Problems persist with Credit Bureaus
Have you experienced issues with credit bureau’s? It seems to be a running theme. The three major credit-reporting bureau’s – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, have had the most complaints for four consecutive years. These complaints involve inaccurate information on credit reports. Fighting with these bureaus can be a hassle because the bureaus have more power than the consumer.
Lawmakers have only begun to pay attention since the enormous data breach from Equifax just two years ago. This led to being able to freeze your reports for no fee but didn’t provide any new ways to protect the consumer. There have been a few reforms in the past few years, such as bureaus being required to inform the other bureaus when a credit file is found to be mixed with another person and that a report can no longer include debts outside of an agreement or contract. For example, The reports are not allowed to include medical records that are 180 days old or less or medical debts that have been paid by an insurer.
Problems have been persistent, and it seems that reform is not happening fast enough. The disputes are converted into codes that summarize the complaints for the data furnishers, which can be thought of as computers talking to computers. This can be frustrating when you have a dispute that is more complex and you need to talk to a real person.
During the data breach of 2017, Equifax had a settlement of $700 million, which is comparable to a parking ticket in their eyes. It is just the cost of doing business and easier than changing their business practices to be fair and partial to consumers. It is imperative as a consumer to check your credit report regularly, or you may find yourself unexpectedly rejected for credit when it is most crucial. annualcreditreport.com is a site where you can check your credit report for free annually. As a consumer, it is your job to identify that your accounts are in good standing and have all the correct information. If your personal information is wrong, it could potentially be a mixed file or identity theft. It isn’t uncommon for a credit file to be mixed with someone who has similarities to your identifying information. It is most likely to happen if you have a common first and last name or if you have a family member with a similar or the same name. Credit bureaus may even consider only 7 of the 9 digits of your social security number when matching your information. You have the right to dispute these errors and have them corrected and/or deleted. An error in your file could prevent you from getting credit, renting a home, or getting a job.
If you come across an error, you should take action from both sides. You should contact the furnisher that provided data to the bureaus and to contact the bureau(s) reporting the error. It may even be best to write a formal letter by mail so that a person and not a computer will receive the information. It also provides you with a paper trail if you were to make a claim. Being persistent is key, it is not easy to get a furnisher to immediately admit their wrongs. Filing a dispute with the credit bureaus as you communicate with the furnisher will help preserve your right to make a legal claim if the error fails to be corrected. You can find dispute information and mailing addresses through these links: equifax.com/disputes, experian.com/disputes and transunion.com/disputes Contact us today with any questions you may have regarding your credit report.
