Credit Reporting Errors
Credit reporting errors can devastate your finances and personal life. Inaccuracies—like accounts that don’t belong to you, outdated negative items, or misreported late payments—can lower your score, raise borrowing costs, and block access to jobs, housing, or insurance. We dispute these errors with bureaus and furnishers, enforcing your rights under the FCRA and Florida law.
Your Rights
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Florida consumer protection laws, you have the right to:
Obtain a free credit report from each bureau once per year
Dispute inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information.
Have confirmed errors corrected or deleted within 30 days.
Receive notice if credit report data was used to deny you credit, housing, or employment.
Pursue compensation when bureaus or furnishers fail to act.
Possible Damages
If credit bureaus or furnishers fail to fix errors, you may be entitled to:
Reimbursement for financial losses.
Compensation for emotional distress and reputational harm.
Punitive damages for willful violations.
Recovery of attorney’s fees and court costs.
What Clients Ask us Most
Do I need an attorney to fix credit reporting errors?
You are legally allowed to dispute errors on your own. However, many credit reporting agencies rely on automated systems and fail to conduct meaningful investigations. When errors persist, repeat, or cause real harm, it may indicate a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
An attorney becomes especially important when:
- Errors are not corrected after a dispute
- The bureau claims the information was “verified” without explanation
- You were denied credit, housing, or employment
- The error involves identity theft, mixed files, or repeated inaccuracies
At that point, the issue is no longer just correction — it is enforcement of your legal rights.
How do I dispute an error on my credit report?
Consumers have the right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information directly with the credit reporting agencies. Once a dispute is submitted, the bureau generally has **30 days** to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation.
During that time, the bureau must:
- Review all relevant information provided
- Communicate with the data furnisher
- Correct or delete information that cannot be verified
If the investigation is superficial or the error remains without explanation, that may constitute an FCRA violation
Do errors usually appear on all three credit reports?
Not always. Each credit bureau — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — maintains its own report, and errors often appear on **one or two reports but not the others**.
This inconsistency itself can be a red flag. Under the FCRA, credit bureaus are required to maintain reasonable procedures to ensure accuracy. When the same account is reported differently across bureaus, it may indicate unlawful reporting practices.
What if the credit bureau refuses to fix the error?
If a credit bureau continues reporting inaccurate information after receiving notice of the dispute, it may be violating federal law. The FCRA requires more than a rubber-stamp response — it requires a **reasonable reinvestigation**.
When bureaus fail to correct errors, ignore evidence, or repeatedly verify inaccurate information, consumers may be entitled to legal remedies, including damages and attorney’s fees.
**I was denied a loan, job, or rental because of my credit report. What are my rights?**If adverse action was taken against you based on your credit report, you have important rights under the FCRA, including:
- The right to know which credit report was used
- The right to obtain a free copy of that report
- The right to dispute inaccurate information
When a denial is caused by incorrect or unlawful reporting, consumers may be entitled to compensation for financial loss, emotional distress, and other damages.
Federal Consumer Protection Areas And Consumer Injury Advocacy
