Credit Report Disputes & Claims

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0c42d5a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Attorney Gordon Leech, Wisconsin Consumer & Employment Lawyer</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Attorney Gordon Leech, Wisconsin Consume"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="potential_claim_inquiry.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Potential Claim Inquiry"><U>Potential Claim Inquiry</U></A>   |   <A HREF="attorney_gordon_leech_biography.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Attorney Gordon Leech"><U>About Attorney Gordon Leech</U></A>   |   <A HREF="contact_attoney_leech.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How To Contact Me"><U>How To Contact Me</U></A>   |   <B>Credit Report Disputes & Claims</B>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Identity Theft"><U>Identity Theft</U></A>   |   <A HREF="debt_collection_violations.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Debt Collection Violations"><U>Debt Collection Violations</U></A>   |   <A HREF="your_rights_when_credit_card_bills_have_errors.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Credit Card Billing Errors"><U>Credit Card Billing Errors</U></A>   |   <A HREF="your_employment_rights_in_wisconsin__overtime_pay.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Employment Claims"><U>Employment Claims</U></A>   |   <A HREF="workplace___consumer_news.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News"><U>News</U></A>   |   <A HREF="helpful_links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Helpful Links"><U>Helpful Links</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="File Share"><U>File Share</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Downloads"><U>Downloads</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="073d2c00dkelyh.png"> <div> Samster, Konkel & Safran, SC</div> <div> 1110 N. Old World Third St. #405</div> <div> Milwaukee, WI 53203</div> <div> Tel: 414-224-0400</div> <bR> <div> Please also visit <A HREF="http://www.skslawyers.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.skslawyers.com"><U>www.skslawyers.com</U></A>, for information on the law firm of Samster, Konkel & Safran.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Potential claim?  </B><A HREF="potential_claim_inquiry.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Potential Claim Inquiry"><U><B>Click Here</B></U></A><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Want to see our newsletter?  </B><A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Newsletter"><U><B>Click Here</B></U></A><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <I>Keep The Credit You've Earned</I> Video Series, <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Keep the Credit Youve Earned Videos"><U>Click Here</U></A>.</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rights to Fair Credit Reporting"><U>Rights to Fair Credit Reporting</U></A>   |   <A HREF="credit_report_disputes__what_to_do__know_your_rights37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Getting Your Credit Reports"><U>Getting Your Credit Reports</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Checking Accuracy of Credit Reports"><U>Checking Accuracy of Credit Reports</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Disputing Credit Report Entries"><U>Disputing Credit Report Entries</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Keep the Credit Youve Earned Videos"><U>Keep the Credit You've Earned Videos</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FTC Website on Identity Theft"><U>FTC Website on Identity Theft</U></A></div> <div> <I>Credit Report Disputes & Claims</I></div> <div> Credit Report disputes can involve the inaccurate reporting of your credit by the credit reporting agencies for many reasons.  Some reasons include a creditor incorrectly reporting the status of your account, someone else's information is on your credit report or someone has stolen your identity and is opening fraudulent accounts in your name.  Sometimes, old information, even though it is accurate, is wrongfully reported.  When debt is sold, some debt buyers or debt collectors will use an incorrect date of last activity so that the delinquency appears more recent than it really is.  Also, your right to the privacy of your credit history may be violated by someone reviewing your file without your permission or a report may be used in an unauthorized manner.  </div> <bR> <div> Recoveries for violations of the fair credit reporting laws oftentimes include a statutory minimum award or actual damages caused by the violation and attorney's fees.</div> <bR> <div> Links on this page, click on to navigate to that section:</div> <div> <A HREF="#common_reasons_for_inaccurate_credit" TITLE="Credit Report Disputes Claims"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Common Reasons for Inaccurate Credit Reports</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#how_long_adverse_information_can_remain" TITLE="Credit Report Disputes Claims"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">How Long Adverse Information Can Remain In Credit Reports</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#background_checks___employment" TITLE="Credit Report Disputes Claims"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Background Checks & Employment</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <I> <A NAME="common_reasons_for_inaccurate_credit"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></I><I>Common Reasons for Inaccurate Credit Reports [</I><A HREF="credit_report_disputes__what_to_do__know_your_rights_m.htm" TITLE="Credit Report Disputes Claims"><U><I>Back to Top</I></U></A><I>]</I></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Mixing someone else's information into your reports </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Inaccurate reporting of payment history by the creditor</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Misapplication of payments on multiple accounts, showing a larger amount due on undisputed debt, but a smaller amount on disputed debt</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Indicating a bankruptcy on your report when you are a co-signer on a debt but not personally in bankruptcy</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Accounts fraudulently opened by Identity Theft</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Impermissible Access by Spouses, Insurance, Account Reviews, Employers, Opposing Party in Litigation, Car Dealer, Bank</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Double Entries on the same account</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Multiple reports of the same debt by former and a current debt collector</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Reporting a more recent date of delinquency to make the delinquency appear more recent than it really is</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Failure to note that an account/debt is disputed</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Reporting of Obsolete information (account that was in default more than 7.5 years ago except for judgments and bankruptcy)</div> <bR> <div> <I> <A NAME="how_long_adverse_information_can_remain"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></I><I>How Long Adverse Information Can Remain in Credit Reports [</I><A HREF="credit_report_disputes__what_to_do__know_your_rights_m.htm" TITLE="Credit Report Disputes Claims"><U><I>Back to Top</I></U></A><I>]</I></div> <div> The following is the text of the Fair Credit Reporting Act that identifies the period of time that the credit reporting agency is permitted to report adverse or negative information.  There are some additional rules about bankruptcy reporting and a requirement that the credit reporting agency note any information that you dispute while it is conducting an investigation into your dispute.</div> <bR> <div> <B>§ 605. Requirements relating to information contained in consumer reports </B>[15 U.S.C. §1681c]</div> <div> (a) <I>Information excluded from consumer reports. </I>Except as authorized under subsection</div> <div> (b) of this section, no consumer reporting agency may make any consumer report</div> <div> containing any of the following items of information:</div> <div> (1) Cases under title 11 [United States Code] or under the Bankruptcy Act that, from</div> <div> the date of entry of the order for relief or the date of adjudication, as the case may</div> <div> be, antedate the report by more than 10 years.</div> <div> (2) Civil suits, civil judgments, and records of arrest that from date of entry, antedate</div> <div> the report by more than seven years or until the governing statute of limitations</div> <div> has expired, whichever is the longer period.</div> <div> (3) Paid tax liens which, from date of payment, antedate the report by more than</div> <div> seven years.</div> <div> (4) Accounts placed for collection or charged to profit and loss which antedate the</div> <div> report by more than seven years.<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >1</FONT></div> <div> (5) Any other adverse item of information, other than records of convictions of</div> <div> crimes which antedates the report by more than seven years.<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >1</FONT></div> <div> (6) The name, address, and telephone number of any medical information furnisher</div> <div> that has notified the agency of its status, unless--</div> <div> (A) such name, address, and telephone number are restricted or reported using</div> <div> codes that do not identify, or provide information sufficient to infer, the</div> <div> specific provider or the nature of such services, products, or devices to a</div> <div> person other than the consumer; or</div> <div> (B) the report is being provided to an insurance company for a purpose</div> <div> relating to engaging in the business of insurance other than property and</div> <div> casualty insurance.</div> <div> (b) <I>Exempted cases. </I>The provisions of paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (a) of</div> <div> this section are not applicable in the case of any consumer credit report to be used in</div> <div> connection with</div> <div> (1) a credit transaction involving, or which may reasonably be expected to involve, a</div> <div> principal amount of $150,000 or more;</div> <div> (2) the underwriting of life insurance involving, or which may reasonably be</div> <div> expected to involve, a face amount of $150,000 or more; or</div> <div> (3) the employment of any individual at an annual salary which equals, or which may</div> <div> reasonably be expected to equal $75,000, or more.</div> <div> (c) Running of Reporting Period</div> <div> (1) <I>In general. </I>The 7-year period referred to in paragraphs (4) and (6)<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >2 </FONT>of subsection</div> <div> (a) shall begin, with respect to any delinquent account that is placed for collection</div> <div> (internally or by referral to a third party, whichever is earlier), charged to profit and</div> <div> loss, or subjected to any similar action, upon the expiration of the 180-day period</div> <div> beginning on the date of the commencement of the delinquency which immediately</div> <div> preceded the collection activity, charge to profit and loss, or similar action.</div> <div> (2) <I>Effective date. </I>Paragraph (1) shall apply only to items of information added to the</div> <div> file of a consumer on or after the date that is 455 days after the date of enactment of</div> <div> the Consumer Credit Reporting Reform Act of 1996.</div> <bR> <div> <I> <A NAME="background_checks___employment"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></I><I>Background Checks & Employment [</I><A HREF="credit_report_disputes__what_to_do__know_your_rights_m.htm" TITLE="Credit Report Disputes Claims"><U><I>Back to Top</I></U></A><I>]</I></div> <div> Many employers are using background checks for current employees and applicants for employment.  Oftentimes, consumers may be offered a job conditioned on a background check that may not even be obtained until after employ begins.  You have rights before and after an employer or prospective employer gets and uses a background report for employment purposes.</div> <bR> <div> Before an employer or prospective employer can lawfully obtain a background report on a person for employment, when the report it obtains qualifies as a consumer report under the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, it must give written notice of its intent to get a background report and written authorization to get the report from the consumer / applicant / employee.  The notice, or disclosure, and the authorization may be in the same document, but the notice and authorization may not be combined with any other disclosure, release of liability or hold harmless type of language in the document or as part of the written application.  Failure to give you prior notice in writing or a failure to get your written authorization may violate your rights under the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.</div> <bR> <div> If an employer makes an adverse employment decision, such as non-hire or termination, based on a qualifying background report, the employee or applicant has rights to be told about the decision before it is actually taken so that any error in the background report may be discussed and an opportunity for the employee or applicant to seek correction of any errors with the reporting agency.  The reporting agency is suppose to send a copy of any report provided for employment purposes to the subject--the employee or applicant--at the time it sends the report to the employer.  When the employer takes an adverse employment action, it must also advise the employee that it made the decision based on a consumer report, provide notice of rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the name and contact information of the agency from whom it obtained the report so that the consumer can obtain a copy of the report and dispute any inaccuracies.  The employer is not suppose to actually take the adverse action until a "reasonable time" has passed after providing the employee the advance notice of the adverse action, which is to provide the time for correction of the report if appropriate.  Where an employer takes the adverse action without providing advance notice of taking such action based on a consumer report or fails to give a reasonable time before taking the action after providing notice or the reporting agency fails to provide a copy of the report or to respond to a dispute, the employer or reporting agency may have violated your rights under the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="credit_report_disputes__what_to_do__know_your_rights_m.htm" TITLE="Credit Report Disputes Claims"><U>[Back to Top]</U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Attorney Gordon R. Leech</div> <div> Samster, Konkel & Safran, SC</div> <div> 1110 N. Old World Third St., Suite 405</div> <div> Milwaukee, WI 53203</div> <div> Tel: 414-224-0400</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:gleech@attorneyleech.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:gleech@attorneyleech.com"><U>gleech@AttorneyLeech.com</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.attorneyleech.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.attorneyleech.com"><U>www.AttorneyLeech.com</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>