Experian RentBureau Dispute
I lead the Consumer Finance practice at our firm. Practice areas are: credit reporting errors, background check errors, deceased reporting etc.
Errors on your Experian RentBureau credit report can significantly impact your ability to rent a home. That’s why it’s crucial to address any misinformation as soon as possible. Below is what you need to know about the Experian RentBureau dispute process.
What is Experian RentBureau?
Experian RentBureau is one of the major credit reporting agencies that gathers data on rental payments made by tenants. This information is collected from property management companies and landlords who provide details on tenants' payment activity monthly.
Experian RentBureau then organizes this data into credit reports that landlords use to assess potential renters. If you have a good rental payment history, you stand a better chance of being approved. However, credit reports can also contain negative items like late payments or rent balances that are unpaid, which are less desirable.
It is essential to review your RentBureau record frequently and challenge any errors before they affect your renting prospects.
Obtaining Your Experian RentBureau Report
First, get a copy of your report from RentBureau and check it for any mistakes. Here are a few ways to access your report:
- Visit the Experian RentBureau website and request a credit report online.
- You can also request a copy by phone at the toll-free number 1-877-704-4519.
- Some online tenant screening companies provide free Experian RentBureau reports when you sign up for their tenant screening services. These reports are considered “educational” and may contain limited data.
Whether you receive the report directly or through a service, it is critical to review it in its entirety and challenge any inaccurate data.
Checking Your RentBureau Report for Inaccuracies
After obtaining your Experian RentBureau report, take the time to look over each section to search for mistakes or discrepancies. Key areas to review include:
Key Area - Details to Review
- Employment Information: Look for current and previous employers, salary and wage information, dates of employment, and personal identification details.
- Rental History: Check if the list of all your former addresses is correct and that move-in and out dates, as well as monthly rents, are correct.
- Rent Payment History: Ensure that each month reflects the correct status of your rental payments. Delinquent payments, outstanding rent balances, or collection accounts will be flagged. It’s also important to ensure that any negative payment statuses are accurate and not the result of fraudulent activities.
- Bankruptcy: Check for any listed bankruptcies, court judgments, or liens to ensure they belong to you and have been reported accurately.
- Inquiries: This section lists requests made by landlords or rental firms that have used your report. Make sure you can identify all the listings as companies where you have applied for rentals.
If you find any errors, you should contact lawyers for consumer protection. An attorney can help you request corrections, including fixing incorrect personal data, omitting rental history, incorrect payment statuses, unauthorized credit checks, or other mistakes.
Challenging Errors on Your RentBureau Report
As per the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), credit agencies like Experian RentBureau are required to reinvestigate disputed items and make the necessary adjustments. Check out how you can challenge erroneous information:
- Identify the Inaccuracies: Review each section of your report and highlight the areas you wish to dispute.
- Compile Documents to Support Your Case: For rental payment issues, collect previous rent receipts, copies of money orders, bank statements, and written correspondence or emails from your rental office if payments were made in full.
- Dispute with Experian RentBureau: Mail a letter disputing each inaccurate data point on your report and provide copies of the supporting documents. You can mail your letter to the RentBureau dispute address or dispute online. Certified mail is usually best to maintain rights you will need.
- Investigation by Experian: Experian RentBureau will then contact your property managers or landlords related to the disputed entries to verify the information. Rental companies have 30 days to respond, either confirming the accuracy or making necessary adjustments.
- Receive the Amended Report: Once the investigation is complete, if the contested data is verified, it will remain on your report. However, errors that are confirmed must be corrected or deleted. Experian RentBureau will send you a copy of the updated report reflecting any changes.
The goal is to provide comprehensive and accurate information in your initial dispute letter to ensure the rental sources have all the details they need to correct their entries in the databases that feed into your credit report.
If errors persist after the investigation and the updated report, you can file additional disputes in the same manner. The FCRA allows consumers to dispute credit report information as many times as needed. Persistence is key.
Improving Your Rental Prospects
Managing mistakes on an Experian RentBureau report can be challenging, but correcting errors is crucial for improving your rental prospects. Landlords heavily rely on payment history information from tenant screening reports when evaluating applications. Several non-payments or even a few late payments can lead to instant rejection.
On the other hand, positive rental payment activity combined with a clean background screening can increase your chances of lease approval, potentially without the need for a deposit. By checking your RentBureau report regularly and contesting any negative entries as soon as you notice them, you maintain control over the first impression property managers have when you apply for a rental. It’s vital to keep positive and accurate payment information to avoid issues when securing an apartment.
Therefore, it’s wise to check your Experian RentBureau report every few months or before starting a new apartment search. Challenge any inconsistencies that might hinder your rental approval. These proactive measures help establish a good rental history, leading to more leasing options.