Financial Protection Attorney Tod A. Lewis helps people regain control of their financial lives by getting the upper hand on debt collectors, credit reporting agencies and creditors who break the law. Tod understands how powerless you feel when your credit score is impacted by an error or your life is turned upside down due to a faulty background check (employment or tenant), or even identity theft. Laws are in place to help you reclaim your financial well-being—Tod’s here to help. Zero money down. Tod doesn’t get paid unless you get your problems fixed. “I’ve always cheered for the underdog, Practicing law is a way to do something to help.” — Tod Lewis
Fix Your Inaccurate Credit Reports!!!!!
Numerous studies show that credit reports are often full of damaging inaccuracies which plague the credit industry:
* 26% of credit reporting errors are serious enough to deny an application for credit, housing or employment.
Some of the most common and most egregious errors include:
* Mixed or Merged Credit Report Files
* Inaccurately Assigned Items
* Identity Theft
* Out of Date Entries
* Inaccurate Background Screening
Obtain and Analyze Your Credit Reports
First things first though – you must care enough to GET YOUR CREDIT REPORTS from all three credit bureaus -- Experian, Equifax & TransUnion. During the pandemic through April 2021 consumer can obtain one free electronic report per week using www.annualcreditreport.com (in normal times its on report per bureau per year). Also, here are sample letters you can copy and send to: Experian, Equifax & Trans Union. For Texas residents, Texas law requires that, upon your request, and within 45 days, each credit bureau MUST send your full credit report to you (“a copy of all information contained in its files.”). Finally, Attorney Lewis is also available to help guide consumers if needed.
+ How to Dispute Errors on Your Credit Report
Step 1: Obtain your free credit reports Obtaining your credit reports is the first step in disputing any inaccurate or wrong information which may appear. Federal law requires the three national credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union, to provide you with a free credit report every year. Get one from all three agencies at AnnualCreditReport.com. This is the only official site to help consumers obtain their free credit report.
Step 2: Initiate dispute with the credit reporting agency Dispute errors on your credit report by using the FTC's sample complaint letter. Make copies (or take pictures) of your dispute letter and all supportive documentation, and then mail it all to the credit reporting agency reporting the error(s). Mail your dispute letter & enclosures via certified mail - return receipt to:
Trans Union Consumer Disclosure Center P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19022-2000 Phone: (800) 916-8800
Equifax Complaint Department P.O. Box 740256 Atlanta, GA 30374 Phone: (888) 873-5420
Experian NCAC P.O. Box 2002 Allen, TX 75013 Phone: (800) 509-8495
Step 3: Initiate dispute with the furnisher Contact the furnisher of the inaccurate information (e.g. Big Bank). You can use the FTC's sample complaint letter to use to dispute inaccurate information with providers.
Step 4: Wait 30 days for a response Credit reporting agencies must investigate disputes made by consumers. Thirty (30) days after the dispute is initiated, credit reporting companies are required (by law) to provide consumers with the results. The results should be accompanied by a free credit report. If the dispute is not resolved, consider seeking legal action.