Your credit history is perhaps the single most important factor in determining whether you will be able to borrow money when you need it, or indeed whether your current interest rates would be increased. Your credit history is used by business for everything from cell phone and utility accounts to auto and home purchases. [The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Credit_Reporting_Act] regulates the three major credit reporting agencies, Trans Union, Equifax, and Experience, as well as the smaller agencies. Please give us a call if you've experienced any of the following problems:

Impermissible use of your credit report - there are only a few circumstances under which someone may lawfully access your credit report, such as extending credit, collecting a debt, or employment screening.< Anything else may be unlawful, including any number of indefinite credit "offers" you receive in the mail, as well as access to your credit report by anyone solely to dig up dirt on you. The latter is common in divorces and is illegal.

Identity theft and other incorrect information – Identity theft is one of the fasted growing and most lucrative financial crimes in the United States. If any incorrect information appears on your credit report, including identity theft accounts, you should send a letter by certified mail to each credit reporting agency reporting the incorrect information requesting that it investigate the inaccuracy. Your letter should include as much identifying and other information as necessary to prove your point. If and only if you do this will the credit reporting agency have any obligation to investigate your claim. It will be required to request that the creditor reporting the contested information verify whether the information is correct. Creditors frequently do verify the correctness of incorrect information because credit reporting is such a powerful debt collection mechanism – we may sue both the creditor and the credit reporting agency under these circumstances.

The Federal Trade Commission has excellent FAQs and other resources for dealing with identity theft and inaccurate information on your credit report .

For a free confidential consultation please call (312) 638-0819.

Fax collection letters, loan documents, or other documentary evidence of illegal business activity to us at (312) 638-9136 or email to jason@shanfieldlawfirm.com.

The Shanfield Law Firm represents people in individual and class actions in several types of cases. You understand that sending a fax or email the Shanfield Law Firm, Ltd. does not contractually obligate our firm to represent you. We can only serve as your attorney if both you and our firm agree, in writing, that we will do so.