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.
Cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs or boats, they’re all expensive. It’s unusual that these purchases are made in cash. Whether buying a new or used vehicle, most people choose to finance the purchase and make specified payments over a designated period of time. Financing can be arranged in two different ways.
Continue reading Understanding Auto Loan Financing →
Your credit report contains quite a bit of information about your financial history. It includes personal information, all of your open credit accounts and whether or not they are in good standing, and any negative marks, such as accounts in default or vehicle repossessions. Due to the sensitive nature of this information, not just anyone can see a copy of your credit report.
Continue reading Who Can See Your Credit Report? →
Loans are commonly used for expenses like car purchases, home improvements, medical bills, and weddings. They can also be used to consolidate debt or pay off credit card bills at a lower interest rate. Loans with reasonable interest rates can provide a means to purchase an item and pay for it over time.
But what happens if you’re denied for that car loan, or a bank loan that was to help with an unexpected expense? Review the following steps which may help provide a solution.
A loan application could be denied for a number of reasons. It’s important to understand the bank’s reason for not approving your application. It’s possible that your income doesn’t meet the required amount or your employment history is inconsistent.
Loan applications may also be denied due to incorrect information on the application itself, or errors on the applicant’s credit report. You should verify that your identifying information like social security number and birth date are correct on the application. Check your credit report to make sure all information is accurate and dispute anything that is incorrect.
Banks also look at your debt to income ratio when you apply for a loan. If you already have significant debt, it will be more difficult to secure a loan. Your overall credit is also an important factor. If you have a history of late payments or negative listings on your credit report, the bank may deny your application.
If one bank denies your application, you can try applying with another. It’s generally best to apply with your own bank before trying a different one, but banks have different criteria and guidelines for loan approval. You may be able to secure a loan with another institution.
If you’re not able to secure a loan on your own, whether due to poor credit or insufficient income, a co-signer might be a good option. When a guarantor signs onto a loan, he or she agrees to take on financial responsibility if the borrower is unable to make payments. This helps the bank ensure that the loan will be paid back.
If your debt to income ratio is the issue, take some time to create some attainable goals to pay down your debt. Banks typically want your debt to income ratio below 35% to approve another loan.
Sometimes a loan denial is a sign that you need to reassess your finances and make some changes. Each time you apply for a loan, the lender performs a hard inquiry to pull your credit information. Hard inquiries can temporarily hurt your credit. Take a break from loan applications for now and work on improving your credit, paying down debt, and tracking your expenses.
Flitter Milz is a consumer protection law firm representing people with credit reporting errors, wrongful car repossessions, contact from debt collectors and unwanted “robo” calls. Whether payments were missed, or a debt is owed or not, the consumer has rights against the credit bureaus, lenders or collectors. Contact us for a free consult to determine whether your consumer rights were violated.
Checking your report regularly is the best way to ensure that your finances are healthy and that your overall credit remains in good standing. Poor credit can negatively affect your life in many ways. You can request your credit report by mail or online at annualcreditreport.com.
Individuals with lower credit scores and negative listings on their credit report will incur higher interest rates on new lines of credit.
Poor credit can also result in loan application denial. Lenders will view you as a high risk borrower and are less likely to approve your application. This could mean you’ll have more difficulty purchasing a home or vehicle.
It’s becoming more common for potential employers to check an applicant’s credit before making a final hiring decision. This is especially common for jobs within banking and financial services, government, or jobs that require security clearance. Employment screening reports are also often used for trucking, nursing, food, and retail positions. Employers are required to provide you with report details if you’re denied a position as a result of the report.
A lower credit score is likely to make it more difficult to rent an apartment. Landlords want to see that you can make payments on time. Poor credit can be a red flag that makes them less likely to rent to you.
A person with lower credit may experience higher utility bills than someone whose credit is in good standing. It can also make it more difficult to negotiate a cell phone contract, or result in a more expensive contract.
Negative credit listings are typically the result of late payments or accounts in default. When someone doesn’t make payments for 60 to 90 days, the account may be sent to a debt collector. Debt collection contact can be overwhelming and intimidating and can add stress to your financial situation.
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 legal evaluation of credit report errors.
When a lender or financial institution accesses your credit report, it’s called an inquiry. Credit reporting agencies classify inquiries as hard or soft, and record the credit inquiries on your report.
When you apply for credit like an auto loan, credit card, personal loan, or student loan, the lender must request permission to access your credit file. This type of inquiry will show as a hard inquiry on your credit report. If you have multiple hard inquiries, the lender may see you as a higher risk, and possibly deny your credit application. Hard inquiries may stay on your credit report for up to two years, and possibly lower your credit score, generally by a small amount.
Soft inquiries are when the lender does not review your credit file for the purpose of new credit. Businesses may access your credit file if they have an existing credit relationship with you. For example, a credit card company or bank may access your credit file when promoting a credit account offer or special rates on a product. This type of soft inquiry should not have an effect on your credit score.
As a consumer, you’re able to request your credit report, called a “consumer file disclosure.” These requests do not have a negative impact on credit scores. Transunion, Experian, and Equifax provide free credit reports to consumers every twelve months, upon request. Throughout the year, you can choose to view your report frequently to monitor any changes to your credit file.
Hard inquiries are unavoidable if you want to apply for a loan or new credit card. Before making a new loan application, follow these guidelines:
Flitter Milz is a credit report dispute law firm that represents people who have experienced harm from hard inquiries on his or her credit reports. Contact Us for a free legal review to determine whether your consumer rights have been violated.
Applications for new credit go through an approval process. The prospective lender has criteria that is considered when reviewing a credit application. Factors such as the items listed below may have been examined:
– Your credit and payment history
– Your income
– Your total debt to income ratio
– Multiple applications for credit within a short period
– Had you filed for bankruptcy
– Your age
– Do you need a co-signer
While specific qualification criteria may vary from one creditor to another, a determination is made whether to extend or deny the application. When a credit application is denied, the applicant will receive a letter from the creditor with an explanation of why the credit was declined. Here are some possible reasons behind your credit denial:
Errors on your Loan Application
Your application had errors. Review your loan application to see whether information was incomplete or misspelled. Check your identifying information closely for your full name, address, social security number, and birth date. Remember that multiple applications in a short amount of time could also hurt your ability to be approved.
Errors on your Credit Report
Within 60 days of a credit application denial, you may request a free credit report from each of the credit bureaus — Transunion, Experian and Equifax. Write to the bureaus for a new report. Review them for listings that may be inaccurate. If you see errors, such as duplicate negative listings, accounts that you do not recognize, or incorrect reporting, you must send written disputes to the credit bureaus. Your dispute letter should include documents that illustrate why the error should be corrected. Send your letter by Certified Mail, Return Receipt to the credit bureau. They have 30 days to respond to your dispute. If the bureaus continue to list the error, you may need to send a second dispute.
Employment History
Review your employment information. Make sure the listings for your employer(s) are accurate. If there has been a lapse in employment, it could be a factor that was considered for the credit denial.
Credit Payment History
Erratic payment history can also lead to credit denial. Late or missed payments and charged off accounts reflect negatively on your payment history. High balances, collection accounts, and repossessions could also lead to denial. Also, no credit history could be reason for denial. Creditors may be unwilling to offer credit if you don’t have a well-established credit score.
Public Records
Review your report to see if there are public records listed for bankruptcy, judgments, or tax (or other) liens. If any of these items have been satisfied, you will need to dispute the listing with the credit bureau and provide documentation showing the obligation has been paid.
Financial Problems
Financial struggles can also be the root of credit denial. Collection accounts and a high debt to income ratio will reflect negatively on your credit history. A high number of credit inquiries are another negative.
Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm representing victims of credit reporting privacy and accuracy issues, abusive debt collection contact and wrongful repossessions. Contact Us to discuss your consumer credit concern.
Building and repairing credit is easier said than done. Whether you are trying to build credit or repair credit after some financial mishaps, the discipline to meet financial decisions responsibly can be paralyzing. And if you’re in the midst of a credit crisis, the situation could seem hopeless.
For better or worse, we live in a credit-dominated society. Big purchases such as homes, cars, education, furniture, internet service, and cell phones require a credit history. Good credit enables us to make these purchases and enjoy the benefits that come with them. Bad credit makes these purchases a challenge. Although you may get approved for the loan, the credit terms may be more expensive and carry higher fees and interest rates. And, you need to be cautious. The ease of spending on credit, without paying cash at the time of purchase, can create a cycle of over spending. Suddenly, it’s difficult to meet monthly bills.
If you’ve never had credit, or if you’re working your way out of financial hardship, you may need to seek some help. One option may be to get a secured credit card from your bank. This type of card requires a cash security deposit, which reduces the risk to the issuer and can help you build a credit history. A number of banks offer secured credit cards, where you can put money on the card that acts as your credit limit. These secured cards work differently than pre-paid and debit cards. You will receive monthly bills to pay in order to avoid penalties. Most important, make sure the furnisher of this card reports to the credit bureaus. You want your good payment history to count towards building or repairing your credit.
A second option may be to become an authorized user on someone else’s credit card. This means that the primary account holder adds your name to their credit card account. You will receive a card and pay for the items you’ve charged. The accounts where you are an authorized user will likely appear on your credit report, along with your good payment history. Most of all, you want to establish financial discipline for paying back borrowed money on time.
After building up some credit, you will likely become eligible for a credit card of your own. But, beware. Credit cards are a lot of responsibility. You must avoid overspending so that you can pay off your balance in full, and on time, every month.
Whether you get hard copies in the mail or emailed statements examine how much you owe. Plan your expenses so that you’ve saved enough money to make payments on time. Bills can be scary and intimidating, especially if you’ve spent more than you can afford to pay.
Credit reports list delinquent payments and bring down your credit score. Some people find setting up automatic payments from a bank account helps to stay current on bills.
Every twelve months consumers are entitled to one free credit report from each Transunion, Experian and Equifax. Review your report for accuracy. If you find errors, dispute them by writing to the credit bureau. You want your credit report to be an accurate reflection of your credit history.
Flitter Milz is a nationally recognized consumer protection law firm that represents victims with credit report problems, those who’ve had contact from abusive debt collectors or a vehicle wrongfully repossessed by a lender. Whether the consumer fell behind on payments or not, there are laws that the credit bureau, debt collector and lender must follow. Contact Us for a free consultation to discuss whether your consumer rights were violated.
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