What is the FCRA, and How Can It Help Remove Collection Accounts from Your Credit Report?

June 24, 2025

What is the FCRA, and How Can It Help Remove Collection Accounts from Your Credit Report?

When inaccurate or outdated collection accounts show up on a credit report, the consequences can be immediate, from denied loans, increased interest rates, or even job application rejections.

That’s why understanding the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is crucial for anyone facing credit reporting issues. Petroff Amshen LLP, a New York-based consumer protection law firm, is raising awareness about the FCRA and how it can be used to remove damaging or incorrect information, or unfair collections.

What Is the FCRA?

The FCRA, or Fair Credit Reporting Act, is a federal law enacted by Congress in 1970 to promote accuracy, fairness, and privacy in the information maintained by consumer reporting agencies. In simple terms, the FCRA meaning is rooted in the idea that consumers have the right to know what’s on their credit reports, and the right to challenge what doesn’t belong there.

“The FCRA exists to protect consumers from being defined by credit data that is flat-out wrong. If a creditor or collector can’t prove the debt, they shouldn’t be allowed to report it.”

This law regulates how credit bureaus collect and report data and gives consumers the ability to:

Request copies of their credit reports

Dispute incorrect or incomplete information

Be notified if their credit report has been used against them

Limit how long negative items can remain on file

Seek damages for violations

Using the FCRA to Remove Collections

One of the most powerful tools within this law is the ability to use the FCRA to remove collections that are inaccurate, outdated, or unverified. This includes:

Debts that don’t belong to you (often due to identity theft or clerical errors)

Duplicate entries

Unverified accounts reported without adequate documentation

Collections older than 7 years

When a consumer files a dispute, the credit reporting agency must investigate and respond within 30 days. If the furnisher of the information cannot verify the debt with supporting evidence, it must be removed.

“The FCRA exists to protect consumers from being defined by credit data that is flat-out wrong,” said Steven Amshen, Founding Partner of Petroff Amshen LLP. “If a creditor or collector can’t prove the debt, they shouldn’t be allowed to report it.”

Legal Support Can Make the Difference

While consumers are legally required to file FCRA disputes themselves, many quickly run into roadblocks, including creditors that don’t respond, agencies that close investigations without real inquiry, or accounts that reappear after deletion. That’s where proper legal support becomes essential.

Petroff Amshen LLP assists clients who have already taken that first step but haven’t received meaningful results. The firm’s team reviews the credit file, evaluates the prior dispute, and takes action when violations of the FCRA are evident—especially when creditors ignore documentation or credit bureaus fail to follow proper procedures.

“When a valid dispute is ignored or mishandled, it’s not just negligence; it’s a violation of federal law,” said Steven Amshen. “That’s when we intervene to make sure consumer rights are enforced.”

Petroff Amshen LLP’s FCRA Approach

The firm’s legal strategy is focused on results, not delays. By leveraging the FCRA, Petroff Amshen LLP helps clients:

Identify all inaccurate or unverifiable items in their credit reports

Support targeted disputes with proper documentation

File claims against credit bureaus or creditors when rights are violated

Demand monetary compensation and full deletion of harmful records when justified

Petroff Amshen LLP doesn’t offer generic credit repair. As a consumer protection law firm, its team approaches every case through the lens of litigation, not negotiation.

Know Your Rights, Protect Your Credit

If you’ve found collections that don’t belong to you, errors that won’t go away, or accounts reported without proof, it may be time to explore legal solutions under the FCRA. The law exists to protect, not just monitor, your credit history.

Petroff Amshen LLP encourages consumers in New York and New Jersey to take action when collection accounts are misreported or mishandled. Every inaccurate record has the potential to affect housing, employment, and financial freedom.

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