If you’ve read through your credit report, whether it was produced by TransUnion, Experian, or Equifax, and found something that looks wrong, could your identity have been stolen? Are you having trouble finding answers or getting help from the CRA in charge?
You could have had your identity stolen, but at the same time, you may be a victim of a computer error or some other activity that won’t be solved by locking down your identity. So you’ve done right to consult a professional before taking action on your account.
I’m James Foley, PLLC, amd I serve North Texans from Fort Worth to Cleburne, as well as Dallas, Grapevine, and Burleson.
Whether you’re located in DFW or beyond, I’ll fight for your right to a fair credit report, and make sure that if your credit score has been threatened by incorrect information, identity theft, or something more, that that info gets straightened out.
Once again, you may not have had your identity stolen, so let’s discuss all the possibilities.
If you don’t know the status of your credit report, it can be a major indicator of your overall financial health, and should be checked up to three times a year. So head over to www.annualcreditreport.com, securely input your information, and make sure the report looks right.
How to Spot ID Theft on a Credit Report | Arlington, Texas | Debt Defense Tips
If you’ve found any of the following, you may have had your identity stolen:
-Thousands of dollars in debt alleged by debt lawsuits from companies you’ve never used.
-Credit cards you didn’t apply for that have been maxed out.
-Debt collectors or company billing staff contacting you unexpectedly for charges you don’t recognize.
If something like this happens to you, take action immediately once you’ve confirmed the account is not yours.
File an identity theft report with the authorities. Then, freeze your accounts with the major CRA’s (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian). Finally, make sure that any collectors or companies who have contacted or sued you are aware that you are disputing them.
This is a good time to reach out to the James Foley law office, because I’ve seen so many cases like yours, and will be able to lay out a plan for securing your identity for the time to come. At the same time, with my expertise, I’ll be able to determine if you are more likely to have suffered from theft or another cause.
So what other causes of incorrect information are there?
Non-ID Theft Reasons for Credit Report Problems | James Foley, PLLC Arlington
As with the instances above, identity thieves likely won’t be concerned with financial stability when your info is in their hands. So if you find inaccuracies that don’t seem erratic, criminal, or unjustified, then you may not be at the hands of a thief. You might be the victim of another bad actor or computer error.
So maybe instead, you’ve found one of the following to be the case:
-An account that you discharged in bankruptcy has been brought back to life.
-Stable accounts have been placed on your report for lines of credit you don’t control.
-Delinquent accounts that you didn’t open are being paid off intermittently.
If your situation sounds like these possibilities, then you should breathe a sigh of relief. This means your identity may not have been stolen, although the answer may be more challenging to discover (especially without my help).
Some of the issues I’ve seen with Arlington, TX borrowers is re-aged (or “reaged”) information, which appears when accounts have been illicitly reinstated after a creditor agrees to remove them. We’ve all had credit errors over the past, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act protects consumers from suffering from a mistake for the rest of their lives.
Other issues involve combined accounts, or merged accounts, which can lead an institution to improperly cross pollinate accounts with data from each other.
There are even more possibilities, like incorrect public information or overinflated balances.
So as you can see, the possibilities of what’s happened can seem almost endless, which is why I encourage you to reach out and share your circumstance with me. Whether your identity has been stolen and someone has walked into an Arlington business to destroy your credit, or an agency has let a computer error give you someone else’s information, but is slow to track down the problem, James Foley is here to help.
The statute of limitations may be as little as two years for many of the inaccuracies I handle, so don’t let any more time pass by than already has. Whether you’re owed damages, see a higher credit score, or can live with less worry about your identity’s safety, I’m here to help you breathe a sigh of relief.
Handling Incorrect Credit Information with Help from an Attorney | Grapevine, TX
Arlington, Grapevine, Grand Prairie and Dallas/Ft. Worth at large, don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and give me a call at 817-738-1633. I’m James Foley, PLLC and defender of Texans near and far, here to help you solve your credit worries.
If you’ve unsuccessfully tried to dispute incorrect information on your credit report, or you don’t know where to begin, I’ll walk you through the process, and even initiate it for the price of postage.
Whether your adversary is a computer bug, a criminal, or something else, I’ve seen it all and more. Let’s make it right.