Common Complaints about Credit Bureaus

This past January, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an annual report analyzing more than 700,000 consumers’ complaints about the three national credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. According to the report, “In 2021, the NCRAs reported relief in less than 2% of complaints down from nearly 25% of complaints in 2019.” The unfortunate […]

Why Aren’t Credit Bureaus More Careful in Vetting Your Records?

Last summer, Consumer Reports asked 5,858 volunteers to ask for their credit report and examine it for any errors. And more than one-third of them did indeed find at least one error on their credit report. And this wasn’t the only time Consumer Reports and others have found such damaging results. And those errors matter; […]

Equifax Free Credit Monitoring Due to the Company’s Data Breach

In 2017, credit bureau Equifax was hacked, and the records of approximately 147 million people were compromised. Unsurprisingly, lawsuits were filed, and, as part of a court settlement, those impacted by the breach were ultimately offered a choice between a one-time payment of $125 or four years of free credit monitoring. It may seem like […]

When Expunged Records Still Show Up on a Background Check

Perhaps you had gone to court and successfully had a prior arrest or conviction expunged from your record. Or perhaps you were eligible for an automatic expungement—as is the case for many New Yorkers convicted of misdemeanor charges for marijuana possession. You were thrilled you could apply for a new job or an apartment, knowing […]

‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ – Why These Programs May Distort Your Credit Score

If you were doing some last-minute holiday shopping online, you might have seen a new option as you chose to purchase your item: Instead of paying the full amount, you could pay a portion at the time of purchase and space the rest over time (often, four payments made every two weeks). But what that […]

Mistaken Identities on a Credit Report: An All-too Common Problem for People with Common Names… (and Those with Unusual Ones, Too….)

In 2014, 38,313 men in the United States shared the name “James Smith.” It’s impossible to know if any of them were related to each other, or the 34,810 Michael Smiths and 34,269 Robert Smiths also walking around. But we can expect that they, and the 32,092 Maria Garcias and 30,507 Maria Rodriguezes, all have […]

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Issues Advisory About Name-Only Background Screening

What’s in a name? There is a great deal of frustration, confusion, and even difficulty navigating normal life if you are among the 38,000 Americans named James Smith or one of the 32,000 Maria Garcias in the United States. If you have a common first- and surname combination, it’s likely that you’ve been misidentified as […]

The Mixed-Up Files of Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion: What Happens When You and Your Neighbor Have the Same Name

Is your name James Smith? If so, you’re not just not alone, but as far from alone as it’s possible to be. That’s because this is the most common combination of first and last names in the world. And chances are you’ve developed a way to distinguish yourself, at least in your social circle or […]

Frustrated, Furious, or Depressed Because of a Credit Report Glitch? How to Fix It, Fast!

Have you ever been denied a bank or credit union loan, had an apartment application denied, or stood red-faced and sweating as the supermarket cashier says your debit card has been declined? If so, you know that financial and credit-related issues can be embarrassing and anxiety-inducing. But did you realize that you could be compensated […]