New York Consumer Law Blog

What Do Credit Reports Cover?

A great deal of consumer credit and evaluative information is contained in "consumer reports."  These reports -- including but not limited to credit reports -- are covered by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) as well as by the New York Fair Credit Reporting Act.  Both FCRA statutes give consumers a number of protections regarding the use and accuracy of their data.  Many consumers think that such protections extend only to "typical" credit reports, but in fact there are a broad range of topics that qualify for protection under the FCRA. The statute in 15 U.

Returning an Auto Lease the Right Way

       It’s been one, two, three, or even four or more years since you’ve leased your vehicle. You’ve treated the car well, you’ve never had any accidents, and minus any normal wear and tear on the vehicle, your car is in great condition. Now, however, your lease is over, and it’s time to return the vehicle to the dealership. If you’ve dealt with leases before, you know that the leasing company will hire a contractor that will travel to the dealership and will perform an inspection on your vehicle to check for mechanical problems, such as engine, transmission, or suspension operation; cosmetic damage (dents, dings, scratches, etc.); cracks, pitting, or similar damage on all windows; excessive wear to the brakes and tires; and stains, burns, or other damage to the interior of the vehicle.
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    Most people know that maintaining their credit score in good standing is crucial to their financial health.  After all, their credit score can have a significant impact on key aspects of their financial life. Credit scores can affect a person’s ability to buy a home, car, insurance, and may even affect their ability to obtain employment. Many consumers, however, are unaware that inaccurate credit reports are a common problem . These mistakes often remain uncorrected despite the credit bureaus (consumer reporting agencies or “CRA”) being informed of the error.

What can I do about errors in my credit report?

The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau recently released a study that revealed credit report errors continue to be a serious problem for consumers. The overarching issue is that these errors can adversely affect a consumer's ability to qualify for credit, especially a mortgage loan. In some cases, inaccurate credit report information can also impede an individual's job prospects.

Read today's article about how errors by tenant screening companies can interfere with renting an apartment in New York City and beyond.

 http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/17/nyregion/new-york-housing-tenant-blacklist.html?_r=0

 The Law Office of Adam G.
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Has undiscovered identity theft damaged your credit score?  

 Check your credit reports for free at annualcreditreport.com .  

Adam Singer, Esq. helps consumers with credit report errors to obtain compensation and a corrected report.

How can I protect myself from identity theft?

Identity theft is a growing problem that is costing American consumers billions of dollars every year according to the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics. In fact, it has been reported that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported over 490,000 identity fraud complaints in the last year alone.  While nearly half of these complaints were related to tax return fraud, credit card fraud, particularly the creation of bogus accounts, is also a major threat to consumers.

What is identity theft?

This crime typically occurs when someone steals an individual's personal information such as social security numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers and tax information.  This information is then used to fraudulently obtain credit or file taxes.

Most people know that maintaining their credit score in good standing is crucial to their financial health.  After all,  their credit score can have a significant impact on many aspects of their life. Credit scores can affect a person’s ability to buy a home, car, insurance, and may even affect their ability to obtain employment. However, what most people do not know is that credit reporting agencies (CRAs) and credit furnishers often make a multitude of mistakes when recording a credit score and credit report. These mistakes often remain uncorrected despite the CRAs being informed of the error.