If the dispute process does not work for you, you may need to get help. The Fair Credit Reporting Act has made things a lot better than they used to be. Consumers have more power to know what is in their credit reports, and to get errors fixed.

Get a Lawyer

You might get results if you bring a lawsuit against the credit-reporting company. You have the right to sue them if they do not abide by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. If you choose to go this route, be sure that you use a lawyer who is well schooled in the Act. A good place to start searching is the Web site for the National Association of Consumer Advocates (www.naca.net). You may be able to find a law firm in your area with the required expertise.

Shame Them Publicly

If you are the outgoing, creative, or well-connected type, you may be able to shame them into doing the right thing. If you can get a celebrity or other influential person to plead your case, this may help. Media outlets may be able to shine a burning spotlight on the credit-reporting companies and get you some attention. Or, you can use your imagination to find ways to expose any injustices that you are suffering.

Write Your Officials

Since you have already gone to the trouble to document errors and write to the credit-reporting companies, you could send those letters to regulators and officials. If you send a letter to the Federal Trade Commission, they will forward your correspondence to the credit-reporting company in question. That might send a message that you mean business. Likewise, you might alert local officials. They may take an interest because you're in their community, and help to draft laws that will better protect people like you.