A study conducted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) showed that approximately 26 percent of consumers found errors on their credit reports. However, only about five percent of these study participants had errors on their credit report that was damaging to their credit score. The five percent with damaging errors on their credit score are more likely to be denied for loans or have higher interest rates, as a result of the errors. There has been controversy for many years regarding the accuracy of credit reports and the recent study by the FTC made valid points for both sides of the argument. The study followed 1,001 consumers as they checked their credit reports for errors. Those who did find errors were also followed as they disputed the errors. Once the errors were fixed, it tracked how the consumer’s credit score improved.
The best way to avoid damaging errors on your credit report is to keep a close eye on it. You can request a free report once a year from three major agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. If you find a mistake, you should dispute the error. Unfortunately only 19 percent of credit reports errors are disputed. However, disputing an error is relatively easy, if you use the online features that are available.
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If you have any questions on this topic or are in a financial crisis and are considering filing bankruptcy, contact an experienced attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. at www.miamibankruptcy.com.