Know Your Rights With Regard To Credit Reporting

Your credit report is an integral part of your financial identity in the world. An accurate, up-to-date credit report is essential for borrowing money, whether a car loan, mortgage, payday loan or other type of financial service. You have certain rights with regard to your credit report – including the right to review it annually and to contest any inaccuracies. It is important to know your rights and know how to take the right legal action if necessary.

Highly regarded for expertise in this field, Attorney Amy Wells at Wells Law Office, Inc. has been assisting consumers in resolving issues related to credit reporting for over 17 years. Whether you have errors or your report, your report has been obtained or pulled without your permission, or the credit bureaus seem to have you mixed up with someone else, Ms. Wells has dealt with these and many other credit reporting issues before. She balances compassion and experience to aggressively help consumers resolve their credit reporting problems.

Employers are using background checks more than ever. The results of your background check can be vital for gaining and keeping employment. If your denial of an employment opportunity is a result of negative information on your record, you have a right to copies of your background report.

It is important to keep in mind that you also have protected rights if there are errors on your background check. Ms. Wells has dealt with an array of background check companies when they were in violation of laws requiring fair practices.

You Have Rights

Because your credit report drastically impacts your financial opportunities, it’s important to be aware of the following rights:

• You must be told if information in your credit file has been used against you. It is the creditor, insurer or employer’s responsibility to provide you with this information. This entitles you to a free copy of the credit or background report that was used to make the adverse decision.
• You have the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information on your credit report.
• You have the right to get a free copy of your credit report once each year, as well as any time that you are denied credit, insurance or employment. You also have the right to learn your credit score (for a fee).
• Credit bureaus may not report outdated negative information about you.
• Credit bureaus may provide information about you only to people with a valid and lawful need.
• Credit bureaus must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete or unverifiable information.
• You may seek money damages from parties who violate your legal rights.

Learn more about how to interpret your credit report and steps for protecting your credit.

Discuss Your Credit Reporting Concerns With An Experienced Lawyer

If you believe that your rights have been violated with regard to your creditor report or background check, or you need help correcting inaccuracies or getting the credit bureaus to listen to you, talk to Ms. Wells about your options. Call her in Chicago, Illinois, at 773-352-8567 or send her an email to get started.