Know your rights
The rules are on your side. Here's what they say.
Two federal laws — the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act — exist to protect you. Here's what they actually give you, explained like a person, not a statute book.
First, a little context
Here's the short version of a long story: back in the day, credit bureaus and debt collectors could pretty much say and do whatever they wanted, and regular people had no real way to push back.
Congress responded with two laws — the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Together they set the rules for how your credit information is handled and how collectors are allowed to treat you. Most people have never read them. That's fine — that's what I'm here for. But knowing your rights changes how it feels to be on the receiving end.
Spot something wrong on your credit report?
Your credit report follows you everywhere — mortgages, car loans, apartments, even jobs. And here's the uncomfortable truth: credit reports contain errors far more often than anyone admits. When you find one, the law gives you a real path to fix it. Here's what you're entitled to.
See your own report
You have the right to a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major bureaus every year.
Dispute what's wrong
You have the right to dispute anything on your report you believe is wrong — inaccurate, incomplete, or not yours.
A real investigation
The credit bureaus must investigate your dispute, generally within about 30 days, and correct or delete information they can't verify.
Hold them accountable
If a bureau or the company that reported the information won't correct a verified error, you have the right to take them to court — and recover damages.
What to do
Pull your reports from all three bureaus — errors love to hide in just one of them.
Dispute the error in writing with each bureau that shows it, and keep copies of everything you send.
Give them time to investigate — about 30 days. Save their responses.
If the error survives a proper dispute, talk to me. That's often the strongest moment to bring in a lawyer.
If you disputed an error and the bureaus either ignored you or came back with a form letter, that's usually when a lawyer can help. You don't have to keep writing letters into the void.
The phone won't stop ringing?
Owing money doesn't strip you of your dignity. Debt collectors are regulated by federal law, and a surprising amount of what they routinely do is illegal. Knowing where the line is drawn changes everything.
What to do
Ask for the collector's name, company, address, and the debt they claim you owe. Write it all down.
If you don't recognize the debt, dispute it in writing within 30 days of their first written notice.
If the calls won't stop, send a written request that they stop contacting you — and keep a copy.
If they keep breaking the rules, save the evidence and talk to me. Every violation can matter.
Keep a simple log: date, time, number, what was said. Notes you take while it's happening are powerful evidence later.
Respectful contact only
Collectors generally can't call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., and can't harass, oppress, or abuse you — ever.
Your privacy is protected
They can't call you at work if they know your employer doesn't allow it, and they generally can't discuss your debt with your family, friends, or employer.
You can say stop
You can stop most contact in writing. After that, they can generally only reach you in limited ways — like confirming they won't contact you again or telling you about a specific legal action.
Written proof required
Within five days of first contacting you, they must send a written notice stating how much you allegedly owe and to whom — and you have the right to dispute it in writing within 30 days.
No lies, no threats
They can't lie — about the amount, the consequences, who they are, or whether you'll be arrested. False threats and fake paperwork are violations, not scare tactics.
Someone stole your identity?
Someone stole your information, opened accounts in your name, and left you with the wreckage. Cleaning it up is supposed to be the credit bureaus' job — but too often, victims spend years fighting to clear their own names. You shouldn't have to.
Flag your file
You have the right to place a fraud alert on your credit reports, which tells creditors to take extra steps to verify identity before opening new accounts.
Freeze your credit
You have the right to a security freeze on your credit reports — free in every state — which locks your credit until you choose to unfreeze it.
Block the fake accounts
You have the right to block information resulting from identity theft from appearing on your credit report, once you provide proper proof.
Get the evidence
You have the right to copies of records related to the fraud — applications, statements, transactions — from the businesses involved, which you'll need to prove the accounts weren't yours.
What to do
File a report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov and with your local police — these reports are your foundation.
Place fraud alerts and freezes with all three credit bureaus right away.
Dispute every fraudulent account and inquiry in writing with each bureau, including your identity theft report.
If bureaus or companies won't remove information they shouldn't have, talk to me — the law has teeth for exactly this.
Report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov and get an FTC Identity Theft Report — it's free and it strengthens every dispute you file afterward.
Think your rights were violated?
If any of this sounds like your situation, a short conversation can tell you where you stand. It's free, it's confidential, and there's no obligation.