Raise Credit Score & Credit Pull Dispute | Arlington, TX | FCRA Lawyer
Whether you’re in Arlington, Grand Prairie, or Prestonwood, you’re trying to keep your credit score healthy during these trying times. I’m James Foley, PLLC, and I’m a lawyer who specializes in credit and debt defense strategies.
Your credit score is very dependent on the status of your credit report. People frequently assume that because their credit score is high or if they got a loan recently than the report as a whole must be accurate. Worse yet a lot of people almost defiantly tell me, “I pay my bills!” Well yeah, I couldn’t help you here if you didn’t, but does your credit report adequately reflect that?
If you didn’t know those were separate entities, now you do! Luckily, your credit report is as important to keep track of than your score, so if you haven’t reviewed your credit report, start there.
Credit Report Check | Disputes | Arlington, Texas
Go to www.annualcreditreport.com and put in your information.
This is a secure site set up by the government, which gives you access to your financial information, and allows you to do a personal checkup of your financial health. Take advantage of this opportunity every four months, or at least every year.
You’ll see credit cards, car loans, and home loans on your credit report, and paying off these over time will improve your credit score. However, there are more immediate steps you can take, actions you can perform today, that will leave your credit in a good place in Arlington and all over the country.
Check For Errors
Look for fraud or inaccuracies all across your accounts. Usually, you won’t find that someone has stolen your identity, but if you do, eliminating that bad actor can improve your credit score substantially.
But even those of us who aren’t currently victims of ID theft may find fraudulent entries in our credit reports. The credit reporting agencies are required to answer disputes, but some still slip through. Don’t let yours be one of them.
If you find something wrong on your credit report, you’re already doing yourself a favor, and can improve your credit score almost immediately. I commonly litigate outdated public records (like judgments that have since been resolved), post-litigated credit reports with incorrect information (such as a take-nothing judgment for the debtor on a collection suit), and stale, outdated, or reaged debt. If you have debt sold from one creditor to another as well, that may be entered or included incorrectly.
Hard Credit Pulls
This is where I want you to pay close attention, Arlington.
There are two sections for credit pulls, usually at the bottom of one of any of your reports. One lists “soft” pulls and the other lists “hard” pulls. Soft pulls cannot harm your credit score, but hard pulls most certainly can.
Applied for a home loan? Check. Applied for a new credit card limit? Looks right to me. Tried to buy a car? Hm…
You should put up a red flag for any entry that you don’t remember personally approving in writing. When you went to window shop at JOHN’S USED CARS, they might have taken your name and run a hard credit pull on you, just to get a leg up on you. Don’t let them get away with it!
While car lots are accused of this crime frequently, you also must be wary of credit card companies, utility companies, and internet service providers doing the same.
Fair Credit Reporting Act Attorney | Arlington, TX
If a credit reporting agency gives you a hard time about disputing your claim, that’s where I can help, or even earlier. We’ll start by mailing a certified letter of dispute in an attempt to have the entry removed. (I have a free template for this dispute on my site.)
The dispute process can be complicated, but I’ve faced it for many clients over many years, and I will assist you in tracking your dispute, from the point of beginning, to its transfer and discussion between agency and creditor, all the way to its conclusion.
Whether you’re in Watauga, the DFW Airport area, Richland Hills, Duncanville, Grapevine, or Cedarville, I’ll fight for your right to a fair FICO score. If we’re successful, you’ll see a true bump on your credit score, and you may be owed financial damages.