Calilfornia Lemon Law Rights • The Right to Have Accurate Credit Reports

Whether to Dispute Errors Online or by Letters

POSTED BY: Mark F. Anderson | Credit Report, News

Whether to Dispute Errors Online or by Letters We and other consumer advocates have long advised consumers to send disputes to the credit reporting agencies by mail rather than using the agencies’ online option. The main reason for using old-fashioned mail was that there was no way to send in documents to the agencies to show the consumer is right and the reports are wrong. Now, however, the bureaus online systems allow consumers the ability to upload documents, such as documents showing proof of payment. Consumers understandably like the online option because it is easier and faster. There is still...

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Medical Debt is Causing Big Problems for Consumers

POSTED BY: Mark F. Anderson | Consumer Debt, News

Medical Debt is Causing Big Problems for Consumers Medical debt is causing big problems for huge numbers of consumers. The New York Time reports that medical providers and their debt collectors are unfairly hitting consumers with reports to the credit bureaus they have have not paid medical debts. One seemingly simple medical procedure may result in an avalanche of bills from hospitals, insurance companies and doctors. The bills themselves are often confusing as to what the consumer is supposed to pay and how long the consumer has to pay. Some medical providers charge huge amounts for simple procedures. Hospitals routinely...

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Bill to Curb Employers’ Misuse of Credit Reports

POSTED BY: Mark F. Anderson | Employment, News

Bill to Curb Employers’ Misuse of Credit Reports The NY Times reports on a bill introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren that would bar most employers from requiring applicants to disclose their credit histories or otherwise disqualifying applicants based on poor credit ratings. Employers are increasingly running credit checks on job applicants with the three national credit reporting agencies only too eager to add to their profits by selling credit reports to employers. The problem is that research has proven that people with poor credit histories are not automatically poor job prospects. Plus, credit reports are not always accurate making the...

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Oregon Jury Awards Consumer over $18 million in Mixed File Case

POSTED BY: Mark F. Anderson | News

Oregon Jury Awards Consumer over $18 million in Mixed File Case Mixed files cases are ones in which the credit bureau intertwines the credit files of one person with another. When this happens, the bureau has no one to blame except itself. Last week, an Oregon jury awarded Julie Miller $180,000 in actual damages and $18.4 million in punitive damages against Equifax. The Oregonian story is here. Ms Miller contacted Equifax eight times between 2009 and 2011 in an effort to correct inaccuracies, including erroneous accounts and collection attempts, as well as a wrong Social Security number and birthday. Yet...

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