Credit Errors After Bankruptcy
Credit Errors After Bankruptcy — Florida Attorney for Post-Bankruptcy Credit Reporting Problems
Your debts were discharged. Your credit report should reflect that.
If it doesn’t — that’s a legal violation, and I can help fix it.
When you complete a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the law says your creditors must update your accounts to show:
- $0 balance
- Included in bankruptcy
- Discharged(after completion)
But for thousands of people, that doesn’t happen.
I’m Max Story, a Florida consumer protection and credit reporting attorney. I help clients who have completed bankruptcy but still see incorrect or damaging information on their credit report.
These post-bankruptcy credit errors are some of the most common — and most harmful — mistakes I correct.
Common Credit Reporting Errors After Bankruptcy
Credit bureaus and creditors commonly report information incorrectly after bankruptcy. Here are the top mistakes I see:
1. Discharged debts still showing a balance
This is the most common violation. A creditor reports that you still owe money even after it was wiped out.
2. Showing accounts as “late” or “charged off” after discharge
They can report accurate historical late payments — but no creditor can report ongoing delinquency after bankruptcy.
3. Accounts not marked as “included in bankruptcy”
If this correction is missing, the debt appears active.
4. Re-aged or re-opened accounts
Some collectors “re-age” debts to make them look newer — this is illegal.
5. Duplicate or merged accounts
Especially when multiple collectors report the same debt.
6. Reporting a balance or status different from the bankruptcy schedules
Any conflict can damage your creditworthiness.
If you see ANY of these after bankruptcy, you may be entitled to compensation under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Why These Errors Hurt You Financially
Incorrect post-bankruptcy reporting can:
- Lower your credit score
- Block mortgage approvals
- Prevent refinancing
- Increase insurance premiums
- Lead to job denials (credit-based employment checks)
- Trigger higher interest rates
- Keep you from rebuilding your life financially
You did the hard part — you completed bankruptcy.
Your credit should give you a fresh start.
Why Credit Errors After Bankruptcy Happen
These mistakes are rarely intentional. Instead, they happen because:
- Creditors use outdated reporting systems
- Lenders outsource credit updates to third-party processors
- Bureaus don’t investigate disputes properly
- Data “furnishers” fail to reflect bankruptcy discharge
- Automated systems override corrections
- Debt buyers receive incomplete data
- Bureaus mix your file with someone else’s (merged files)
No matter the cause, the law requires them to fix it.
Your Rights Under the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act)
After you dispute an error, the credit bureaus must:
- Investigate
- Correct inaccuracies
- Delete unverified information
- Notify creditors
- Update all three bureaus
If they fail, you have grounds for an FCRA lawsuit, where you can recover:
- Actual damages (financial harm)
- Emotional distress damages
- Statutory damages
- Punitive damages
- Attorney fees
You pay nothing out of pocket.
The defendant pays legal fees if they’re wrong.
How I Fix Post-Bankruptcy Credit Reporting Errors
Here’s my step-by-step process:
01
Review all three credit reports
I identify every error and compare the data to your bankruptcy schedules.
02
Prepare legally effective disputes
These are stronger than online disputes because they create a paper trail and force real reinvestigation.
03
Demand corrections from creditors and collectors
I deal directly with banks, lenders, debt buyers, and collectors.
04
File FCRA lawsuits (if the errors aren’t fixed)
If the bureaus or creditors refuse to correct the mistakes, I sue them.
Most cases settle quickly, and you owe nothing upfront.
When You Should Call a Credit Reporting Attorney
You should reach out immediately if:
- Your mortgage application was denied
- A lender told you your report “still shows debt after bankruptcy”
- You can’t rebuild credit because your score is artificially low
- A creditor keeps reporting a balance you don’t owe
- Your disputes came back “verified” even though the info is wrong
- The errors are affecting your job, housing, or insurance
These cases are extremely strong under the FCRA — especially bankruptcy-related errors.
Why Story Law Group Is the Right Firm to Help
I’ve handled many post-bankruptcy credit reporting cases throughout Florida, and they’re one of my core practice areas.
Clients choose my firm because:
- I understand the connection between bankruptcy law and FCRA law
- I know how credit bureaus and furnishers behave
- I’ve successfully sued major credit bureaus and lenders
- I give personal attention to every case
- You never pay out of pocket
Your “fresh start” shouldn’t be ruined by credit errors.
Free Consultation: Fix Credit Errors After Bankruptcy
If your credit report is still wrong after bankruptcy, you don’t have to fix it alone.
📞 Call now for a free consultation
Let’s get your credit report corrected — and your financial life back where it should be.