Creditors and other large corporations have significant power over consumers, especially when it comes to credit reporting. Companies can report information, and the major credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, and Transunion) will generally add these details to your report without checking for accuracy.
Consumers need protection in these situations, and Florida follows the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). To know your rights under the law or address issues with credit reporting, contact a South Florida FCRA attorney immediately at no cost to you.
The FCRA is a federal law enacted to regulate the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer information, including credit reports. Florida has adopted this law to apply to all consumers within our state.
The law aims to protect the privacy and accuracy of consumer information held by credit reporting agencies (CRAs) and ensure fairness and transparency in credit reporting. Here are some of the key aspects of the FCRA in Florida.
The FCRA grants consumers the right to request and obtain a free copy of their credit report from each of the major CRAs once every 12 months through AnnualCreditReport.com.
Credit Reporting Agencies are required to maintain accurate, complete, and up-to-date consumer information. They must investigate and correct any inaccuracies promptly upon receiving a dispute from a consumer.
Before a business or individual can access a consumer’s credit report, they must have a permissible purpose and obtain the consumer’s consent. Permissible purposes include credit applications, employment background checks, and certain other financial transactions.
When an adverse action is taken based on information in a consumer report (such as denial of credit or employment), the consumer must be provided with specific information about the decision, including the reasons and the right to dispute the information.
The FCRA allows consumers to place fraud alerts or credit freezes on their reports to prevent unauthorized access and protect against identity theft.
Entities that provide information to CRAs, such as creditors, lenders, and collection agencies, must ensure the accuracy of the information they report.
Most negative information, such as late payments, collections, and charge-offs, can only be reported for a maximum of seven years. Bankruptcies can be reported for up to ten years.
The FCRA outlines a process for consumers to dispute inaccurate information on their credit reports. Upon receiving a dispute, CRAs must investigate and correct any inaccuracies within a reasonable timeframe. You can conveniently initiate a dispute online at with these three credit bureaus at absolutely no cost to you:
Violations of the FCRA can result in legal action against the offending party, potentially leading to financial penalties. Never hesitate to stand up for your rights under the FCRA regarding inaccurate reporting and seek the legal relief the law provides you.
Compliance with the FCRA is crucial for creditors, lenders, employers, and any entity involved in the collection and use of consumer information. Violations of the FCRA can cause harm to consumers, and if you believe you are in this situation, never hesitate to seek legal assistance.
The Law Offices of Jibrael S. Hindi helps clients protect their consumer rights under the FCRA. Contact us for a free consultation today.