Inspired in part by the Torah’s prohibition of lashon hara, attorney Adam Singer has carved out a legal practice devoted entirely to saving consumers from corporate defamation: false credit reporting, inaccurate background checks, and erroneous tenant screenings.
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His firm, Credit Report Law Group, has brought dozens of successful lawsuits on behalf of individuals with credit report errors or erroneous background checks, usually obtaining monetary compensation. The firm is proud to have recently welcomed attorney Noah Kane, who brings to the practice a wealth of high-level educational experiences and already has developed a notable record helping clients.
Best of all, Credit Report Law Group generally does not charge its clients out-of-pocket. That’s possible because, under the law, if your claim is meritorious, the reporting agencies at fault are required to pay your attorney’s fees. Accordingly, the firm represents the vast majority of their clients on a contingency basis—meaning they are only paid if you win, and they are paid out of the winnings, not out of your pocket.
Even if you have never heard of credit reporting agencies, there’s a good chance they’ve heard of you. If you have a credit card, these agencies have a credit file about you. That report tracks your credit history, looking for things like applications, late payments, and defaults. Credit reports are sold to lenders and other businesses seeking to know your financial health and assess the chances that you will repay a loan or other extension of credit.
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are the best-known credit reporting agencies, and they have been subject to widespread criticism for reporting damaging inaccuracies about people. A bipartisan Congressional investigation this year found “longstanding problems” with these agencies’ practices for responding to consumer disputes.
The Talmud equates lashon hara to murder, because it can lead to murder. The
Chofetz Chaim, in the introduction to his sefer, goes even further, describing how evil speech caused the sin of etz hadaas, slavery in Egypt, the present exile, and countless other calamities. Lashon hara, or even rechilus, on your credit reports may not cause murder, slavery, or exile, but it can be catastrophic for your ability to get a credit card, a car, or a mortgage. Credit report inaccuracies can also lead to higher interest rates on your loans. It is not hard to imagine how those consequences can be life-altering.
Background checks, commonly used when applying for a job or housing, are known to sometimes contain inaccuracies and lashon hara, too. These falsities can constitute bona fide rechilus, like an inaccurate arrest or conviction. Understandably, such mistakes could deprive you of the ability to get a job or decent housing.
All in all, millions of Americans say that their credit reports exhibit inaccuracies. These inaccuracies may be especially common in the frum community, because we often share similar names with neighbors or relatives. That can lead to the credit bureaus mixing the files of two separate consumers. One can imagine the consequences of this all-too-common problem.
Banks may refuse to extend credit to you simply because your credit report falsely includes negative items that belong to another consumer (and thus belong on his or her report and not yours!).
If you haven’t had the chance to check your credit report recently, it may be wise to review your credit reports and scores for any errors. In the words of the Wall Street Journal, “Checking your credit score is an important step in monitoring your financial health.”
To access your credit reports for free, you can visit annualcreditreport.com.
Alternatively, you can purchase your credit reports and scores at myfico.com. The latter, paid option has the advantage of including your credit scores as well, which can help you understand how prospective lenders, employers, and landlords interpret the information on your reports.
Please note that using online services offered directly by the credit bureaus, on Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion’s websites, to obtain your credit reports (or signing up for any of their so-called “credit monitoring” services) may require you to agree to arbitration of any disputes (and a waiver of other key rights), which is something consumers may wish to avoid. Therefore, annualcreditreport.com and myfico.com are often a better choice.
If you need help accessing your free credit reports, you can email Adam and Noah at [email protected].
If you notice any genuine errors on your credit reports or background checks,
especially debts or accounts that do not belong to you, contact Credit Report Law Group for a free consultation. They can be reached at 212-842-2428 or via email at [email protected].
Credit Report Law Group
Law Office of Adam G. Singer, PLLC
NYC: 60 E. 42nd St., Suite 4600, New York, NY 10165
Rockland County: 75 Montebello Road, Suffern, NY 10901
Westchester: 445 Hamilton Ave., Suite 1102, White Plains, New York 10601
212-842-2428
Disclaimer: This article may constitute attorney advertising. Prior results do not is not intended and should not be construed as legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed with this firm until you sign a written engagement letter. Adam Singer is an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of New York and before the federal trial courts in New York (Southern, Eastern, Western, and Northern Districts) as well as the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Noah is an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of New York as well as the State of New Jersey.