When a credit report tells the wrong story, the consequences are real: a denied loan, a higher interest rate, a lost apartment. Petroff Amshen LLP represents New York consumers under the Fair Credit Reporting Act when inaccurate information is reported and a dispute does not resolve. This is not credit repair. It is the legal route the FCRA provides.
How Petroff Amshen Approaches FCRA Cases
The firm prioritizes legal action. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and New York consumer protection law, Petroff Amshen reviews the credit file and the prior dispute, identifies where the law has been violated, and litigates the claim in state and federal courts. Under the FCRA, the consumer files the initial dispute; where the law is then violated, the firm takes legal action. Where the law provides, a claim may seek damages and attorney’s fees. Whether a case exists depends on the specific facts.
What credit report errors does Petroff Amshen handle?
Credit reporting errors happen for many reasons. Information becomes mixed with another person’s file, identity theft produces fraudulent accounts, or inaccurate information stays on a report even after a consumer files a dispute. The firm handles Fair Credit Reporting Act matters involving:
- Mixed credit files, where another person’s information appears on your report.
- Identity-theft-related reporting errors and fraudulent tradelines.
- Accounts that are not yours.
- Duplicate accounts that overstate what is owed.
- Incorrect late payments and misreported payment history.
- Collection accounts reported inaccurately.
- Incorrect account balances or account status.
- Information reinserted after it was deleted.
- Unauthorized hard inquiries.
- Outdated information reported past the permitted period.
- Bankruptcy reporting errors.
- A report that mistakenly lists a consumer as deceased.
Not every credit report error results in a lawsuit. But when inaccurate information causes harm and is not properly corrected, a consumer may have important rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
What Is the Fair Credit Reporting Act?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act is a federal law that regulates credit bureaus, consumer reporting agencies, and the companies that furnish information to consumer reports. It is designed to help ensure that information reported about a consumer is accurate, fair, and properly investigated when a dispute arises. Under the FCRA, consumers have important rights, including:
- The right to dispute inaccurate information.
- The right to a reasonable investigation of a dispute.
- The right to have unverifiable information corrected or removed.
- The right to seek a legal remedy when reporting violations cause harm.
New York consumers may also have rights under the New York Fair Credit Reporting Act (General Business Law Article 25). When credit bureaus, furnishers, or other consumer reporting agencies fail to meet their obligations under the law, a consumer may be able to pursue legal action.
When Does a Credit Report Error Become a Legal Issue?
Many consumers discover mistakes on their credit reports. The existence of an error alone does not always create a legal claim. Often, a Fair Credit Reporting Act case arises when a credit bureau or a company reporting information fails to follow its legal obligations. This may include situations where:
- You disputed inaccurate information and it still appears on your report.
- A credit bureau claimed inaccurate information was verified without conducting a reasonable investigation.
- A creditor continues reporting information you have documented as incorrect.
- Someone else’s information appears in your credit file.
- Inaccurate reporting caused you to be denied credit, housing, employment, or another opportunity.
What does a New York Fair Credit Reporting Act attorney do?
Petroff Amshen LLP represents New York consumers harmed by inaccurate reporting from the nationwide credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, as well as creditors and other companies that furnish information to consumer reports. When the firm evaluates a credit reporting matter, the work is to:
- Review the inaccurate reporting and the dispute history.
- Identify potential violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
- Pursue correction of inaccurate information where appropriate.
- Where the law provides, seek damages and attorney’s fees for harm caused by reporting violations.
What happens after you apply?
Tell us what happened
Share the details of the inaccurate reporting and how it has affected you.
We evaluate your situation
The firm reviews the information to determine whether inaccurate reporting or a failure to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act may be involved.
We discuss your options
If the situation may give rise to a legal claim, the firm explains the next steps and answers your questions.
How Long Does It Take to Correct Credit Report Errors?
One of the most common questions consumers ask is how long it takes to correct inaccurate information on a credit report. The answer depends on several factors, including the nature of the error, whether it is corrected during the dispute process, and whether legal action becomes necessary. A credit reporting agency is generally required to reinvestigate a dispute within 30 days, but matters that proceed to litigation follow the court’s timeline.
Authoritative sources: Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 · FTC: Disputing credit report errors
