3 ms·

> Other entities should not be allowed to keep or trade information about individuals without paying them directly. To be the devils advocate for a moment, wha

> Other entities should not be allowed to keep or trade information about individuals without paying them directly. To be the devils advocate for a moment, what about the other side of that? Should businesses not be able to keep and share records saying "This person owes us money but refuses to pay"?

razakel 9y ago
>Should businesses not be able to keep and share records saying "This person owes us money but refuses to pay"? No, because you would have practically no recourse if you were wrongly on such a list, and might not be able to prove you even were on it or that it exists. It's called "blacklisting". You have a common name and share a birthday with a felon? Say goodbye to your chances of getting a credit card!
- Spooky23 9y ago
  The biggest issue there is for screening for guns and some employment screening. If you’re name is John Smith, good luck!
- astura 9y ago
  That's not how credit reporting laws work the United States. It's true that they could/should be stronger/tightened/held to a higher standard, but there is a process to dispute your credit file. Creditors are legally required to give you certain information when they deny you for credit.
  - CaptSpify 9y ago
    That is not how the credit reporting laws work, but it's how the system works. That process is extremely flawed and unreliable. Have you ever tried disputing your credit? good fucking luck. I've been arguing with Equifax for over a year because they "have it on record" that I lived somewhere that I've never lived. I have no legal recourse unless I want to spend thousands of dollars on lawyer fees.
    - bdhess 9y ago
      You shouldn't need a lawyer to pursue them. Assuming you're within the time periods prescribed in the FCRA, you can file your own complaint in your local small claims court. Before that, I'd send them a letter clearly marked "Notice of Intent to Sue" (on the letter and envelope) stating what information is incorrect, and that you plan to file a suit in [insert name of small claims court] on [insert reasonable date] seeking $1,000 in damages for each violation per 15 USC 1681(n), unless the disputed information is removed before that date. And enclose any supporting documentation, and history of previous fruitless correspondence. IANAL, but this has worked for me before with the credit bureaus, and I've never actually had to file the threatened suit. My best guess is that threatening litigation gets the case assigned to a legal team that is actually empowered to correct errors. It's a shame that that's how they've chosen to run their business, but then again, I'm not their customer, I'm their product.

razakel 9y ago

>Should businesses not be able to keep and share records saying "This person owes us money but refuses to pay"? No, because you would have practically no recourse if you were wrongly on such a list, and might not be able to prove you even were on it or that it exists. It's called "blacklisting". You have a common name and share a birthday with a felon? Say goodbye to your chances of getting a credit card!

Spooky23 9y ago
The biggest issue there is for screening for guns and some employment screening. If you’re name is John Smith, good luck!
astura 9y ago
That's not how credit reporting laws work the United States. It's true that they could/should be stronger/tightened/held to a higher standard, but there is a process to dispute your credit file. Creditors are legally required to give you certain information when they deny you for credit.
- CaptSpify 9y ago
  That is not how the credit reporting laws work, but it's how the system works. That process is extremely flawed and unreliable. Have you ever tried disputing your credit? good fucking luck. I've been arguing with Equifax for over a year because they "have it on record" that I lived somewhere that I've never lived. I have no legal recourse unless I want to spend thousands of dollars on lawyer fees.
  - bdhess 9y ago
    You shouldn't need a lawyer to pursue them. Assuming you're within the time periods prescribed in the FCRA, you can file your own complaint in your local small claims court. Before that, I'd send them a letter clearly marked "Notice of Intent to Sue" (on the letter and envelope) stating what information is incorrect, and that you plan to file a suit in [insert name of small claims court] on [insert reasonable date] seeking $1,000 in damages for each violation per 15 USC 1681(n), unless the disputed information is removed before that date. And enclose any supporting documentation, and history of previous fruitless correspondence. IANAL, but this has worked for me before with the credit bureaus, and I've never actually had to file the threatened suit. My best guess is that threatening litigation gets the case assigned to a legal team that is actually empowered to correct errors. It's a shame that that's how they've chosen to run their business, but then again, I'm not their customer, I'm their product.