Credit Bureau Complaints

Consumers over the age of 18 rely on the ability to obtain credit for vehicles, homes and student loans. Consumers rely on the three consumer reporting agencies to collect and maintain their credit information. When consumers find errors or learn they have been victimized by identity theft, they need the credit reporting agencies s to be responsive in correcting the information.

Lack of Access

All three consumer reporting agencies (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) agreed to a cumulative $2.5 million settlement after the Federal Trade Commission found that each CRA violated certain provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Each CRA failed to maintain a toll-free phone number for consumers to ask about their credit reports. The FCRA requires the consumer reporting agencies to give consumers access during normal business hours. The complaint filed by the FTC claimed that the credit reporting agencies blocked millions of callers who needed to ask about entries in their credit reports. Some consumers who were able to reach the CRAs were kept on hold for "unreasonably long periods of time," and other consumers found their calls blocked based on the location and area codes where the calls came from.

Uncorrected Errors in Credit Report

Robyn Mueller filed suit against Equifax after the CRA failed to stop mixing up her credit information with that of her twin brother, Robert Mueller. Ms. Mueller sent several dispute letters to the agency beginning in 2006, telling them they were mixing her information up with her brother's information.

When the dispute letters had no effect, she resorted to sending copies of her brother's driver's license, pay stubs and other identifying information. The agency still did not make the requested corrections. Ms. Mueller's problems with Equifax and the errors in her credit report effectively caused her not to have a credit score, according to Give Me Back My Credit.

Effects

Consumers rely on accurate credit reports so they can access credit to buy vehicles, qualify to buy a home and obtain student loans. When they are unable to reach the CRAs to discuss inaccurate entries, suspected identity theft and how to resolve these issues, their rights under the FCRA are violated. In September 1997, Congress amended the FCRA to require each CRA to give consumers access to company representatives during regular business hours. Exquifax's failure to respond to and make corrections in Robyn Mueller's credit report effectively took her credit score away from her, denying her access to credit and making it impossible for her to obtain loans. Failure to correct incorrect entries in consumer's credit reports is a form of identity theft, according to Give Me Back My Credit.