What Is Credit Repair Litigation and When Should You Use It?
You’ve disputed the error. You’ve waited. You’ve followed up—maybe more than once. And still, that negative mark is sitting there on your credit report, messing with your score and costing you opportunities. When the credit bureaus or creditors won’t fix it voluntarily, you’re not out of options. That’s where credit repair litigation comes in.
At Lakeshore Law Center (www.creditrepairdebt.org), we use credit repair litigation as a last—but powerful—resort. It’s not about threatening to sue over every little thing. It’s about knowing when your rights under the law have been ignored—and doing something about it.
What Is Credit Repair Litigation?
Credit repair litigation is exactly what it sounds like: taking legal action against a credit bureau, creditor, or debt collector who’s violating your rights. The most common trigger? They’ve failed to correct inaccurate information after you’ve disputed it.
This kind of litigation falls under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and, in some cases, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). These laws protect consumers from false or misleading credit reporting. If the companies responsible for maintaining your credit history won’t follow the rules, you can sue them—and win.
When Should You Consider It?
Credit repair litigation isn’t for every situation. Sometimes, a basic dispute gets the job done. But if you’ve already tried that route and still can’t get results, it may be time to escalate. Here are the most common signs it’s worth considering:
- You’ve disputed an error multiple times and keep getting a “verified” response despite having proof it’s wrong
- Your report shows a debt that’s not yours—possibly from identity theft
- The same negative item keeps reappearing after it was deleted
- The credit bureau fails to respond within the legally required time
- A creditor or collector is reporting false information and refusing to correct it
- The inaccuracy is actively hurting your financial life—loan denials, job rejections, lost housing
These aren’t just annoyances. They’re violations of your legal rights. And the law gives you the power to fight back.
What Does the Legal Process Look Like?
When we take on a case at Lakeshore Law Center, we start by gathering all the documentation—your credit reports, dispute letters, responses, and any supporting evidence. We look at what the credit bureaus or furnishers (creditors) did—or didn’t do—in response to your dispute.
If we find a clear violation of your rights, we prepare a lawsuit. That could mean going after a bureau like Experian or a creditor who failed to investigate your dispute. In many cases, these lawsuits settle before they reach a courtroom. Companies often prefer to resolve things quietly once a legal team is involved.
If the case does move forward, you could be entitled to:
- Correction of your credit report
- Actual damages (for financial harm or emotional distress)
- Statutory damages (up to $1,000 per violation)
- Attorney’s fees
You don’t need to pay upfront. Most FCRA attorneys, including us, work on a contingency basis—meaning we only get paid if we win your case.
Why It Works
Credit bureaus and creditors often ignore regular disputes. But when they see a legal complaint, their tone changes. Why? Because now they’re dealing with exposure, potential liability, and a judge who understands the law.
That’s the real power of litigation. It’s not about being aggressive for the sake of it. It’s about using the law to level the playing field when all other routes have failed.
Should You Handle It Yourself?
Not really. Credit law is specific and technical. You need to know deadlines, procedures, and how to frame the violations clearly. A missed step or unclear complaint could sink your case before it starts. This is where having a firm like Lakeshore Law Center makes a difference. We focus specifically on credit law. It’s what we do every day.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve tried everything else and your credit report still has damaging errors, credit repair litigation might be your next step. It’s not about being dramatic—it’s about protecting your name, your finances, and your future.
Ready to find out if you have a case? Visit Lakeshore Law Center at www.creditrepairdebt.org. We’ll review your situation, explain your legal options, and help you decide if credit repair litigation is the right move for you.