Credit issues can happen to anyone.
Whether you’re dealing with outdated information, mixed credit reports, false deceased indicators, or even identity theft, it’s important to know the difference between hiring a credit repair company and working with a consumer protection lawyer.
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Credit Repair Companies vs. Consumer Protection Lawyers
While both credit repair companies and consumer protection lawyers may seem to offer credit help, only one has the legal power to enforce your rights, get long-term results, and seek compensation for harm caused by the errors. If your consumer report contains inaccurate, misleading, or unverifiable information, working with a qualified consumer protection lawyer – sometimes referred to as a “credit repair lawyer” – may be your best path forward.
At Consumer Justice Law Firm, we represent consumers who have been harmed by credit reporting errors, identity mix-ups, and agency negligence. If you’re tired of trying to fix your credit without results, we can help. Let’s look at how these services differ and when legal action backed by an experienced consumer protection lawyer is the right move.
What is a Credit Repair Company?
Credit repair companies are businesses that you pay to improve your credit score by disputing negative items on your credit report. Some promise to remove late payments, collections, or even bankruptcies. While this sounds appealing, their ability to help is limited and in some cases, misleading. Even though they claim to remove negative credit items, they are not attorneys and do not have the legal authority to sue credit bureaus on your behalf.
Did you know? Most credit repair companies use the same tools that consumers can access on their own.
These companies often use the same basic tools that consumers already have: sending letters to credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion to dispute items and request verification. In many cases, they’ll send mass-produced templates that don’t include specific documentation, which can lead to disputes being rejected or ignored.
Worse, some credit repair companies may make false promises, violate federal law, or charge illegal upfront fees. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cautions consumers to be wary of any company that promises results they can’t guarantee. You can learn more in the FTC’s advice on credit repair and how to help yourself. (Note that event the FTC seems to think that if the credit bureaus won’t properly investigate or fix the error, you can keep trying, but you’re basically out of luck.)
That’s not to say all credit repair companies are scams, but their tools are limited. They cannot sue a credit bureau, subpoena evidence, or negotiate with creditors on a legal basis. That’s where a consumer protection law firm, sometimes called a “credit repair law firm,” can make all the difference.
The Problem with Credit Repair Companies – Complaints, Lawsuits, and Red Flags
According to data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), thousands of consumers report issues with credit repair services each year, ranging from unauthorized billing to misleading promises about results.
Did you know? Credit repair companies have long faced scrutiny for deceptive practices and disappointing results.
In 2019, the CFPB filed a lawsuit against CreditRepair.com, Lexington Law, and their parent companies, accusing them of violating federal law through deceptive practices. The complaint outlined concerns such as charging consumers upfront before providing any real services and using unlawful telemarketing tactics. The case ultimately resulted in a $1.8 billion judgment and a 10-year ban on telemarketing activities for those (credit repair) companies.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Many credit repair services offer unrealistic guarantees like removing accurate negative information or delivering instant results and then locking customers into recurring payment plans without delivering meaningful improvement. Some even operate as outright scams, collecting fees without initiating proper disputes or investigations.
These widespread problems highlight why it’s so important to work with professionals held to high legal and ethical standards. A qualified consumer protection law firm, sometimes called a “credit repair law firm” or “credit report errors lawyer,” can do far more than just send template letters.
We have the tools, experience, and authority to hold credit reporting agencies accountable under the law- giving you a better chance of truly resolving errors on your report.
Why Choose a Consumer Protection Lawyer over a Credit Repair Company
While the term “credit repair law” is often used broadly to include everything from negotiating settlements to helping with credit rebuilding, consumer protection lawyers represent a more specific area within this space.
At Consumer Justice Law Firm, we focus on enforcing your legal rights under federal laws like the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Electronic Funds Transfer Act, and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act- handling issues such as credit report errors, illegal debt collection practices, and identity theft recovery.
When you’re dealing with credit reporting agencies, things can get complicated quickly. You may submit a dispute and receive a vague or confusing response. You might correct an error only to see it reappear on another report. Or worse – you may be denied housing, jobs, or loans due to inaccurate information you can’t get removed.
A consumer protection lawyer has something a credit repair company doesn’t – legal authority. And legal authority can be the difference between spinning your wheels with form letters and actually forcing real, permanent change through legal action.
Key Info: The consumer protection lawyers at Consumer Justice Law Firm provide FREE consultations and only get paid when we win. No justice, no fee.
Consumer Protection Lawyers Bring Legal Backing and Real Results
Here’s why working with a consumer protection lawyer for credit report errors makes a real difference:
- Consumer protection lawyers can take legal action. If you contact a lawyer for credit repair assistance (a consumer protection lawyer), the attorney can do more than just file disputes, they can take your case to court if your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) are violated. If a credit bureau fails to investigate your dispute properly, continues to report false data, or violates procedure, your attorney can sue the bureau and potentially get you compensation.
- Consumer protection lawyers understand the law. The FCRA and related statutes are complex. A credit bureau lawyer is trained to navigate these laws and build a case based on real violations – not just surface-level disputes.
- Consumer protection lawyers offer tailored help. They offer help unique to your situation. Unlike mass-market dispute templates, a credit repair law firm, more specifically, a consumer protection law firm like ours – works directly with you. They can review your documentation, investigate the cause, collect evidence, prepare legally sound disputes, and communicate directly with credit reporting agencies and furnishers (like banks or collection agencies).
- Consumer protection lawyers are outcome driven. A reputable consumer protection attorney, sometimes searched online as a “credit repair lawyer near me,” isn’t going to charge for promises they can’t keep. We offer free consultations, and only get paid if we win your case. That’s real accountability. On the other hand, a credit repair company typically charges a flat-fee, paid upfront, regardless of the outcome.
What To Do if Your Credit Report Has Errors
The first step to challenging credit mistakes is to get a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Request your reports via AnnualCreditReport.com – it’s FREE!
Once you have your reports, look for:
- Incorrect personal details (address, SSN, employer)
- Accounts that don’t belong to you
- Accounts with incorrect balances or statuses
- Duplicate entries
- Negative items that should have expired
- Accounts marked as delinquent that are current
Here’s a tip! If you want to challenge credit errors, it’s important to get a copy of your free credit reports online – as soon as possible!
The Steps to Dispute Credit Report Errors
Step 1: File a Dispute.
You can start the dispute process by submitting a dispute with each credit reporting agency that shows the error. Provide documentation (such as payment confirmations, letters from lenders, or identity documents) to support your claim. Be sure to file through certified mail to keep up with your disputes and preserve your rights.
Step 2: Follow Up.
Under the law – (the FCRA), credit bureaus have 30 days to investigate and respond. If they correct the issue, they must also inform the furnisher (the company that supplied the information) and any other bureaus that received the incorrect data.
Step 3: Take Legal Action if Needed.
If the bureau refuses to correct the error, or if it reappears, you may need to find a consumer protection lawyer to sue for credit report errors. An attorney can guide you through the process of litigation, negotiate on your behalf, and help you recover financial and emotional damages when warranted.
If you’re thinking, “I just want to fix my credit” or “I need help cleaning up my report,” know that countless others have felt the same frustration. A credit repair lawyer (a.k.a. consumer protection lawyer) can guide you through what works – and what doesn’t.
A Real Example – When DIY Credit Repair Isn’t Enough
One of our clients, a public-school teacher in Florida, discovered several inaccurate accounts on her credit report, including a loan in collections and a credit card she never opened. Worried about the cost of a credit repair lawyer, she initially decided to handle it on her own.
She submitted online disputes with Equifax and reached out to Experian customer service directly for guidance. After uploading explanations and scanned documents, she received notices that her disputes had been “completed.” But the errors remained on her consumer reports for more than six months.
Frustrated and desperate for a solution, she then turned to a well-known credit repair agency – hoping they could succeed where her own efforts had failed. Unfortunately, that experience only added to her frustration. After several months of automatic billing and vague updates, there was still no meaningful change to her credit report.
The ongoing inaccuracies lowered her credit score, caused her to be denied a rental home, and led to significant emotional and financial stress. It wasn’t until she contacted our firm that the case was finally taken seriously – and she no longer had to spend countless nights researching “how to clean up your credit report.” She could finally rest easy.
As her credit report lawyers, we conducted a full legal review, sent formal dispute letters, and ultimately pursued a credit report lawsuit under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Within weeks, the false accounts were permanently removed, and she received compensation for the harm she endured.
Get Justice: Repair Errors on Your Credit Report For Good
When you’re struggling with credit issues that affect your life, temporary fixes aren’t enough. A credit repair law firm (consumer protection law firm) can help you get long term results and real accountability from the companies harming your financial reputation.
Many people turn to Consumer Justice Law Firm when they’ve tried everything else and still can’t get errors removed. Whether you’re dealing with identity theft, mixed files, or repeated violations of the FCRA, our attorneys can help you take control and get results.
Our consumer protection lawyers help clients in California, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Florida, and across the country. Whether you need help understanding how to fix credit report errors, guidance on “how do I dispute credit report errors,” or legal support to sue a credit bureau, we’ve got your back.
Still searching for “consumer protection attorneys near me”? That’s us. We’re nationwide, so we’re always nearby.
At Consumer Justice Law Firm, we offer personalized legal support to help fix your credit issues for good and we fight for every client like it’s personal, because it is!
We understand what’s at stake for you – your home, your job, financial stability, peace of mind, and your freedom! Our team of consumer protection lawyers is committed to holding credit reporting agencies and furnishers accountable and if we take your case, we won’t stop until your credit report reflects the truth.
Contact Consumer Justice Law Firm today for personalized credit report help and real results. We look forward to working with you!