Your Credit Report Has Errors. That's Not Just Frustrating — It's a Federal Violation.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act doesn't only give you the right to dispute inaccurate information. It gives you the right to sue when creditors and credit bureaus refuse to fix it. At Aronow Law P.C., we've helped clients across Nassau County, Long Island, and the New York metro area turn unresolved credit report errors into federal claims — and recover damages plus attorney fees in the process.

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What the FCRA Actually Does for You

The Fair Credit Reporting Act is a federal consumer protection law that governs how credit bureaus, creditors, and debt collectors report information about you. When that information is wrong — and they fail to correct it after a proper dispute — you have an affirmative legal claim, not just a complaint.

 

Under the FCRA, you may be entitled to:

 

  • Actual damages for financial harm caused by the error (denied credit, higher interest rates, lost employment)
  • Statutory damages up to $1,000 per violation
  • Attorney fees and court costs paid by the defendant

 

That last point matters. In most FCRA cases, our clients pay nothing out of pocket. If the claim succeeds, the law requires the other side to cover our fees.

The Dispute-to-Lawsuit Pipeline: How an FCRA Claim Works

Most people don't realize that disputing an error is step one of a legal process — not the end of it. Here's how a valid FCRA claim typically develops:

 

Once you submit a written dispute to a credit bureau, the bureau has 30 days to investigate and respond. During that window, they are required to contact the creditor or furnisher that reported the information and verify its accuracy. If the information cannot be verified, it must be corrected or deleted.

 

When the bureau or creditor fails to correct a documented error within that 30-day window — or when they "verify" information that is demonstrably wrong — the FCRA gives you the right to file suit in federal court. That is where our firm comes in. We evaluate whether the dispute was properly submitted, whether the response period was violated, and whether the continued reporting constitutes a willful or negligent violation of the statute.

What Qualifies as an FCRA Violation?

Not every credit report error rises to the level of an FCRA claim — but many do, and clients are often surprised by how broad the statute's reach is. Common violations we see include:

 

  • A discharged debt still reporting as active or delinquent after bankruptcy
  • An account that belongs to someone else appearing on your report
  • Incorrect balances, payment histories, or account statuses
  • A debt reported beyond the seven-year reporting window
  • A creditor re-aging an old debt to make it appear more recent
  • Continued reporting of a disputed item after the investigation period has closed without correction

 

If you've disputed an error and the bureau came back saying the information was "verified" — but nothing changed — that response alone may be enough to support a federal claim.

Two Ways We Can Help Under the FCRA

Credit Report Error Claims

If your credit report contains inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated information, we help you build a proper written dispute record and evaluate whether the response you received — or the silence you got — creates a viable FCRA claim. This includes errors from all three major bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, as well as specialty consumer reporting agencies.

Suing a Debt Collector or Creditor Under the FCRA

When a debt collector or original creditor is the source of the inaccurate information — and they've failed to correct it after being notified — they can be sued directly under the FCRA as a "furnisher" of credit information. This is a separate claim from a credit bureau dispute and can be pursued alongside or independently of bureau-level action.

Cases Involving Bankruptcy Discharge

One of the most common FCRA violations we see involves debts that were discharged in bankruptcy continuing to appear on credit reports as open, delinquent, or in collections. A bankruptcy discharge is a federal court order. Reporting a discharged debt as owed is a factual inaccuracy — and in many cases, a willful one. We handle these claims regularly and know how to build the record needed to pursue them.

Related Claims: FDCPA, TILA, and Debt Defense

FCRA violations frequently occur alongside other consumer protection violations. If a debt collector is also harassing you or using deceptive collection tactics, you may have a parallel claim under the FDCPA. If the underlying account involves a lending disclosure issue, TILA may apply. And if you're being sued on the same account that's being misreported, our debt defense practice handles both sides of that problem in a single engagement.

Hands reviewing a printed report with charts on a wooden desk, with a plant and laptop nearby
Brass balance scale with two hanging pans on a central stand

Why Clients Choose Aronow Law for FCRA Claims

We've been practicing consumer and business debt law for 23 years. FCRA claims sit at the intersection of credit law, federal litigation, and consumer protection — and we handle all three. When you call us, you speak directly with Darren. There's no intake screener, no time limit on the consultation, and no fee to find out whether you have a claim worth pursuing.

 

Our clients come to us after months of failed disputes, ignored letters, and credit scores that won't move despite their best efforts. We review what happened, tell them plainly whether they have a case, and when they do, we pursue it — typically with no out-of-pocket cost to them.

Frequently Asked Questions About FCRA Claims in New York

  • What is the Fair Credit Reporting Act and how does it protect me in New York?

    The FCRA is a federal law that regulates how consumer credit information is collected, reported, and corrected. It applies equally in New York as it does nationwide. It gives you the right to dispute inaccurate information and — critically — the right to sue in federal court when credit bureaus or creditors fail to correct documented errors after a proper dispute.

  • How long does a credit bureau have to respond to my dispute?

    Under the FCRA, credit bureaus generally have 30 days to investigate a dispute and respond. If the disputed information cannot be verified as accurate, they are required to correct or delete it. Failure to do so within that window can give rise to a federal claim.

  • Can I really sue a credit bureau or debt collector over a credit report error?

    Yes. The FCRA expressly authorizes consumers to file suit in federal court against credit bureaus and creditors who violate the statute. If you win, you can recover actual damages, statutory damages up to $1,000 per violation, and attorney fees — meaning the defendant typically pays your legal costs.

  • What if I disputed the error and the bureau said it was verified?

    A "verified" response that leaves demonstrably false information in place is itself a potential FCRA violation. We regularly see cases where a bureau or creditor rubber-stamps a dispute without conducting a genuine investigation. That pattern — dispute submitted, investigation inadequate, error persists — is the factual foundation for many successful FCRA lawsuits.

  • Does an FCRA claim cost anything to pursue?

    In most cases, no. Because the FCRA provides for attorney fee recovery when a consumer prevails, we are often able to take these cases without requiring upfront payment. We evaluate each case individually during the free consultation and will tell you directly how we structure the engagement.

Talk to an FCRA Attorney — No Cost, No Time Limit

If your credit report contains errors that have already cost you a loan, a job, or a place to live — or if you've disputed an error and nothing changed — you may have a federal claim right now. Call us at 516-762-6700 or use the form below to schedule a free consultation. We serve clients throughout Nassau County, Suffolk County, and the New York metro area, and we'll tell you plainly what your options are.