Being a victim of identity theft can feel like a living nightmare. Not only will you likely suffer from having your bank account funds depleted and credit cards used, but there may be ramifications that last for months or years.
One of the most common effects of identity theft can be a poor credit report. This is because the actions of the person committing identity theft will have been recorded as your own behavior.
When this does happen, you have the right to dispute this with the credit reporting company. They have the legal duty to review the information that you have disputed and to correct or delete it if they find that your claims are true. However, many victims of identity theft can find that the process of successfully achieving this is difficult.
Your protections under the Fair Credit Reporting Act
The fact that unfair credit reporting has the potential to severely impact lives has been recognized. This is why there are laws in place to protect citizens from incorrect credit reporting. If you have been a victim of identity theft and you are struggling to get a mortgage or a job because of your credit report, it is important that you understand these rights.
First, you should make sure to exercise your right to review your credit report as a victim of identity theft. All credit bureaus and consumer reporting agencies are legally required to provide you with a free copy of your credit report when you request it. You will only have to identify yourself in order to do this.
You also have the right to dispute the information. However, to be successful in this pursuit, you must also make sure that you provide an adequate amount of information. For example, you should be able to show that you were a victim of identity theft and that this incident caused the details you are disputing.
If you are feeling frustrated because of errors on your credit report in the state of Minnesota, it is important that you take action so that you can move forward.
