Did you hear about the woman who sued Equifax for $18 million because they wouldn’t fix errors on her credit report even after she diligently stayed on top of them for two years? 

Having black marks on your files could mean denial of job offers, higher interest rates on loans, higher insurance rates or outright denials for credit. Disputing an error on your credit report is difficult, but it can be done. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

• File your dispute at the same time with both the credit issuer and the credit bureau.

• Do not use the automated system to dispute. Always use the manual form.

• Send all documents by certified mail, return receipt requested.

• If the problem is not fixed, re-dispute it with the bureau and the credit issuers.

If that fails, you must sue both the credit issuer and the credit bureau in small claims court. Talk to a clerk of court for guidance on the process.

Find out where their registered agent is in the state by calling your state’s corporation commission. Then serve them with the suit.

Know that most of the time, the offenders will usually cave before the court date and remove the black mark from your report.

If all else fails, contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for help.

It’s important to note that you must use the manual dispute form. Because you can send all the supporting documents in the world and the credit bureau won’t pass them on when they get in touch with the credit issuer. 

Remember, it is your right under the law to see your reports once each year for free through AnnualCreditReport.com.

Consumer expert Clark Howard’s column appears here each Thursday in conjunction with Deal Spotter, a weekly print section in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Find more answers to your consumer questions at Clark's website.

-- Clark Howard -- Save More, Spend Less, Avoid Rip-offs -- for the Atlanta Bargain Hunter blog

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