As leading consumer protection lawyers in Seattle, we understand the challenges facing Washington consumers today. If you’ve suffered losses as a result of inaccurate or incomplete credit reporting, you have legal recourse. Contact By Design Law to learn more.

For most people, making a big purchase (such as a new vehicle or home) requires some sort of financial assistance. Fortunately, securing a loan is typically easy enough—as long as you have good credit. Without it, your ability to buy the things you need can be extremely difficult.

Although credit reporting agencies (CRAs) play an important role in protecting both consumers and lenders, they aren’t infallible. Their reports sometimes contain inaccuracies that have the potential to severely limit a consumer’s ability to secure the financing they need and deserve. When this happens, consumers have recourse under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and related state protections.

This article will explain everything that consumers in Washington State need to know about their rights under federal and state fair credit reporting laws, including key tenets of the WFCRA, important rights afforded to consumers, and how an experienced consumer protection attorney can help navigate their legal options.

What Is the Washington Fair Credit Reporting Act?

The Washington Fair Credit Reporting Act compliments the FCRA by providing Washington residents with a number of additional protections related to credit reporting. These safeguards reflect the specific needs of consumers in Washington, including provisions on credit freezes, dispute resolution, and accuracy in reporting.

In essence, the WFCRA exists to safeguard consumers from credit report inaccuracies that could harm their ability to secure credit, housing, employment, and insurance. This law achieves this by setting standards for data collection, use, and distribution, ensuring that CRAs and related entities operate in a fair and transparent manner.

Consumer Rights Under the WFCRA

The WFCRA enhances the protections provided in the FCRA by focusing on accuracy, privacy, and fairness in Washington consumers’ credit reports. It confers several key rights to Washington residents, including the following:

• The right to access credit reports. Washington residents have the right to obtain a free copy of their credit report from each reporting agency every 12 months. Although this right is outlined in the FCRA, it is specifically reinforced by the WFCRA.

• The right to dispute inaccuracies. Consumers have the right to dispute reporting accuracies and incomplete information. After filing a dispute, the credit reporting agency is obligated to investigate and correct reporting issues within 30 days.

• The right to a credit freeze. Washington consumers can place a credit freeze on their reports, which essentially stops reporting agencies from releasing their report or information contained without explicit consent from the consumer. This right is an important tool in protecting against identity theft and unauthorized credit inquiries.

• The right to know when credit information is used against them. Under the WFCRA, consumers have the right to be notified when they are denied credit, employment, insurance, or housing based on information in their credit report. The law also outlines the specific information that must be provided in the notification.

• The right to additional free credit reports (in certain circumstances). Under specific conditions, consumers may be entitled to additional free credit reports. For example, an individual may be able to obtain additional free credit reports if they are the victim of identity theft, are on public assistance, or are unemployed and intend to apply for employment within 60 days.

• The right to seek damages for violations. Washington consumers who are harmed by any party’s violation of the WFCRA may seek damages against the violating entity. These damages include compensation for harm suffered, attorney’s costs, legal fees, and, potentially, punitive damages if the court deems the violation was willful.

• The right to a security freeze. The WFCRA outlines specific provisions for allowing a representative of a protected consumer to place a security freeze on the protected person’s report. This right offers additional protections for individuals who may be especially vulnerable to credit fraud.

In summary, the WFCRA emphasizes several key consumer rights, including the rights to dispute inaccuracies, access credit reports, and freeze credit reporting. By offering rights that extend beyond federal law, the WFCRA underscores Washington’s commitment to consumer protection. When a consumer’s rights are violated, it’s critical that they work alongside an experienced consumer protection attorney to seek justice.

The Role of Consumer Protection Attorneys

Consumer protection lawyers play a pivotal role in safeguarding the rights outlined in the WFCRA. Specifically, they take on the following roles within the WFCRA framework:

• Consumer education. Consumer protection attorneys educate consumers by providing rights awareness and preventative advice, including tips for protecting credit information and avoiding identity theft and fraud.

• Dispute assistance. Attorneys can assist consumers in filing disputes with CRAs and monitoring CRAs’ compliance with investigation proceedings.

• Legal representation. These legal professionals can provide representation in lawsuits against CRAs, related entities, and others who violate the WFCRA. They can help you seek damages for violations, negotiate fair settlements, and more.

• Enforcement. Your attorney can initiate enforcement actions against the entity that violated the WFCRA and help you participate in class action lawsuits involving other affected consumers.

• Identify theft recovery. If your identity was stolen, an experienced consumer protection attorney can help you navigate the recovery process, including credit freezes, fraud alerts, transaction disputes, and more. They can also help you pursue legal action against the perpetrators or parties that enabled the identity theft.

This is not an exhaustive list, but rather a few of many important tasks your attorney can handle. Unsure about how to move forward with your case? Consult a trusted Seattle consumer protection lawyer to find clarity.



By Design Law: Trusted Consumer Protection Attorneys in Seattle

If you have been negatively affected by inaccurate or incomplete credit reporting, you deserve justice. The attorneys at By Design Law are here to help you navigate the legal process from start to finish. Schedule a consultation to speak with a compassionate legal representative about your situation.