why would the texas attorney general check my credit

Is the state of Texas enforcing the law prohibiting credit card surcharges?

The Office of the Attorney General is required by law to report the amount of child support owed and the amount paid to the credit reporting agencies. Lottery Intercept Lottery prizes issued by the Texas Comptroller's Office are subject to being intercepted and applied toward child, medical and dental support arrears.

How to pay child support in Texas with a credit card?

Jan 06, 2022 · About This Guide. This guide was created to provide information about credit reporting. Here you will find relevant Texas and federal laws and links to websites that provide information about credit reports in "plain English". This includes information on fixing credit report errors, credit repair, and locating your personal credit information.

What are the signs of a fake debt collection company in Texas?

Learn more about your debts by getting your free annual credit report here. Note: When you get your credit report, review it carefully for false, outdated, or inaccurate entries. How to Spot Debt Collection Scams. Texas consumers have reported many tactics used by debt collection scammers. These scammers can be very convincing, which is why you ...

How do I check my credit report for late payments?

If someone calls, texts, emails, or mails you asking for your personal information—e.g., social security number, credit card number, bank account info, passwords—DO NOT GIVE IT TO THEM.Even if they appear to be a known company or claim to be from a trusted source, they may be scamming you in order to steal your identity or money.

How do I get rid of paid collections?

The simplest and most direct method of getting a paid collections account removed from your credit report is to simply write your creditor a goodwill letter asking them to remove this account from your credit history. This may or may not work, depending most likely upon the size of the account and when you paid it off.Sep 3, 2021

What does it mean when credit report is suppressed?

A credit file suppression helps if you think your identity may have been stolen. If you have reasonable grounds to believe you have been or are likely to be a victim of fraud, you can request a suppression on your credit report.

Can debt collectors remove items from credit report?

Under section 809 of The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, collection agencies are required to validate debts they are attempting to collect, if you request that they do so. ... If they are unable to validate the debt, you can ask them to remove it from your credit report.Sep 16, 2021

Can you sue a company for checking your credit?

If you believe that somebody wrongfully pulled your credit report, you might be able to sue them in state or federal court for damages. Your state's laws may also offer additional relief and remedies.

What is a suppression request?

Such requests are referred to as "Information Suppressions." LexisNexis permits individuals to have certain personal information about themselves suppressed from LexisNexis public records that are available to the general public over the Internet.

Why is my Equifax score suppressed?

If you believe that you have been, or may be likely to become, a victim of fraud, you can request that Equifax 'suppress' or 'freeze' your credit report, thereby making it less likely that another person might fraudulently obtain new credit in your name.

What is a goodwill deletion?

The goodwill deletion request letter is based on the age-old principle that everyone makes mistakes. It is, simply put, the practice of admitting a mistake to a lender and asking them not to penalize you for it. Obviously, this usually works only with one-time, low-level items like 30-day late payments.Sep 12, 2015

How much will my credit score increase if negative item is removed?

Unfortunately, paid collections don't automatically mean an increase in credit score. But if you managed to get the accounts deleted on your report, you can see up to 150 points increase.Nov 20, 2020

Can I call a creditor to remove negative?

In general, accurate information cannot be removed from a credit report. ... Negative account information, such as late payments and charge offs, remain on the report for 7 years from the original delinquency date.Jul 18, 2017

Can I sue a company for ruining my credit?

If a credit bureau, creditor, or someone else violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can sue. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you have a right to the fair and accurate reporting of your credit information.

How often can a collection agency pull my credit?

“In general, debt collectors would only pull a credit report once, either at the time they receive the account or at the time they are negotiating repayment options such as a settlement,” says Nick Jarman, president and COO of Delta Outsource Group, and a Credit.com contributor.Oct 13, 2015

What is a FCRA violation?

If someone pulls your credit report for an impermissible purpose, then it might be a violation of the FCRA. ... your employer pulls your credit report without your permission, or. a creditor on a debt you discharged in bankruptcy pulls your credit report to check out your current financial activity.

What is the FCRA?

From the FTC: "The Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) governs the collection, assembly, and use of consumer report information and provides the framework for the credit reporting system in the United States.". Texas Business and Commerce Code, Chapter 20. Discusses the Regulation of Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies.

What is a credit report brochure?

This brochure from the National Consumer Law Center provides consumers a general overview of credit reports.

How do debt collection scams work?

How Debt Collection Scams Work. It's very simple: Someone contacts you — often by phone, but also by text message, fax, mail or email — and claims that you owe a debt. The debt may be completely fake, canceled, discharged, forgiven or beyond the period for collection. In any case, the scammer will use all sorts of techniques to get you ...

Do debt collectors know your information?

Real debt collectors already know much of your information — e.g., how much you owe, your address, social security number, birthday, etc. But debt collection scammers probably don't have all of your info already, so they'll ask for it. If they don't seem to know enough about you, there's a good chance they're a scammer.

How to avoid a debt collection scam?

One of the surest ways to avoid a debt collection scam is to know all of your real or valid debt. If someone contacts you about a debt you owe, you can quickly identify whether it's real or fake.

Can a debt collector lie?

Scammers like to use intimidation and fear to get payments. You won't go to jail for your debt, so if the collector says that you will, they're lying.

Can you go to jail for a debt collector?

You won't go to jail for your debt, so if the collector says that you will, they're lying. You also can’t be sued in any county other than where you lived when you signed the contract or at the time the lawsuit was filed. Break off contact with them and file a complaint.

Do real debt collectors get paid?

Real debt collectors will often try to get payment quickly, but if your collector is being very pushy, you should be suspicious. Scammers survive by getting people to pay fake debts before they have a chance to realize they're being scammed. So if a debt collector pushes you to pay immediately, be very cautious.

Is a debt collector real?

So, some debt collectors are real, and they're acting on behalf of the company to whom you owe money. However, real debt collectors still have to obey the law. And you have rights as a consumer. Learn more: Your Debt Collection Rights.

How to tell if a scam is real?

5 Signs of a Scam 1 They contacted you#N#When you contact a business, you know who's on the other end of the line. But when someone contacts you first, you can't be certain they're telling the truth. You don't know if they are whom they say they are. And remember, email addresses and caller ID information can be faked. 2 They dangle bait—usually money#N#Let's face it: People simply don't give away large sums of money easily. If someone dangles bait in front of you—a big prize, a shopping spree, an easy loan — for nothing, they're probably lying. 3 They want your personal information#N#Anytime anyone asks for your personal information — bank accounts, social security number, etc. — you should be on alert. Don't give it away quickly or easily, especially to someone you don't know. You may become a victim of identity theft. 4 You have to pay them first#N#If someone offers you a prize, debt relief, or employment — but first you have to pay an upfront fee to get it —you're probably being scammed. 5 You have to wire money or send gift cards#N#If you're about to wire money or send gift cards to someone in order to receive a prize, or pay off a debt collector that contacts you ... STOP! This may be a scammer trying to take your money.

Why do scammers demand payment on fake debts?

Scammers will demand payment on fake debts because a few people will be scared into paying. Real, legitimate creditors will be able to produce proof that a debt exists in the first place. If the debt is real and you weren't aware of it, you may be the victim of identity theft. Learn more about Debt Collection Scams.

What happens if you don't pay your taxes?

An IRS agent contacts you and tells you that you owe back taxes and must pay immediately. If you don’t, they say they will have the police come and send you to jail. There are variations of this scam, such as local law enforcement contacting you with a warrant because you missed jury duty, but almost always you will be asked to pay immediately via wire transfer or even gift cards, and will be told to stay on the phone throughout the entire payment process (including driving to the store!). Or you may be asked for your personal information to confirm your innocence or to receive a tax refund. Do not fall for it! Most likely you are not communicating with a government agent.

How do scammers convince you to be a grandparent?

They convince you by disguising their voice, showing a familiar phone number on your caller ID using a practice called “spoofing”, and using information available on the Internet. For instance, they say they may sound different because they are crying, sick, or injured. They reference specific names of family members or locations to make their story seem plausible. Then, they try to keep you from confirming their story by begging you not to tell anyone since they are embarrassed or scared in their situation.

Can the IRS send you to jail?

You probably would have received letters from them first if you really owe money. Also, the IRS won’t immediately send you to jail – there would be a process you would be aware of prior to any criminal punishment. Learn more about Phone Scams. Learn more about Online Scams.

What is Nigerian fraud?

Sometimes known as Nigerian Fraud, a "government minister" (or his widow), a lawyer representing a deceased client from a foreign country, or a business owner wants to deposit money from a foreign country in your bank account. There are many variations on the same theme but they all have a similar catch.

Can you tell if someone contacted you first?

They contacted you. When you contact a business, you know who's on the other end of the line. But when someone contacts you first, you can't be certain they're telling the truth. You don't know if they are whom they say they are. And remember, email addresses and caller ID information can be faked.

What is the Texas Payment Card?

The Texas Payment Card, or smiONE Visa Prepaid Card, is an easy way to receive your child support payments without the need for a bank account. It is a prepaid card with the convenience of a VISA and it can be used anywhere that VISA debit cards are accepted.

Why sign up for the Texas Payment Card?

Here are some benefits to selecting the Texas Payment Card for receiving your child support payments.

Texas Payment Card Fees

There are fees associated with using the Texas Payment Card. You will receive a Cardholder Agreement when you first receive your card. It lists all fees associated with the smiONE Visa Prepaid Card. The Cardholder Agreement can also be accessed from the smiONE website . All fees are subject to change.

How to Enroll

If you are interested in signing up for the Texas Payment Card for your child support payments, you can enroll in the following ways.

Questions About the Texas Payment Card

If you already have a Texas Payment Card and have questions about your balance or transaction history, or need to report a lost or stolen card, you can contact a smiONE representative at (866) 532-9636.

Paying Via Smart e-Pay

You can make child support payments with a credit or debit card online through a secure online system called Smart e-Pay.

Paying Via Moneygram

You can make child support payments with a credit or debit card through the secure MoneyGram website. To make a MoneyGram payment, you will need the Child Support Division 10-digit case number and cause number.

Cash Discounts

See the definition of “surcharge” at Section 604A.001 (5) for language related to discounts for cash purchases.

2018 Litigation and Current Status of the Law

On August 16, 2018, Judge Lee Yeakel of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas issued an order that permanently enjoined the State of Texas from enforcing the law prohibiting credit card surcharges ( Sec. 604A.0021) against certain merchants that had sued the Attorney General. In his final judgment, Judge Yeakel wrote:

Who Qualifies As a Seller or Buyer?

We often receive questions asking who qualifies as a merchant or a seller and who qualifies as a buyer. Because the library is not able to interpret the law, we can only point you to Section 604A.001 since it defines some of the terms used in Chapter 604A. The library cannot determine if the law is being violated in a specific situation.

Violations

A person who knowingly violates Section 604A.002 or 604A.0021 is liable to the state for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $500 for each violation.

Can you dispute child support on your credit report?

However, you can dispute any adverse reporting on your credit report once you satisfy your back payments. Federal law requires that any late child support balances exceeding $1,000 be reported to the credit bureaus. For balances less than $1,000, state law controls which are reported. Some states are stricter than others.

Can a divorce affect your credit score?

Many people's finances are affected after getting a divorce. A reduced credit score can further complicate your financial situation. If you have delinquent child support payments appearing on your credit report, here's how to dispute that reporting. 1.

What to do if you are late on child support?

Call your state's child support services office if you're late on your payments. If the state office hasn't reported you to the credit agencies yet, you can ask to establish a payment plan to satisfy your delinquency.

How long does child support stay on your credit report?

Delinquent reporting stays on your credit report for up to seven years. Additionally, when negative information is reported, child support services can disclose your last known address. If you're still behind on your payments, this information could potentially lead to creditors seizing property to settle your debts.

What to do if you hit a roadblock with child support?

If you hit a roadblock with the child support services office, you could work with your ex-spouse to see if they will certify that you're current on your payments. Cooperation from your ex-spouse may encourage your state office to remove the late payments from your credit report.

What to do if you are unsuccessful in getting your credit report removed?

If you're unsuccessful at getting the entry removed from one or all of your credit reports, you can add a note explaining why you were delinquent. The note allows creditors or landlords to understand your circumstances.