We hope the articles below help you understand your rights as a consumer. You can scroll through the titles, or sort by Practice Area or Topic. You can also use the search feature to locate information by keyword.
Flitter Milz represents people with a variety of problems involving consumer credit and collections. If you have a particular question or believe your consumer rights have been violated, Contact Us for a no cost consultation.
Credit reports must be kept accurate because they affect so many aspects of our lives. Yet errors on credit reports are common. The Federal Trade Commission has conducted studies that show errors may continue to appear on a credit report, even after they’ve been disputed.
Continue reading What is a Credit Dispute Letter? →
Military life is one of frequent transitions. Each deployment, promotion, and change in duty status brings the need to make money-related decisions. These financial decisions can have long-term effects on family life, mission readiness, and security clearances.
Service members often run into trouble because of the irregularities in their daily life. They may tend to overspend and receive contact from debt collectors. They may fall for financial scams and become a victim of identity theft. Or, due to errors on credit reports, they may be denied loans or have a vehicle repossessed. Learning more about consumer credit and how to build a strong credit history can help servicemembers and veterans improve their financial health.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you’re allowed one free credit report from each bureau – Transunion, Experian, and Equifax – within a twelve month period. Send a letter to one of the bureaus and request your reports. Review them carefully to ensure that there are no errors and that you recognize all of the listed accounts.
Credit Accuracy
Credit reports include personal information, credit history, credit inquiries, and public records. Credit cards, mortgages, and loans are all listed along with the payment status. If you fall behind on payments or default on a loan, your credit report will list this negatively. Negative entries may make it more difficult for you to open a new line of credit, be approved for a new loan, or receive a promotion or security clearance. It may also mean that you will be approved for a loan, but with a higher interest rate.
Credit Privacy
Regular credit report checks help you monitor your accounts and determine whether someone has accessed your credit report without your permission or opened accounts in your name. If you notice suspicious activity, information that does not belong to you, or believe you have become a victim of identity theft, follow these steps:
-Contact the Bank or Creditor
-File a Police Report
-File a Fraud Alert
-Request your current credit reports
-File an Identity Theft Affidavit with the Federal Trade Commission
-Keep an organized file with all correspondence and records
-Protect your personal information. Keep it private.
A budget helps you see where you can cut back on spending and create a workable plan to pay off debt.Take the time to set a budget. Divide your regular expenses into categories for housing, food, transportation, health care, personal & family and finances. Determine how much you can afford to spend on each category every month. Use a spreadsheet or online tool to keep track of all of your accounts and expenses.
Follow your gut. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Unfortunately, service members are frequent targets for various scams. Companies or organizations could call and claim to belong to a veterans group or another legitimate sounding organization. Be sure to research the organization, find out where they’re located, see if there is a complaint board online, and investigate whether the company is reputable.
Be cautious. If you receive a call from someone, do not provide any personal identifying information, such as your social security number or date of birth, or access to bank accounts or credit and debit cards. Require them to provide you with something in writing that states who they are and where they are located.
Remember, you’re not alone. There are many services offered through the Department of Defense and veterans organizations to help service members keep finances on track. Do your research and make a financial plan that is right for you.
Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm that assists victims of identity theft that have suffered from credit report harm, abusive debt collectors and wrongful vehicle repossessions by aggressive lenders and repo agents. Contact Us for a no cost consultation to discuss whether your consumer rights have been violated.
Your credit history plays an important role in your ability to get approved for new lines of credit, whether it’s a new credit card, a personal loan, or another type of borrowing agreement. It also affects your ability to rent an apartment, or possibly be hired or promoted in your job.
Do not wait until you’re ready to apply for a loan to check your credit. Monitor your credit reports regularly to see that your information is accurately reported. If there is an error, send written disputes to the credit bureau. You do not want to be denied for a loan because of someone else’s error. Credit applications are considered hard inquiries on your credit file, and denials could result in lowering your credit score.
Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm that represents victims with credit reporting privacy and accuracy problems. Contact Us for a free consultation to discuss errors on your credit reports.
Your credit report plays a critical role in your overall financial health. The information that it contains will affect your ability to get new lines of credit for auto or personal loans, rent an apartment, and sometimes even get a job or promotion. It’s important to understand all of the information on your report and what types of negative listings may appear.
Every person’s credit report has the following:
Negative listings on your credit report are frustrating, especially if you’re making an effort to improve your financial situation. Take steps to pay down debt over time.
-Monitor your credit reports
-Dispute errors with the credit bureau and credit furnisher
-Pay your bills in full and on time
-Make a budget and stick to it
These positive actions will help improve your credit and show that you’re on the right track, even while the negative listings remain.
Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm that represents victims of car repossession, credit reporting errors and unfair debt collection practices. Contact Us for a free consultation to determine whether your consumer rights were violated.
Finding a new job can feel like a full time job in itself. First identifying companies and positions, then prepare your resume and cover letters.
The next most important step is to check your credit reports.
Employers usually check credit reports during the hiring process as a means to gauge the applicant’s responsibility with finances. Not all employers check credit reports during the employment screening process. But those that do, often check for positions that involve a security clearance, access to money, sensitive customer data or confidential company information.
An employment screening report only includes your account payment record, how much you owe, and your available credit. Potential employers can’t see your credit score. Follow these steps to prepare your credit before applying for a new job.
When you start looking for a new job, get a copy of your credit report. You should know appears on your report before a prospective employer obtains a copy. You can get a free report every 12 months from each of the three credit bureaus – Transunion, Experian and Equifax.
Review your reports for accuracy. If you see errors, dispute them directly with the reporting bureau. If you have negative listings like a car repossession or defaulted account, these should only stay on your report for 7 1/2 years.
If you have negative credit listings and you’re concerned about the role they’ll play in your job search, contact your target companies anonymously and ask if they check credit as part of their candidate screening process. If you think it will be an issue, you might choose not to spend time on applications for a company that asks for your credit history.
Potential employers can ask for a copy of your credit file. However, there are guidelines that must be followed.
1) You must provide written permission for a company to request your report.
2) The company must notify you of the company that provide the employment screening report.
3) You may write to the screening report company to request a copy of the report that was used in the employment hiring process.
Your job search will be easier in the future if you don’t have to worry about how your credit might affect your eligibility. Be proactive and evaluate your credit before applying for that new job.
-Review your credit file in advance.
-Make bill payments in full and on time.
-Use less than thirty percent of the credit that’s available to you.
-Maintain a healthy debt-to-income ratio.
-Dispute errors on your credit reports.
Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm that represents victims with credit reporting accuracy problems. Contact Us for a free legal review of your credit reports and an evaluation of whether your consumer rights were violated.
If you hear the term “credit invisible” it means that you may not have credit files with the nationwide credit reporting agencies — Transunion, Experian and Equifax — or that the information that exists on your credit reports is very limited.
Credit invisibility doesn’t only apply to young individuals who haven’t built up their history yet. It can also apply to older individuals who have stopped using credit, or to Americans who live abroad and don’t keep their U.S. credit accounts active.
Credit invisibility can be detrimental for a number of reasons. Lacking credit history can make it difficult or impossible to secure new lines of credit. This means you may not be able to get a loan for the house or car you want, or open a new credit card account. It could also make it more difficult for you to rent an apartment or get hired for a job.
Stay up to date with your credit standing by checking your report regularly. Consumers may obtain credit reports from Transunion, Experian, and Equifax every twelve months for free. We recommend that you request your reports from the credit bureaus in writing and have them mailed to you. You should enclose two forms of identification, such as a current driver’s license and utility bill, with your request. Once you have your reports, review your information to make sure that all of your information is accurate.
Flitter Milz is a nationally-recognized consumer protection law firm that represents victims of inaccurate credit report listings. Contact us for a free legal evaluation of errors that appear on your report.
A high credit score makes many aspects of our lives more simple. It may be easier to purchase a home or car, secure a new line of credit, rent an apartment, or possibly be hired for a job or awarded a promotion.
A credit score of 800 and above is considered excellent and indicates that the consumer not only uses credit, but pays bills in full and on time. A score in the 700s is considered good, however there may be some negative listing on the credit report such as late payments. Scores falling in the 600s are considered fair and may represent denial of a loan, or possibly approval but with lower credit limits or higher interest rates . Lower scores indicate to lenders that the consumer is a high credit risk and either, the consumer may be denied, or credit would be offered with unfavorable terms.
Consumers with poor credit may seek ways to repair and improve their credit scores quickly. However, it’s a process that takes time and responsible financial management. Paying bills in full and on time, maintaining a low credit utilization, and paying off debt are critical steps. Also, a regular review of your credit report for accuracy is important. Every twelve months consumers are entitled to a free report from each, Transunion, Experian and Equifax. If there are errors listed on the credit report, the consumer should promptly dispute the errors.
Send a dispute letter to the bureau by US Mail with an explanation of the error and documents that support your claim. Be sure to keep a complete copy of your dispute. The credit bureaus have 30 days to respond to disputes. The bureau does not correct the error, you may need to re-dispute until your report has been corrected.
Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm that represents victims of credit reporting errors by credit data furnishers and the credit bureaus. Contact us for a free evaluation of your credit report errors for a potential violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Be sure to request your credit report and verify that your credit history is up to date and accurate before seeking a new job. Prospective employers often run credit checks on potential employees prior to making hiring decisions, and negative listings could hurt your chances for employment or a promotion. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is the law that requires employers to obtain a prospective hire’s consent prior to pulling a credit file.
Employers must obtain your written permission before they can access your credit file. During the application process, the employer should provide you with background check disclosure and authorization forms that require your signature.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states that these authorization forms should be free of “complicated legal jargon” or “extra acknowledgement or waivers.” You should never feel confused or misled when it comes to authorization forms that an employer or prospective employer provides in order to get your consent to view your credit.
You also have the right to see the report that the employer used as a means to determine your employment. You should inform the prospective employer that you want to have a copy whether you are hired or not.
Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm that represents victims of inaccurate credit reporting. Contact us for a free evaluation of your reports.
Graduating from college is a huge achievement. It means you’re done with studying, exams, and essays. But it also means you have to be more responsible with your finances and make sure to maintain healthy credit.
Your credit will affect many aspects of your future, like your ability to rent an apartment, secure a new loan, and even get hired for a new job. If you haven’t already, check your credit report. See what information is currently listed and make sure it’s all accurate. Dispute credit report errors with the reporting bureau to ensure that your credit history is reflected correctly.
If your credit history is relatively short, consider how you can continue to build your credit. If you have student loans, making your payments on time and in full each month will reflect positively on your credit. Obtaining a credit card and paying it off in full each month will also contribute to a higher credit score.
Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm that represents victims of credit reporting privacy and accuracy issues, abusive debt collectors and lenders that have wrongfully repossessed vehicles. Contact Us for a free legal evaluation of your consumer credit problem.
You can request all of the information that the reporting agency has. You can get a free file disclosure if:
Reporting agencies can only report your information to people who have a valid need for it, like those who are reviewing credit applications, insurance, employment, rental properties, or other business.
If someone accesses your credit report and it results in a negative outcome, like denial for credit, insurance, employment, or a rental property, they’re required to tell you. They should also give you the name, address, and phone number of the agency that gave the information.
If an employer or potential employer needs to access your report, they need your written permission.
Your credit score is a number that indicates your creditworthiness. Lenders will see you as less risky if you have a higher score. Check your credit score and report regularly to make sure all information is accurate and up to date.
If you think your credit report was provided without your permission, you may be able to sue the credit bureau for providing your report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act provides protection for consumers that have had their credit privacy violated.
You have the right to an accurate credit report. If any information is inaccurate, write a credit report dispute letter to the reporting agency. The bureau has 30 days to respond to your dispute.
The reporting agencies are obligated to correct or delete information that’s inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable. They also can’t report outdated negative information. In most cases, negative information should be removed after seven years.
Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm that represents victims with credit reporting privacy and accuracy problems. Contact Us for a free evaluation of your credit reports for potential violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Advocate of
Excellence
Pro Bono
President's
