What Does a Credit Repair Attorney Do?

Credit repair is the process you use to challenge inaccurate information on your credit report. These types of entries may be inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise flawed. Despite their inaccuracy, your score will dip as a result. 

Credit report errors are common. A 2021 Consumer Reports investigation found that one-third of the consumers who volunteered for the investigation found errors in their credit reports. Error or not, these mistakes lower your credit score. This can lead to higher interest rates and a bad credit rating.

In simpler times, correcting one of these credit report errors entailed a simple phone call. Nowadays, it's not uncommon to read horror stories about just how hard it is to get inaccuracies removed from your credit reports.

Correcting your credit report is often a time-consuming and complex lesson in frustration, but given the importance of your credit score, you can't afford to ignore it. In situations like these, you may need the help of a qualified credit repair attorney.

What does a credit repair attorney do?

Credit repair attorneys perform a number of services aimed at repairing your credit, including:

• Reviewing your credit reports to evaluate potential errors or ways to improve your score
• Negotiating with credit reporting agencies to remove negative items from your credit report, such as late payments and foreclosures
• Negotiating settlement amounts with your creditors
• Representing you in court if a creditor sues you

Although you don't have to be a credit repair lawyer to repair your credit, it's challenging to do it yourself. Repairing your credit will require, at the least, making a series of phone calls and sending dispute letters to lenders and credit bureaus.

An experienced credit repair attorney has years of experience in dealing with credit bureaus and understands your consumer rights under state and federal law. They can use that expertise on your behalf to represent you in a dispute with your credit bureau. This will provide you with the convenience of repairing your credit without frustration and with better results than if you did it yourself.

Are there any relevant laws I should know about?

If you hire a credit repair attorney, a topic of discussion may be your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FCRA is a federal law that regulates how credit bureaus use your information. Among other things, the FCRA limits who may view your credit reports and under what circumstances they may be viewed.

Another important federal law is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The FDCPA outlines protections for consumers against third-party debt collection agencies. Some debt collectors resort to abusive tactics, such as harassment or misrepresentation, to collect debts. The FDCPA is in place to protect consumers from such practices.

Individual states also have their own consumer protection laws, which may provide additional rights. If you have any questions about how your state handles consumer protection, check your state's law or contact a credit repair attorney.

How do I avoid scams and unqualified credit repair services?

There are many companies offering credit repair services that may not be very scrupulous. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), you may have encountered a credit repair scam if the credit repair company:

• Insists on being paid before they do any work
• Offers to sell you a new social security number
• Fails to explain your legal rights when they discuss the services they provide
• Advises you to falsify or omit information on a loan or credit application

You may be held liable for taking any illegal actions, even if they were done on your behalf by a scam company. It's important to be aware of your rights and wary of misleading credit repair companies.

Legal Help with Credit Repair

When you're dealing with credit problems, an attorney can guide you through the complex laws and rules related to credit. They help you challenge mistakes on your credit report and take legal action against creditors or debt collectors.

Having legal advice ensures you fully grasp your situation and can take the right steps to improve your credit within the legal boundaries. Putting a qualified credit repair attorney to work for you can end your headaches and get your credit rating back where it should be.