Randi P. West v. Thomas Andrw Addleman, L.L.C., d/b/a Credit Law Center, LLC

Hannibal, Missouri consumer credit lawyer represented the Plaintiff who sued the Defendant on a consumer credit law violation theory.



"Consumer credit reporting law is a complex area of law that governs the collection, use, and disclosure of consumer credit information. The primary federal law in this area is the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).



The FCRA protects consumers by:



Requiring credit reporting agencies (CRAs) to report accurate and up-to-date information.

Limiting who can access consumer credit reports and for what purposes.

Giving consumers the right to review their credit reports and dispute inaccurate information.



CRAs are companies that collect and compile consumer credit information, such as credit history, employment history, and income information. CRAs sell this information to businesses, such as lenders, insurers, and employers, to help them make decisions about whether to extend credit, insurance, or employment to a consumer.



The FCRA limits who can access consumer credit reports and for what purposes. For example, a CRA cannot provide a consumer's credit report to a business without the consumer's consent. Additionally, a business can only obtain a consumer's credit report for certain permissible purposes, such as considering a credit application, insurance application, or employment application.



Consumers have the right to review their credit reports and dispute inaccurate information. Consumers can obtain a free copy of their credit report from each of the three major CRAs once per year at annualcreditreport.com. Consumers can also dispute inaccurate information on their credit reports by contacting the CRA directly.



If a CRA fails to comply with the FCRA, consumers may be able to file a lawsuit against the CRA. Consumers may also be able to file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the federal agency that enforces the FCRA.



Here are some additional things to know about consumer credit reporting law:



Credit reports can only contain information that is relevant to a consumer's creditworthiness.

Negative information on a credit report must be removed after a certain period of time, such as seven years for most negative information and ten years for bankruptcies.

Consumers have the right to request that a CRA place a fraud alert on their credit reports if they believe that they have been victims of identity theft.

Consumers have the right to request that a CRA place a security freeze on their credit reports, which will prevent anyone from accessing their credit reports without their consent.



If you have any questions about consumer credit reporting law or your rights under the law, you can contact the CFPB at 1-855-411-CFPB (1-855-411-2372) or visit their website at https://www.consumerfinance.gov."



Google Bard

10/27/2023 14 Docket Text ORDER: The Court orders that this case is dismissed without prejudice, pursuant to the [doc # 13 ] Plaintiff's NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal without Prejudice. Signed by Magistrate Judge Patricia L. Cohen on 10/27/2023. (CLT) (Entered: 10/27/2023)