Credit bureaus are information brokers, collecting and providing information about you to lenders. They maintain a file, or credit report, on each consumer that lists the person’s credit history. This information helps lenders determine whether to extend credit to you. Insurance companies, landlords, and employers use credit reports published by the three major credit reporting agencies (CRA) to judge your reliability and trustworthiness.

What Is a Credit Bureau?

A credit bureau collects personal data about consumers to generate their credit scores. The three major credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Every time you apply for a line of credit, your lender will check one or more of these bureaus to pull your report and decide whether to approve your application. They can be affiliated with government agencies, banks, employers, insurance companies, and even utility companies.

What if There Are Errors in My Report?

The law establishes new rules for credit repair companies to follow when helping consumers get inaccurate information removed from their reports. If there is erroneous information on your report, you have the right to dispute it with the reporting company and demand that they conduct an investigation. If the reporting agency finds an error, they must remove inaccurate information from your report within 30 days.

California’s Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act

California’s credit reporting law is a set of regulations in the California Civil Code.  Civil Code section 1785.25 specifically addresses the obligations of creditors and collection agencies that furnish information to credit bureaus about consumers.  While the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) provides most of your rights to correct inaccurate information in your credit report, the CCRAA offers additional protections. This law helps protect consumers and gives them more control over how their personal information is used when they apply for credit, insurance, housing, or employment. The California Consumer Reporting Agencies Act dictates what creditors can report and how that information is used. California’s law regarding credit reporting puts you, the consumer, in control of your credit history.

The law allows you to:

• Review your credit report and make sure it is accurate
• Correct any inaccuracies on your credit report
• See who has accessed your credit report
• Challenge an item on your credit report
• Obtain a free copy of your credit report annually

Your Rights in the Law

Your credit repair attorney can help you dispute incorrect information and remove items from your credit report that should not be there. If a CRA fails to correct inaccurate consumer information after being notified by a consumer that there is an error, the consumer can bring legal action against them. The CRA is then liable for “any actual damages sustained, and any costs associated with prosecuting the action” and attorney’s fees.

Leverage Credit Reporting Law

California’s credit reporting law makes it easier for people to correct errors on their credit reports. It also allows them to sue a credit reporting agency if the agency fails to correct errors promptly. If you are denied a credit application—or if you were given worse terms than someone else with a better score—you may be able to file a lawsuit against the credit reporting agency or against the creditor who reported erroneous information. You can also sue businesses that report inaccurate information to the credit bureaus.

We Can Help

Your credit repair attorneys at Lakeshore Law Center will help interpret the California Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act and determine if you can correct your credit score. If you’re a resident of California in the communities of Yorba Linda, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, or Santa Ana, call us at (714) 854-7205 today to schedule an appointment.

A credit score is a three-digit number that reflects your creditworthiness and overall risk as a borrower. Lenders use it to decide whether to grant you a loan and at what interest rate. A low credit score can mean you’ll have to pay more for auto loans, mortgages, and credit cards.

If your credit score is low, you may need to hire a lawyer to help improve it. Credit lawyers can help you understand your rights as a consumer and guide you through the process of fixing your credit score. They may be able to negotiate with creditors on your behalf or help you contest negative marks.

How to Choose a Credit Repair Lawyer

There are several things to consider when looking for and choosing a credit repair attorney, including:

• You will want to find a lawyer who has experience working with credit law, is familiar with the process, and understands how credit bureaus work. In addition, a good lawyer will be able to let you know if you have a case against the credit bureau or lender and help you understand what your options are.
• Do They Have a Staff? You need a lawyer who has a staff and can handle your case without you having to do much of the work. You need someone reliable when you are going through this to focus on other things in your life.
• You should also consider the cost of hiring an attorney to fix your credit score. Some attorneys charge by the hour, while others charge a flat fee. Decide which payment method works best for your situation.
• Client Portal. Do they have a client portal? If your lawyer doesn’t use a client portal, how will you get updates on your case? Will you be forced to call the office every week to get an update?
• Do they respond when you contact them? Some lawyers are so busy that they hire staff to respond to their client’s inquiries. Make sure that someone can talk to you and answer your questions.
• Does the attorney tell you what their hourly rate is upfront? Even in the same zip code, there can be significant variations in hourly rates between attorneys! It’s important to know the billing rate before you sign the contract.
• Do They Have Testimonials? What are people saying about their service? You’ll want to research reviews from previous clients to see if others have had success with them.
• Are They Licensed? I would suggest working with someone who is licensed by their state bar association or another state agency that regulates lawyers. This ensures that they understand what they are doing and follow all regulations and laws.

We Can Help with Your Credit Score

If your credit score is less than perfect, don’t worry. The Lakeshore Law Center can help. We have over 35 years of experience assisting people in improving their credit scores. If you’re a resident of California in the communities of Yorba Linda, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, or Santa Ana, call us at (714) 854-7205 today to schedule an appointment.

If you have suffered harassment by debt collectors, Lakeshore Law Center debt collection harassment attorneys are here to help you. We have helped countless individuals in Yorba Linda, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Ana, and surrounding California communities. We will ensure that your rights are protected and that the harassing debt collectors are held accountable for their actions under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Know Your Rights

Several federal and state laws protect consumers from abusive practices by debt collectors. If a creditor or collection agency has violated your rights under the FDCPA, you may be entitled to compensation for the resulting damages. If a collector violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), debt collection attorneys can assess your case and calculate the damages you may be entitled to.

Lakeshore Law Center

Lakeshore Law Center is one of the premier consumer protection law firms in the United States. We provide exceptional legal representation, and we have successfully represented consumers nationwide in class action lawsuits against some of the world’s largest debt collectors and creditors.

Experience and Expertise You Can Trust

We have over two decades of experience fighting on behalf of clients whom creditors and debt collectors have harassed. Our consumer rights attorneys are highly knowledgeable about all applicable laws governing the conduct of lenders and debt collectors. We will help you understand your rights under the law, including how to stop creditor harassment.

Help Build Your Case

Most of our consumer rights cases settle out of court, but if your case does go to a trial, we are prepared to fight for your rights in a court of law. No matter where you live in the state of California, we have the resources and experience necessary to get justice for you. You must demonstrate that the creditor or debt collector violated one of your rights as a consumer under federal law.

We will use our extensive knowledge of consumer protection laws to your advantage to recover the compensation you deserve for the following:

• Illegal debt collection practices like harassment, deception, or misrepresentation
• Debt collector threats of arrest or lawsuits for non-payment of debts
• Legal fees, court costs, and other expenses associated with a creditor lawsuit
• Contacting third parties about your debt like a family member, friend, or employer (unless it is an attorney or spouse)
• Calling you at inconvenient times, such as before 8 am or after 9 pm
• Calling you so frequently that it could be considered harassment or abuse
• Using profane language during communications or calling you names or insults
• Threatening violence or harm during communications

We Protect Your Rights

Our debt collection harassment attorneys are experienced in helping individuals assert their rights and stand up to harassment from unscrupulous creditors and debt collectors who violate federal law. Don’t allow bullies to get away with this behavior. Our debt collection harassment attorneys will also ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for any losses or damages incurred by their illegal practices.

Call Us Today—We Can help

If you’ve been receiving harassing phone calls, text messages, emails, or letters from a creditor or debt collector, Lakeshore Law Center can help. If you’re a resident of California in the communities of Yorba Linda, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, or Santa Ana, call us at (714) 854-7205 today to schedule an appointment.

If you have struggled to fix your credit on your own, you may wonder if credit repair litigation is the right option. Getting your credit report cleaned and improving your credit score is the most important requirement in credit repair litigation. There are four laws you can use to win your case.

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

The FCRA dictates that credit reporting agencies (CRA) provide accurate information in their reports to lenders. This law also requires that creditors share their data with the CRA and that they only provide accurate information. Finally, this law gives consumers the right to add a dispute note to any inaccurate item on their reports. Any creditor or CRA refusing to honor this provision is breaking the law.

The FCRA gives consumers certain rights regarding their credit reports. For instance, each year, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion should make a free credit report available for you. The FCRA allows consumers to file suit against a CRA for violating this law, which means you can take them to court for not removing inaccurate information from your report. It also allows you to sue for damages, meaning you might be able to get monetary compensation when a CRA breaks this law.

Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA)

The FCBA protects consumers from credit report errors and gives them access to information about the errors. It’s also the foundation for credit repair litigation, aiming to get the best possible outcome for consumers whom the credit bureaus have wronged.

If you find that your score has been damaged because of inaccurate information on your report, it’s possible to challenge errors in FCBA compliance. If a creditor reports inaccurate or outdated information, you have the right to dispute this error with the three credit bureaus in writing.

Truth in Lending Act

This act protects consumers from unfair billing practices and requires creditors to disclose debt information clearly and concisely. This includes disclosing interest rates, fees, and other related charges by creditors for credit cards, personal loans, and mortgages.

This act also requires creditors to notify consumers of any changes to their accounts that may impact their ability to pay off their debt.

If your lender fails to meet these requirements, they can be held liable in court under this act. However, if you can prove that they violated these requirements, your lawyer could be entitled.

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)

Consumers are protected against obnoxious debt collectors under the FDCPA. The act sets out several rules that debt collectors must abide by, including the requirement to contact the debtor only once per week and the prohibition of contacting the debtor at work. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act permits you to sue debt collectors for damages if they violate your rights.

We Can Help with Your Credit

If you’re struggling to remove inaccurate, unfair, or unverified items from your credit report, then credit repair litigation may be the answer for you. Lakeshore Law Center is a law firm that specializes in credit repair litigation and is based in California. If you’re a resident of California in the communities of Yorba Linda, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, or Santa Ana, call us at (714) 854-7205 today to schedule an appointment.