Credit reporting errors can have a devastating impact on a person’s finances and their lives in general. Improper credit reports can affect a person’s ability to obtain a loan, rent an apartment, or even get a job. The credit reporting agencies have a duty under federal law to produce an accurate report. Failures to conform to this duty can allow a consumer to demand a remedy.
One common form of error is a mixed or merged credit file. These errors can combine a person’s credit report with another person who shares a similar name. This can result in a lower credit score or denials of loans due to an inability to confirm a person’s identity. Recognizing a mixed or merged credit file in Pascagoula is essential to taking steps towards financial health. Speak to an experienced credit denial attorney to learn about the different elements of your credit report.
Mixed or merged credit reports are the result of errors that credit reporting bureaus make. A mixed credit report is a product of mistaken identity. If people have similar or even identical names, credit reporting agencies may err by merging their financial histories into one report. This is what we mean when we talk about a merged credit file. It is vital for consumers to evaluate their credit scores to ensure that key data is accurate. These can include:
A merged credit report is not an error in the traditional sense but can have a negative effect on a person’s financial wellbeing. A merged credit report is a combination of all three credit reporting bureau’s reports. These companies are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
The only time that this report becomes relevant is when a person is seeking a mortgage to purchase real property. Lenders will pull these tri-merge credit report to obtain an accurate picture of a person’s overall fitness for a loan. It is plain to see why any inaccuracies on these reports can have a detrimental effect.
If even one portion of one of these reports is inaccurate, it may lead a lender to deny a loan or to offer terms at a higher interest rate. Common problems such as a mistaken poor credit mark, a delinquent account, or even a mixed report from one agency could drag down an entire merged credit file. Recognizing that a mixed or merged credit file has had a poor effect on one’s financial health is essential to taking steps towards demanding a remedy.
The credit reporting agencies have an affirmative duty under The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to produce an accurate credit report upon request. However, these agencies do not have an obligation to perform their own independent investigations into the accuracy of these reports. Instead, consumers must take it upon themselves to identify errors and to request that the agencies perform an investigation.
As applies to merged credit reports, this is especially crucial. Arguing that a credit report is a combination of one’s credit history and another party can help to clarify any poor marks and demand a fix. If a credit agency recognizes that an error has occurred yet negligently fails to remedy that error, they violate the FCRA. Similarly, if an agency willfully fails to fix a known error, this is also a violation of the FCRA.
An identical process governs the process for demanding an investigation into any error that may affect a mixed credit report. As discussed above, any minor error could affect the resulting tri-merge credit reports. Fixing a merged credit file or erroneous mixed credit report is an essential step towards financial wellbeing.
Every consumer in Pascagoula deserves a fair and accurate credit report. These reports are a culmination of a person’s financial history and its transcription by the credit reporting bureaus. Sadly, errors in these reports are common. Failures to note a made payment could result in an incorrect mixed credit file. Similarly, a merged credit file is an error on its own that could lead to denial of a loan or lease.
Credit reporting agencies must act to fix these errors when consumers demand an investigation. By filing a complaint, and providing evidence of an error, consumers can help to secure their financial present and future. Call today to learn about the nuances of mixed or merged credit files in Pascagoula.