain 1 free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus. (We recommend that you print the request form, fill-in the circled for each credit bureau, and mail it to the address listed).

STEP 2.  If there's an inaccuracy, write a letter to the credit bureaus asking them to investigate or re-investigate your account.  At the same time, send a dispute letter to the creditor listed on the account you're disputing.  Find copies of sample letters here.  Send all letters through certified U.S. Mail, return receipt requested.  Also, keep copies of EVERYTHING. 

STEP 3.  If the error or inaccuracy is not removed, repeat step 2 until it is. Note in your dispute that this is your second, or perhaps third, request to have information corrected. 

If, after taking these steps, your dispute letters do not correct the error, contact us – you may have a lawsuit.