Credit Report Errors Attorney in Pittsburgh
Is there incorrect information in your credit report?
Is there information in your credit report that's so old it should have disappeared?
Have these credit report errors affected your ability to get a loan or a credit card?
Did the credit bureaus or the company reporting the information not do anything when you let them know what was wrong?
Credit Report Errors Can Cost You, But You Don’t Have to Fix Them Alone
Your credit report affects some of the biggest parts of your life: whether you can buy a home, finance a car, rent an apartment, or even get certain jobs. Unfortunately, credit reports are often wrong.
According to a 2024 study by Consumer Reports, some 25% of Americans have one or more errors on their credit reports. 1 Some errors are minor, but others can seriously damage your credit score and cost you thousands of dollars in higher interest rates or lost opportunities.
Common Credit Report Errors
Here are some of the most frequent problems that show up on credit reports:
- Accounts that don’t belong to you
- Debts reported twice or with incorrect balances
- Accounts marked as late or in default when payments were made on time
- Old debts that should have been removed but are still being reported
- Accounts listed as unpaid after they were settled, discharged in bankruptcy, or paid in full
- Incorrect personal information that causes your credit file to be mixed with someone else’s
If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone, and you may have legal rights.
You Have Rights Under Federal Law
If inaccurate information is hurting your credit, chances are you have rights under:
- The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
- The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
- Other federal and state consumer protection laws
Under the FCRA, you have a right to an accurate credit report free of errors and mistakes. The three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax), plus any companies reporting information about you, have a duty to investigate any errors you tell them about. If they don’t investigate, don’t conduct an inadequate investigation, or investigate but don’t correct the errors, you might have claims.
Under the FDCPA, you have the right to be treated fairly in the debt collection process. If a debt collector is knowingly or recklessly reporting false information on your credit reports, you could have claims.
A consumer attorney can help you understand these legal rights and take action when companies ignore them.
How a Consumer Attorney Can Help Correct Credit Report Errors
Many people try disputing credit report errors on their own, only to be ignored or sent generic responses. A consumer protection attorney can help you identify, challenge, and correct credit report errors and, in many cases, hold the companies responsible under federal law.
Identifying All Legal Violations
A consumer attorney doesn’t just look for obvious mistakes. We analyze your credit report to determine whether credit bureaus or furnishers (like banks, debt collectors, or lenders) are violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) or other consumer protection laws. What looks like a simple “mistake” is often a legal violation.
Handling Disputes the Right Way
Credit bureaus are required by law to conduct a reasonable investigation when a consumer disputes inaccurate information. A credit report attorney:
- Submits disputes in a way that preserves your legal rights
- Tracks deadlines and responses
- Pushes back when credit bureaus “verify” information without actually investigating
Forcing Corrections When Companies Refuse to Act
If a credit bureau or furnisher continues reporting inaccurate information, a consumer attorney can escalate the matter.
This may include:
- Sending formal legal notices
- Filing complaints backed by evidence
- Filing a lawsuit when necessary to force correction
Recovering Money Damages and Attorney’s Fees
Under federal law, consumers may be entitled to:
- Compensation for financial harm
- Damages for stress and inconvenience
- Attorney’s fees and case costs paid by the violating company
That means many credit report error cases can be handled with little or no out-of-pocket cost to the consumer.
Real-World Examples of How a Credit Report Attorney Can Help
Example 1: Incorrect Late Payments
A Pennsylvania consumer applied for a mortgage and was denied due to multiple reported late payments on a car loan. Records showed the payments were actually made on time. After legal disputes and follow-up, the late payments were removed and the credit score increased.
Example 2: Debt That Was Already Paid
A credit card bill continued to appear as unpaid years after it was settled. Despite multiple disputes, the credit bureaus refused to remove it. Legal action forced the correction and resulted in compensation for the consumer.
Example 3: Account That Didn’t Belong to the Consumer
A client discovered a collection account that wasn’t theirs, likely due to a mixed credit file. The credit bureau failed to properly investigate. Once an attorney became involved, the account was deleted and the client’s credit profile was restored.
How Do I Get Started?
Call our office today at (412) 378-5854 or book a free 15-minute consultation. We look forward to speaking with you and seeing if we can help.