The FCRA protects consumers from unfair or damaging activity on their credit scores, but what exactly does that mean? This article will tell you everything you need to know about the FCRA.
FCRA stands for Fair Credit Reporting Act. According to this act, the law requires that consumers’ credit information is accurate, protected, and used fairly.
Your credit information is used by lenders, potential employers, prospective landlords, insurance underwriters, and other entities. Therefore, it is necessary to protect it.
Anyone with access to your credit information should adhere to the requirements of FCRA. Under these requirements, credit bureaus/agencies must:
- Keep an accurate credit report
- Give you access to your credit score if you request
- Remove your name from unsolicited marketing lists when requested
- Limit access to your credit information
- Grant you access to your credit report if you ask for it
- Informed you of the information that was used against you
As a consumer, you can expect anyone accessing your information to use it according to FCRA regulations. This is your right under the FCRA.
Credit reporting agencies must keep an accurate credit report
As you already know, your credit report affects so many aspects of your life: if and how much you can borrow, access to credit cards and loans with the best terms, whether or not you can rent an apartment, and so on.
The FCRA requires credit bureau records to be flawless because they impact consumers’ lives. However, a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) study revealed that 5% of consumers had errors in their credit reports. Sometimes there’s a debt you don’t recognize, a missing repayment, inconsistent repayment plans, etc.
If you notice any inaccuracies, file a dispute with the bureau. The credit bureau should then investigate and delete any inaccurate information from your files. Be sure to check with each of the three major bureaus as they operate independently.
You may also use ZumaZip’s Debt Validation Letter to validate every debt in your name with the individual lenders and creditors.
Credit bureaus should also remove outdated negative information from your report. For example, whether paid or unpaid, credit card debt should remain on your report for a maximum of seven years from the date you first missed a payment.
To check for accuracy, you need access to your credit report.
Access to your credit report
A credit report contains a consumer’s past and present debts and repayment history. Knowing what’s in your credit report is vital because it impacts your borrowing ability, ability to rent an apartment, or even chances of being hired by certain employers.
According to FCRA, you have a right to 1 free “file disclosure” every 12 months from all three major bureaus; Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian.
Get your free report here.
Credit bureaus must provide your credit score if you request
All credit bureaus use your credit report to calculate your credit score. The credit score indicates how likely you are to pay loans and credit card debts on time. The three nationwide credit bureaus are required to provide you with your credit score upon request.
Each bureau calculates the score using different methods, so it’s wise to obtain all three for comparison. You may need to pay for a credit score, but no bureau can deny you access to your score.
Knowing your credit score helps you prepare before applying for a personal loan, a credit card, or any situation where anyone may use the information to qualify or deny you services.
Credit bureaus must control access to your credit information
Not everyone has the right to view your information. Only a few people or companies with “permissible access” may see your report. It’s the mandate of credit bureaus to limit access to your credit information.
People with “permissible access” include:
- Creditors you’re currently working with
- New lenders who wish to prequalify you
- Creditors or lenders you’re applying for credit with
- Debt collection companies
- Insurance companies for underwriting purposes involving you
- Prospective landlords
- Some government agencies
Although they have “permissible access,” some situations require that you grant permission before someone can gain access to your report. For example, a potential employer cannot access your credit report without your written authorization.
You have the right to be removed from marketing lists
Some credit card and insurance companies use your information to suggest products based on your credit report. Credit bureaus usually share your information with these companies to personalize which offers you see based on geographical locations or credit score range.
If you don’t want to receive these unsolicited offers, you may ask the three major credit bureaus to stop sharing your information for marketing purposes. Once you make that request, you should stop receiving those pre-screened offers.
Call (888)-5-OPT OUT (888-567-8688) or submit a request at www.optoutprescreen.com to remove yourself from these marketing lists.
Credit bureaus should inform you of any information used against you
If a potential employer or creditor uses data in your report to deny your application for a loan or a job, they should tell you which information they used.
The lender should also give you the name, address, and phone number of the major credit bureau from which they got that information.
Be safe
Protecting the information in credit bureau files is important. Thankfully, FCRA is there to help. You’re entitled to accuracy, fairness, and privacy. Always take advantage of the law to protect yourself.
If you have any questions about debt, contact ZumaZip for assistance.
ZumaZip is a handy tool designed to help you handle a debt collection lawsuit with ease.
Here’s how it works: ZumaZip guides you through each step of the process via a simple web application. It asks you all the important questions needed to complete your response. Once you’re done, you have two options. You can either print out the finished forms and mail them to the courts yourself, or you can opt to have ZumaZip handle the filing for you, along with the added bonus of having an attorney review your document.
What is ZumaZip?
ZumaZip is a convenient solution designed to streamline your response to a debt collection lawsuit. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect when you use ZumaZip:
Firstly, you’ll access our user-friendly web application, which guides you through the process step by step. You’ll be prompted to answer a series of questions related to your specific situation. Once you’ve completed the questionnaire, you have the option to either print out the finalized forms and mail them to the appropriate courts yourself, or you can opt to utilize ZumaZip’s services to file them on your behalf. Additionally, if you choose this option, an attorney will review your document for added peace of mind.
If you’re seeking guidance on how to effectively respond to a debt collection lawsuit, ZumaZip can provide the assistance you need. Feel free to explore our FAQs for more information on what ZumaZip has to offer.
What if I haven’t been sued yet?
If you’ve only received a collections notice, but not a lawsuit, the best way to respond is with a Debt Validation Letter. When a debt collector contacts you in any way, whether it’s by phone or mail, you can respond by formally requesting a debt validation with a Debt Validation Letter . This letter notifies the collector that you dispute the debt and forces them to provide proof you owe the debt. They can’t call you or continue collecting until they provide validation of the debt. This flowchart shows how you can use a Debt Validation Letter to win.
Get started with a Debt Validation Letter here.
How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in all 50 states
Here’s a list of guides on how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in each state:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont; Vermont (Small Claims court)
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Guides on how to beat every debt collector
Hey there! Facing off against a debt collector can feel like a daunting challenge, but fear not! We’re here to help you navigate through it all with our handy guides designed to assist you in beating every debt collector you encounter. Whether you’re facing a new lawsuit or dealing with a persistent collector, we’ve got your back. Stay positive, stay informed, and let’s tackle this together!
- Absolute Resolutions Investments LLC
- Accredited Collection Services
- Alliance One
- Amcol Clmbia
- American Recovery Service
- Asset Acceptance LLC
- Asset Recovery Solutions
- Associated Credit Services
- Autovest LLC
- Cach LLC
- Cavalry SPV I LLC
- Cerastes LLC
- Colinfobur
- Covington Credit
- Crown Asset Management
- CTC Debt Collector
- Cypress Financial Recoveries
- Delanor Kemper & Associates
- Eagle Loan of Ohio
- Educap
- Estate Information Services
- FIA Card Services
- Forster & Garbus
- Freshview Solutions
- Fulton Friedman & Gullace LLP
- Harvest Credit Management
- Howard Lee Schiff
- Hudson & Keyse LLC
- Integras Capital Recovery LLC
- Javitch Block
- Jefferson Capital Systems LLC
- LVNV Funding
- Mannbracken
- Mariner Finance
- Medicredit
- Michael J Adams PC
- Michael J Scott
- Midland Funding LLC
- Mullooly, Jeffrey, Rooney & Flynn
- Mountain Land Collections
- MRS Associates
- National Collegiate Trust
- Nationstar Foreclosure
- Northstar Capital Acquisition
- NCEP LLC
- NRC Collection Agency
- OneMain Financial
- Palisades Collection LLC
- Pallida LLC
- Paragon Revenue Group
- Pinnacle Collections Agency
- PMAB LLC
- Portfolio Recovery Associates
- Provest Law
- PYOD LLC
- Reunion Student Loan Finance Corporation
- Revenue Group
- Regents and Associates
- RSIEH
- Salander Enterprises LLC
- Second Round Sub LLC
- Security Credit Services
- Sherman Financial Group
- Suttell and Hammer
- T-Mobile
- Transworld Systems
- Tulsa Teachers Credit Union
- UCB Collection
- Velo Law Office
- Velocity Investments
- Waypoint Resource Group
- Weinberg and Associates
- Wolpoff & Abramson
Settle your medical debt
Having a health challenge is stressful, but dealing medical debt on top of it is overwhelming. Here are some resources on how to manage medical debt.
- Am I Responsible for My Spouse’s Medical Debt?
- Do I Need a Lawyer for Medical Bills?
- Do I Need a Lawyer to Fight Medical Bill Debt?
- Does Bankruptcy Clear Medical Debt?
- How Much Do Collection Agencies Pay for Medical Debt?
- How to Find Medical Debt Forgiveness Programs
- Is There a Statute of Limitations on Medical Bills?
- Medical Debt Statute of Limitations by State
- Summoned to Court for Medical Bills — What Do I Do?
- Summoned to Court for Medical Bills? What to Do Next
Stop calls from Debt Collectors
Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.
- 800-390-7584
- 800-289-8004
- 800-955-6600
- 877-366-0169
- 877-591-0747
- 800-278-2420
- 800-604-0064
- 800-846-6406
- 877-317-0948
- 888-899-4332
- 888-912-7925
- 202-367-9070
- 502-267-7522
Other wage garnishment resources
- Bank Account Garnishment and Liens in Texas
- Can I Stop Wage Garnishment?
- Can My Wife’s Bank Account Be Garnished for My Debt?
- Can Payday Loans Garnish Your Wages?
- Can pensions be garnished?
- Can Private Disability Payments Be Garnished?
- Can Social Security Disability Be Garnished?
- Can They Garnish Your Wages for Credit Card Debt?
- Can You Stop a Garnishment Once It Starts?
- Guide to Garnishment Limits by State
- How Can I Stop Wage Garnishments Immediately?
- How Long Before a Creditor Can Garnish Wages?
- How Long Does It Take to Get Garnished Wages Back?
- How to Fight a Wage Garnishment
- How to Prevent Wage Garnishment
- How to Stop a Garnishment
- How to Stop Social Security Wage Garnishment
- How to Stop Wage Garnishment — Everything You Need to Know
- New York Garnishment Laws – Overview
- Ohio Garnishment Laws — What They Say
- Wage Garnishment Lawyer
- What Is Wage Garnishment?
Guides on Arbitration
If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.
Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.
- How Arbitration Works
- How to Find an Arbitration Clause in Your Credit Agreement
- How to Make a Motion to Compel Arbitration
- How to Make a Motion to Compel Arbitration in Florida
- How to Make a Motion to Compel Arbitration Without an Attorney
- How Credit Card Arbitration Works
- Motion to Compel Arbitration in California
- Sample Motion to Compel Arbitration
Federal Debt Collection Laws Can Protect You
Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.
- 15 USC 1692 Explained
- Does the Fair Credit Reporting Act Work in Florida?
- FDCPA Violations List
- How to File an FDCPA Complaint Against Your Debt Collector (Ultimate Guide)
- How to Make a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Demand Letter
- How to Submit a Transunion Dispute
- How to Submit an Equifax Dispute
- How to Submit an Experian Dispute
- What Debt Collectors Cannot Do — FDCPA Explained
- What Does Account Information Disputed by Consumer Meets FCRA Requirements Mean?
- What does “meets FCRA requirements” mean?
- What does FCRA stand for?
- What is the Consumer Credit Protection Act
Resolve Your Debt with Your Creditor
Some creditors, banks, and lenders have an internal collections department. If they come after you for a debt, ZumaZip can still help you respond and resolve the debt. Here’s a list of guides on how to resolve debt with different creditors.
- American Express; American Express – Debt Collection
- Bank of America
- Barclay
- Best Buy Credit Card
- Capital One
- Chase
- Credit One Bank
- Old Navy Credit Card
- PayPal Synchrony Card
- Regional Finance
- Retailers National Bank
- Reunion Student Loan Finance Corporation
- SYNCB/PPEXTR
- Synchrony Bank
- Synchrony Walmart Card
- Target National Bank
- Webbank
- Wells Fargo
- Can I Pay My Original Creditor Instead of a Debt Collection Agency?
- Can I Settle a Debt with the Original Creditor?
Check the Status of Your Court Case
Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created a guide on how to check the status of your case in every state, complete with online search tools and court directories.
- Alabama Court Case Search—Find Your Lawsuit
- Alaska Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Arizona Court Case Search – Find Your Lawsuit
- Arkansas Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- California Court Case Search- Find Your Lawsuit
- Colorado Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Connecticut Case Lookup — Find Your Court Case
- Delaware Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Florida Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Georgia Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Hawaii Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Idaho Court Case Search – Find Your Lawsuit
- Illinois Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Indiana Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Iowa Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Kansas Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Kentucky Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Louisiana Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Maine Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Maryland Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Massachusetts Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Michigan Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Minnesota Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Mississippi Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Missouri Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Montana Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Nebraska Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Nevada Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- New Hampshire Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- New Jersey Court Case Search—Find Your Lawsuit
- New Mexico Court Case Search – Find Your Lawsuit
- New York Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- North Carolina Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- North Dakota Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Ohio Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Oklahoma Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Oregon Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Pennsylvania Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Rhode Island Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- South Carolina Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- South Dakota Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Tennessee Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Texas Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Utah Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Vermont Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Virginia Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Washington Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- West Virginia Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Wisconsin Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit
- Wyoming Court Case Search — Find Your Lawsuit