You did the hard part.
The rest should not be your problem.
If you are enrolled in a debt settlement or credit repair program and creditors, collectors, or credit bureaus are not reflecting your progress accurately, federal law protects you. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) provide real remedies, including damages and attorney fee-shifting, so pursuing your rights typically costs you nothing out of pocket.
You held up your end of the deal. If creditors, collectors, or credit bureaus are not reflecting your progress accurately, an attorney will review your situation within one business day.
Fee-shifting statutes require the defendant to pay attorney fees when you prevail.
- Settled debts still showing as open or delinquent on your credit report
- Collectors contacting you about debts that were already resolved
- Credit bureaus ignoring your disputes or returning form-letter responses
- New collectors appearing on debts you thought were settled
- Background checks showing outdated debt information
Free & Confidential Case Review
Takes about two minutes. No obligation.
Your case review has been submitted.
An attorney will contact you within one business day.
What to Do Right Now
- Register your number at donotcall.gov if you have not already.
- Do not delete any calls, texts, or voicemails from your phone.
- Every time they call again, note the date, time, and number.
- If they call again after submitting this form, that is a new potential violation. Write it down.
- If they leave a voicemail, do not delete it and do not call back using the number they leave.
- If any of the calls are from companies trying to collect a debt you owe (not just offering services), note that separately. Debt collection calls may be covered by additional federal law and could affect how we approach your case.
Evidence handling: When an attorney contacts you, we will provide a secure way to share voicemail audio and screenshots. Please do not email sensitive files to us until we have confirmed representation.
Questions? Call (914) 809-0179 or email inquiries@rausarusso.com
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Phone: (914) 809-0179
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How It Works
1
Tell Us What Happened
Free consultation. No obligation. Completely confidential.
2
We Review Your Records
We pull your credit reports and compare them against your settlement records.
3
We Hold Them Accountable
If there are violations, we pursue claims. No out-of-pocket cost to you.
What the Law Says
Two federal statutes provide strong protections for consumers who have completed debt settlement or credit repair programs:
- The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), 15 U.S.C. § 1681 requires credit bureaus and furnishers to report accurate information. A settled debt reported as open or delinquent is inaccurate. If you disputed it and they failed to investigate properly, that is a violation.
- The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 prohibits debt collectors from using unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices. A collector pursuing a debt that was already settled may be violating this law.
Both statutes include fee-shifting provisions. This means that if you prevail, the defendant is required to pay your attorney fees and costs. This is what makes it possible to pursue your rights at no out-of-pocket cost.
Damages Available
Under the FCRA and FDCPA, consumers whose rights have been violated may recover:
| Damage Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Actual damages (FCRA/FDCPA) | Compensation for harm caused: denied credit, higher rates, lost housing or employment, emotional distress |
| Statutory damages | Up to $1,000 per action (FCRA willful) or up to $1,000 per action (FDCPA) |
| Attorney fees and costs | The defendant pays your attorney fees when you prevail (fee-shifting) |
Both the FCRA and FDCPA are fee-shifting statutes. This means you pay nothing out of pocket. The defendant pays your attorney fees and costs when you prevail.
We Go After the Companies That Will Not Respect Your Progress
We hold accountable the creditors, collectors, debt buyers, and credit bureaus that fail to accurately reflect what you accomplished. The companies we pursue include:
- Credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) that fail to investigate disputes properly or refuse to correct inaccurate information
- Original creditors that continue to report inaccurate information after a debt has been settled
- Debt buyers that purchase old debts and report or collect on accounts without accurate records
- Collection agencies that pursue debts that have already been resolved through settlement
- Background check companies that report outdated or inaccurate debt information
Learn more about credit reporting rights (FCRA) → Debt collection rights (FDCPA) →
Documentation Strengthens Your Case
You do not need all of this to contact us, but the more you have, the stronger your position. Here is where to start.
Settlement Records
- Settlement letters or agreements showing the debt was resolved
- Payment confirmations or bank statements showing payments made
- Correspondence with your debt settlement or credit repair company
Credit Reports and Disputes
- Pull your credit reports from annualcreditreport.com (free)
- Save copies of any disputes you filed and the responses you received
- Note which accounts still show incorrect information after settlement
Collector Communications
- Save letters, voicemails, or call records from any collector contacting you about a settled debt
- Note dates, amounts demanded, and the name of the company
Finished Your Program but Still Facing Problems?
If creditors, collectors, or credit bureaus are not accurately reflecting your progress, you may have claims under the FCRA and FDCPA. Contact Rausa Russo Law for a free consultation.