Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

Banks, insurance companies, landlords, and employers rely on credit reports to make decisions about you. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) protects you from inaccurate, misleading, or unauthorized use of your credit information — and provides legal remedies when violations occur.

How Credit Report Errors Harm You

Errors in credit reports ruin lives. Inaccurate information may be used to deny your credit application, offer you less favorable loan terms (such as higher interest rates), deny your rental application, affect your ability to obtain insurance, or even prevent you from getting a job. Knowing what is in your credit file — and having the legal tools to correct it — is critical.

Your Rights Under the FCRA

• Right to access one free credit report from each bureau annually
• Right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to have errors corrected or removed within 30 days
• Right to know who has accessed your credit report
• Right to limit access to prescreened credit offers
• Additional free reports if denied credit, employment, or housing
• Enhanced protections for identity theft victims

FCRA Violations & Your Remedies

If a credit bureau, creditor, or other entity has violated the FCRA, you may be entitled to money damages, attorney's fees, and costs. In cases of willful violations, you may recover statutory damages of up to $1,000 per violation. Attorney Zachary L. Taylor at Winton & Hiestand Law Group can help you evaluate your claim.