Miss. sues credit-reporting firm, alleging errors
Source: AP-Excite
By JEFF HORWITZ
WASHINGTON (AP) Mississippi has sued Experian, the world's largest firm that collects detailed information about consumers to evaluate their financial trustworthiness. The lawsuit and a separate investigation of the industry by 32 other states led by Ohio represent a significant new legal challenge to the industry over allegations of paperwork errors and violations of consumer protection laws.
Errors can jeopardize people's ability to get loans and pass job-related background checks. Experian has even wrongly reported that consumers are on a federal terrorism watch list, the lawsuit alleges.
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood's complaint accuses Experian Information Solutions of knowingly including error-riddled data in the credit files of millions of Americans, jeopardizing their ability to obtain loans, employment-related background checks and sensitive government security clearances.
The lawsuit against Experian was filed without fanfare last month in a Biloxi state courthouse and transferred to Mississippi federal court late last week.
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140616/us--credit_firm_lawsuit-7f2c7428da.html
FILE - This May 6, 2013 file photo shows Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood speaking in Jackson, Miss. Mississippi has sued credit reporting giant Experian, alleging sweeping errors in the company{2019}s data and routine violations of consumer protection laws. Mississippi{2019}s action _ and a previously unreported multi-state investigation of credit bureaus led by Ohio _ represent a significant new legal challenge to the industry. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Gormy Cuss
(30,884 posts)Placing stricter controls on credit reporting companies is long overdue.
I hope the states prevail.
enlightenment
(8,830 posts)It is long past time that a push-back started against these private, for-profit companies that hold people hostage to their shoddy practices.
Red State Rebel
(2,903 posts)I have debts listed for an address I never lived at and I'm supposed to jump through hoops to prove that I never lived there. ?????
catrose
(5,077 posts)But I'm peeved that the I can't sue them, but the state can. I keep a stack of my husband's lien releases, because no matter how many times I have them removed from our credit files, the companies check the county files and say, oh, look, LIENS! and never look at the releases at all, because no one's ever held them accountable for reporting the wrong stuff. UNTIL NOW!
And it came out of Mississippi. I'd never have thunk it. Thank you, Mr. AG.
SansACause
(520 posts)He's the only Democrat to hold a statewide office from Texas to Florida.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Wonder if some Puke types will try to get him to back off picking on poor, poor Experian?
Dustlawyer
(10,499 posts)prosecute, then he went silent all of the sudden. I think he thought it would be a bad career move all of the sudden.