![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.consumerslaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Photo-1-1024x592.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Finding out that your credit report has been merged with someone else\u2019s information usually occurs at the most inopportune time.\u00a0 Often it’s when you\u2019re considering the purchase of a home or car, taking out a student loan, or possibly looking for a new job or apartment.\u00a0 However, it’s not until after credit applications are denied, or credit scores lowered, that most consumers review their credit reports.\u00a0 At that point, when errors are discovered, damage to one’s credit may have already taken place.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.consumerslaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Court-House-CLF-AMM-cropped-150x150.jpg\")
Read more below:<\/h6>\nFlitter Milz Nets Common errors on mixed credit files<\/strong> -Name suffixes – i.e. Sr., Jr., III STEP ONE Write for a current copy<\/span><\/a> of your complete report.\u00a0 Your letter must include two forms of identification to validate your ID and address, such as a current driver\u2019s license and utility bill.<\/p>\n STEP TWO STEP THREE Also, if you know who the mixed information belongs to, such as a relative, let the credit bureau know.\u00a0 This may help in their investigation and enable a faster resolution to your dispute.<\/p>\n STEP FOUR <\/p>\n Flitter Milz nets $360K Award in Mixed-File Case: A U.S. federal court recently awarded $360,000 to our client, a young man whose life was upended by a debt collector who refused to remove an inaccurate account from his credit report despite our client\u2019s numerous requests.\u00a0 The case is Hutchins v. Mountain Run Solutions, LLC and can be found here<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n Our client is a young professional who noticed a collection account he didn\u2019t recognize on his credit report.\u00a0 The account \u2013 which dragged down his credit score \u2013 belonged to his father, who shared the same name but had a different date of birth, SSN, and address.\u00a0 The son made three disputes to the credit bureau Experian and the debt collector, Mountain Run Solutions, claiming the debt was not his and asking for an investigation, only to have his requests to investigate ignored.\u00a0 He was forced to sue.<\/p>\n Mixed files like this, as recognized by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, are a big, big problem in the credit reporting industry.<\/p>\n After a damages hearing in federal court, the court entered judgment against the debt collector, awarding $180,000 to the son for the mental and emotional toll the negative credit caused him.\u00a0 The court also said punitive damages were warranted for the debt collector\u2019s knowing and willful violation, adding another $180,000 to the award for a total of $360,000.\u00a0 (The claim against the credit bureau was resolved out of court<\/em>).<\/p>\n Pictured<\/em>:\u00a0 Cary Flitter (center), Andy Milz (left), Jody L\u00f3pez-Jacobs (right).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Finding out that your credit report has been merged with someone else\u2019s information usually occurs at the most inopportune time.\u00a0 Often it’s when you\u2019re considering the purchase of a home or car, taking out a student loan, or possibly looking for a new job or apartment.\u00a0 However, it’s not until after credit applications are denied, … <\/p>\n
\n$360k Award in
\nMixed Credit File
\nLawsuit\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\nHow do credit files get mixed?<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.consumerslaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Photo-2-300x200.jpg\")
There are a variety of reasons why credit files get mixed.\u00a0 With the amount of information handled by creditors and the credit bureaus, mistakes are bound to happen.\u00a0 For example<\/em>, information from an application may be keyed into a file incorrectly. Digits on a social security number may be transposed, or a name misspelled from an application.\u00a0 Those errors can pass from the original creditor through to the credit bureau.\u00a0 Or, the credit bureau mistakenly may combine credit files of two or more different consumers into one file.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the errors may not be discovered until the consumer reviews his or her report…usually after applying for new credit.<\/p>\n
\n-Share a common family name, such as Smith or Jones<\/p>\n
\n-Identical names
\n-Common address
\n-Similar Social Security Number or Birthdate
\n-Co-signers on loans
\n-Unidentifiable accounts resulting from identity theft
\n-Public record listings – judgments, liens, foreclosures.<\/p>\nCorrecting mis-merged or mixed credit files<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.consumerslaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Photo-3-300x199.jpg\")
If you believe someone else’s information has been mixed with or merged onto your credit file, a written dispute<\/a><\/span> must be sent to the reporting agency.\u00a0 Disputes for information on credit reports should be sent directly to Transunion, Experian or Equifax.\u00a0 If errors appear on an industry specific agency report<\/a><\/span>, such as ones used by employers, insurance companies, banks, or landlords for screening applicants, the dispute must be sent directly to that agency.\u00a0 Correction of mis-merged or mixed credit files is similar to disputing errors on credit files.\u00a0 Consumers should follow these important steps:<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Obtain current copies of your credit reports from Transunion, Experian and Equifax, or the industry specific agency.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Highlight items on your report that are incorrect.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Gather documents that confirm your identity.\u00a0 You must be able to distinguish yourself from the other person, such as a birth certificate, social security card, passport, driver\u2019s license, account statements with your address, or paystub from your employer.\u00a0 Provide copies of documents that specifically relate to the error(s) on the report.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Prepare a dispute letter for the reporting bureau.\u00a0 The letter must state that your file has been mixed with someone else. \u00a0Clearly identify the mistakes and provide relevant documents that show the error(s).\u00a0 Request that the bureau correct your file.\u00a0 Ask for written confirmation that shows the correction has been made.<\/p>\nThe credit bureau has 30 days to address disputes<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.consumerslaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Photo-4-300x200.jpg\")
The reporting bureau has 30 days to respond to your written dispute.\u00a0 If errors are not corrected, you may need to send a second dispute to that bureau, and possibly provide additional documentation.\u00a0 Or, you may need to write to the underlying creditor, explain the problem and request corrected information be sent to the reporting bureau.<\/p>\nCan I sue the Credit Bureau or Credit Furnisher?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.consumerslaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Consumer-Protection-Laws-150x150.jpg\")
The Fair Credit Reporting Act<\/a><\/strong><\/span> is a federal law written to protect consumers from inaccurate or incomplete information listed on credit files.\u00a0 When credit bureaus or credit furnishers do not take steps to correct errors on credit reports, the consumer may consider filing a lawsuit against the reporting bureau or creditor furnisher.<\/p>\nFlitter Milz in Action<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
\n<\/strong>Hutchins v. Mountain Run Solutions, LLC<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nSeek Qualified Legal Counsel<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.consumerslaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Law-Firm-Photo-e1608565743448.jpg\")
If someone else\u2019s debt or a stranger\u2019s account is on your credit report, Flitter Milz can help.\u00a0 Whether your credit file has been mixed or mis-merged with a family member, someone with a similar name, or a total stranger, your consumer rights may have been violated.\u00a0 Contact Us<\/a><\/strong><\/span> for a no cost evaluation.<\/p>\n