Protecting Your Credit & Background Report Rights
At Jaffer Law, our Houston FCRA attorneys are dedicated to helping consumers fight back against inaccurate credit reports, background check errors, and unfair reporting practices that can impact your financial well-being, job prospects, housing applications, and more. Whether you’ve been denied a loan, lost a job offer, or are simply frustrated with persistent errors on your credit report, you may have powerful rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) — and we’re here to enforce them.
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What Is the Fair Credit Reporting Act?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how credit bureaus and background check companies handle consumer information. It sets strict guidelines for collecting, reporting, and sharing your personal data — and provides consumers with the right to dispute and correct inaccuracies.
The FCRA gives you the legal power to:
- Access your credit and background reports
- Dispute inaccurate or outdated information
- Require corrections or deletions of errors
- Hold companies accountable for willful or negligent violations
- Receive monetary damages, including statutory penalties and attorney fees
At Jaffer Law, we have extensive experience handling FCRA cases in Houston and throughout Texas. Our attorneys know how to deal with credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, as well as third-party data furnishers such as banks, lenders, landlords, and employers.
Common FCRA Violations in Houston
Many consumers in the Houston area are unaware that their credit or background reports contain serious mistakes — until it’s too late. These errors can cost you job offers, mortgage approvals, car loans, insurance coverage, and peace of mind.
Some of the most common FCRA violations we handle include:
1. Mixed or Merged Credit Files
This occurs when your credit file is combined with someone else’s, usually due to similar names or Social Security numbers. You may find unfamiliar accounts, debts, or addresses on your report — causing your credit score to drop.
2. Inaccurate Public Records
Judgments, bankruptcies, tax liens, or foreclosures may appear on your report in error or remain long after they should have been removed.
3. Identity Theft Reporting Failures
Even after submitting police reports and FTC affidavits, some credit bureaus fail to block fraudulent accounts or fail to notify the original creditors, violating your identity theft rights under the FCRA.
4. Outdated or Re-Aged Debt
Debt collectors sometimes “re-age” old debts to make them appear newer — restarting the clock on collection and damaging your credit. This violates both the FCRA and other consumer laws.
5. Employment Background Check Errors
Background reporting agencies often include criminal charges that were dismissed, sealed, or expunged. Employers may act on this incorrect data and deny you employment, in violation of your rights.
6. Failure to Properly Investigate Disputes
Under the FCRA, credit bureaus must conduct a reasonable investigation when you file a dispute. If they ignore your evidence or rubber-stamp the creditor’s version, they may be liable.
7. Unauthorized Access to Credit Reports
Only companies with a “permissible purpose” can access your credit report. If your report was pulled without your consent or for an illegal purpose, you may be entitled to damages.
Why FCRA Violations Are a Big Deal
You might think a small error on your credit report isn’t worth pursuing. But the consequences can be life-changing.
An incorrect delinquent account could:
- Drop your credit score by 50-100 points
- Increase your mortgage or car loan interest rates by thousands of dollars
- Lead to denied housing or apartment applications
- Result in job loss or offer withdrawal
- Affect your security clearance or professional licensing
When credit bureaus and furnishers ignore their legal duties, they can and should be held accountable. At Jaffer Law, our Houston FCRA lawyers fight to make sure your report is accurate — and to recover financial compensation when your rights are violated.
Your Rights Under the FCRA
The FCRA gives you specific legal protections, including:
- Right to Access Reports – You can obtain a free credit report from each of the three major bureaus once every 12 months at AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Right to Dispute Errors – If you find inaccuracies, you can dispute them and require the credit bureau to reinvestigate.
- Right to Accurate Reporting – Information must be accurate, complete, and not misleading.
- Right to Timely Corrections – Credit bureaus typically must investigate within 30 days and correct or delete errors quickly.
- Right to Be Notified of Adverse Actions – If you’re denied credit, employment, or housing based on a report, you must be notified and told how to get a copy.
- Right to Sue for Damages – You may be entitled to up to $1,000 in statutory damages per violation, actual damages (like lost income), and punitive damages in cases of willful misconduct.
How Jaffer Law Can Help
We are not just another consumer law firm. At Jaffer Law, we have deep expertise in FCRA litigation and have recovered millions in settlements and verdicts on behalf of clients wronged by the credit reporting system.
When you work with our Houston FCRA attorneys, you can expect:
Free Case Review
We will evaluate your claim at no cost and let you know if you have a case — with honest advice and no pressure.
Aggressive Dispute Resolution
We handle disputes with credit bureaus and furnishers from start to finish, including sending dispute letters, gathering evidence, and negotiating corrections.
Federal Litigation Power
When companies refuse to fix errors or blatantly violate your rights, we don’t back down. We file lawsuits in federal court and pursue full compensation.
No Out-of-Pocket Fees
We work on a contingency basis — meaning you don’t pay us unless we win your case. The FCRA allows us to recover attorney fees from the other side.
Compassionate Advocacy
We understand how frustrating and stressful credit report problems can be. We treat every client with respect, urgency, and personal attention.
Real FCRA Cases We Handle in Houston
Here are some examples of cases we’ve handled for Houston-area residents:
- Carlos discovered a stranger’s student loans and credit cards on his report. We proved it was a mixed file issue and recovered compensation in a federal lawsuit.
- Tamika lost a job after a background check falsely reported a felony. We sued the reporting agency and won a confidential settlement.
- Mohammed. had an account re-aged and sent to collections even though it was settled years earlier. We forced the credit bureau to delete the entry and paid him.
- Lisa. was repeatedly denied credit because her report listed accounts from someone with a similar name. We uncovered the source of the error and secured damages.
- Names have been changed for privacy and confidentiality reasons.
What to Do If You Spot Errors on Your Credit or Background Report
- Get Your Reports
Request a copy of your reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Also, obtain any employment or tenant background reports involved in a denial. - Review Carefully
Look for unfamiliar accounts, incorrect balances, outdated debts, inaccurate public records, or false criminal history entries. - Gather Evidence
Collect supporting documents like payment records, bank statements, letters, emails, or police reports in identity theft cases. - Dispute in Writing
Send a written dispute letter (certified mail, return receipt) to the credit bureau and furnishers. Keep copies of everything. - Call Jaffer Law
If the errors persist, or you’ve already suffered financial harm, reach out to our Houston FCRA attorneys. We’ll take it from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long do I have to sue for an FCRA violation?
A: You generally have 2 years from when you discover the violation, or 5 years from the actual date of the violation — whichever comes first.
Q: Can I sue a creditor or collection agency under the FCRA?
A: Yes. If they furnish inaccurate information to a credit bureau or fail to investigate your dispute, they can be liable under the FCRA.
Q: Will filing an FCRA lawsuit hurt my credit score?
A: No. Filing a lawsuit has no impact on your credit score. In fact, it may help fix your score by getting the errors corrected.
Q: How much can I recover in an FCRA lawsuit?
A: Depending on the violation, you may recover statutory damages (up to $1,000 per violation), actual damages (like lost income or credit denials), punitive damages, and attorney fees.
Contact Our Houston FCRA Attorneys Today
If you’ve been wronged by inaccurate credit or background reporting, don’t let the system continue to hurt you. You have rights — and we know how to enforce them.
Jaffer Law’s Houston FCRA attorneys are ready to help you reclaim your financial reputation, fix your credit, and recover compensation. We serve clients across Harris County, Houston, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Katy, and surrounding Texas areas.