If you’ve spent time and effort building a good credit history, it can be alarming when you see a wrong name on your credit report. This mistake is more common than you might think, and it can be caused by anything from a simple data entry error to something more nefarious like identity theft. Any error on your credit report must be corrected—your financial future depends on it. Here’s why someone else’s name may appear on your credit report, and the steps you should take to fix this mistake.
The Problems With a Mixed Credit Report
When any or all of the big three credit reporting bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—include someone else’s information on your credit report, it’s referred to as a “mixed file error.” These mistakes can be caused by human errors like typos or misspellings in your credit file, and it’s very common for someone else’s name or information to appear on your credit report.
Even a simple mistake like an incorrect name on your credit report can have a significant, damaging impact on your credit score and creditworthiness. It can impact your ability to secure loans or lines of credit. For example, if the person whose information appears on your report goes bankrupt, you could be denied a mortgage, car loan, or line of credit, through no fault of your own.
How Can I Remove an Incorrect Name From My Credit Report?
Consumers are protected against credit reporting errors under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Every consumer is entitled to have all mistakes and erroneous information on credit reports corrected within 30 days of a dispute being filed.
Unfortunately, fixing the error on your own can be tedious, time-consuming, and confusing. You’ll need to contact each credit bureau individually to file a dispute by mailing a dispute letter that details any errors and the ways they should be corrected. You should also send relevant documentation to support your assertions.
Expert Credit Report Attorneys Can Help
Any mistake on your credit report must be fixed right away, otherwise, you risk damaging your creditworthiness and your financial future. Rather than dealing with the credit bureaus yourself, expert credit report attorneys can deal with the situation quickly—and help you recoup any financial or emotional damages, when applicable. Experienced attorneys can hold the credit reporting bureaus accountable, ensuring they correct their mistakes in a timely manner.
Mistakes on Your Credit Report? Contact Boss Law Today
Any mistake on your credit report—even something as simple as an incorrect name—can negatively impact your life. The expert credit report attorneys at Boss Law are standing by to help. All it takes is one phone call, and we’ll help you untangle any credit reporting mess you’re dealing with. Call us today at (727) 877-3188 for your free, no-obligation consultation.
