Any reputable credit dispute company will offer a complimentary consultation, similar to the 100% free initial assessment the Phenix Group provides all prospective clients. But how useful is the advice we offer, and will it be beneficial?
In short, if you’re worried about the credibility of a debt collector versus a collection agency, don’t have a detailed strategy to rebuild positive credit, or have issues related to disputed credit reports that you don’t seem to be able to clear from your file, the answer is yes–an experienced credit professional is an invaluable resource.
What Is a Credit Report Dispute Attorney?
Legal experts working in the field of credit repair are highly experienced and knowledgeable about the laws and regulations pertaining to consumer credit. Our role isn’t to mandate how you spend your money or which credit lenders you apply to. Instead, it is to offer in-depth and tailored advice to help you craft an action plan to recover from adverse credit and build your way back in the black.
What happens if you don’t pay credit collection services because you believe there is an error on the claim? Irrespective of how strong your evidence is to show that a bad debt claim is invalid, it is never advisable to simply ignore credit collectors. Even if you have grounds to prove their claim wrong, you should follow the appropriate process to avoid exposure to court claims, prosecutions, or further credit issues.
Credit-focused lawyers can assist by filing credit disputes, liaising with the major credit referencing bureaus, and progressing your case. In more extreme circumstances, a credit attorney can initiate litigation against creditors or reporting agencies where your rights have been violated.
What Does a Credit Lawyer Do?
Credit attorneys support many of the 5% of American consumers who experience unfair or disproportionate reports on one or more of their credit files, causing their credit scores to be artificially lowered.
While appeals and applications can absolutely be made independently, a credit lawyer expedites the process and avoids any errors along the way, citing relevant credit and consumer protection laws and negotiating directly with debt collectors and credit bureaus.
Another important aspect of the legal service is that a lawyer specializing in credit can consult privately and directly with you to work through the issue and formulate a proactive strategy, which could include:
- Identifying and logging credit report errors
- Filing strong disputes with the relevant bureaus
- Liaising with creditors and reaching settlements with collection agents
- Representing your interests in court if necessary
- Providing holistic advice and support throughout to help you improve and reinforce your credit standing
The process starts with thoroughly reviewing your credit position and history and evaluating where, when, and how mistakes have been filed. From there, we can collate evidence that challenges the records on your file, often resulting in the misreported details being removed permanently.
Understanding US Consumer Credit Rights
Any consumer dealing with issues or conflicts over adverse events recorded on their credit file may need to be aware of the relevant laws that protect their rights and ensure they have recourse to challenge errors that affect their credit score.
- The Fair Credit Reporting Act protects the right of individuals to access their credit reports and challenge mistakes or inaccuracies.
- The Fair Credit Billing Act prevents consumers from being charged unfairly or incurring costs to dispute mistakes that are the fault of a credit lender.
- The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act limits and regulates how debt collectors behave and prohibits harassment or intimidation as collection approaches.
- The Credit Repair Organizations Act ensures that companies offering assistance and legal guidance around credit repair follow legislative rules about how they advertise their services.
If in any doubt about which applicable laws relate to your credit dispute or how to file a claim or complaint if you feel your rights have been breached, please get in touch with The Phenix Group for a confidential consultation at your convenience.