Columbus FCRA Claims/Credit Repair Lawyer
Consumers in Columbus have protections concerning information contained in their credit report and how it is used and accessed. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) sets out the credit reporting rights that consumers have in the U.S., and it is designed to protect consumer privacy and to ensure that information contained in credit reports is accurate and used in a fair manner. Contact our Columbus FCRA claims/credit repair lawyer to learn more.
What is the Fair Credit Reporting Act?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) explains that the Fair Credit Reporting Act “protects information collected by consumer reporting agencies such as credit bureaus, medical information companies, and tenant screening services.”
Under the FCRA (also known as Title VI of the Consumer Credit Protection Act), :information in a consumer report cannot be provided to anyone who does not have a purpose specified in the Act,.” Further, as the FTC explains, “companies that provide information to consumer reporting agencies also have specific legal obligations, including the duty to investigate disputed information.” Any party that takes an adverse action against a consumer based on information supplied in their credit report must notify the consumer under the FCRA.
The FCRA was expanded through the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, which resulted in additional protections to consumers concerning the accuracy of their credit reports and identity thrift issues.
Consumer Rights in Columbus Under the FCRA
What rights do you have as a consumer under the FCRA? The Act provides consumers with protections concerning information gathered by credit reporting agencies, including the following rights:
- You have a right to know about the information that any credit reporting agency is maintaining in your credit report, including your credit score and any other related information. Credit reporting companies are permitted to charge you a fee when you request the information contained in your credit report, but you are entitled to request one free credit report per year. In addition, a credit reporting agency may offer you a free credit report when an issue has occurred, such as a concern about identity theft or an inaccuracy in your file.
- You have a right to any information supplied by a credit reporting agency that has been used to deny you credit or to make any decision concerning your eligibility for a loan or credit line. For example, if you apply for a credit card and are denied, you have a right to know which credit reporting agency supplied the information.
- You have a right to dispute any inaccurate information in your credit report to repair your credit, and the credit reporting agency is required to investigate your case. If there is an error in your credit report, the credit reporting agency is required to correct it within 30 days.
- Credit reporting agencies are required to remove negative information contained in your credit report after 7 years (except for a bankruptcy, which is 10 years).
- Anyone seeking to access your credit report for employment purposes must obtain your consent.
If your rights were violated, you can take steps to repair your credit and to seek damages for the violation.
Contact Kohl & Cook Law Firm
If your rights under the FCRA were violated or you need assistance with credit repair, you should seek advice from one of the lawyers at Kohl & Cook Law Firm who can help. Contact our experienced Columbus FCRA claims/credit repair lawyer today.
