Why does my credit report show that I attempted to file for bankruptcy?

About a year ago, I was thinking about filing for bankruptcy. I was in the process of doing so when I changed my mind and canceled it. I then got a job and had a better income to slowly pay off my debts. Now when I check my credit report, it is showing that I had filed for bankruptcy. Is this right? How do I get this removed?

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Answered By: CONSUMER PROTECTION ASSISTANCE COALITION, INC. (DE).

Call now: (800) 991-7634

It shows whenever there is a filing, even if withdrawn.

Answer Applies to: California - Replied: 12/5/2011

Answered By: Law Office of Susan G. Taylor

Call now: (512) 879-9171

I'm very sorry to hear of your predicament. But it was the fact of filing that mattered, not whether you successfully completed it. I once heard of someone having the clerk remove his filing within 24 hours, but he was lucky. I afraid you have no recourse. I mention it to people in my initial consultation, because filing has such tremendous possible consequences.

Answer Applies to: Texas - Replied: 12/4/2011

Answered By: Mazyar Hedayat and Associates

Call now: (630) 378-2200

Your question states that you began to file bankruptcy then "changed your mind." If by that you mean you filed a bankruptcy petition then decided not to continue with the case and allowed it to fail of its accord, then technically you did *file *but did not receive a bankruptcy *discharge*. That means you have the worst of both worlds: a derogatory statement on your credit report *but* no relief from creditors. You can challenge that notation by navigating to the websites of the Big 3 credit bureaus (TRW, TransUnion, and Equifax) and following the instructions to remove the information as false or misleading. I do not believe you will be successful, but that is definitely the place to start.

Answer Applies to: Illinois - Replied: 12/2/2011

Answered By: Janet A. Lawson Bankruptcy Attorney

Call now: (805) 985-1147

If you in fact filed and simply did not complete it, it will still show on your records.

Answer Applies to: California - Replied: 12/2/2011

Answered By: Eranthe Law Firm

Call now: (415) 504-2006

When you file for bankruptcy it stays on your credit report for 10 years. It doesn't matter that the case was not completed.

Answer Applies to: California - Replied: 12/1/2011

Answered By: Canty Law Firm

Call now: (303) 670-2185

If you did not actually file a bankruptcy, the report is in error and you can dispute it online. If a bankruptcy was filed but later dismissed, the report is correct.

Answer Applies to: Colorado - Replied: 12/1/2011

Answered By: Charles R. Nettles - Attorney at Law

Call now: (512) 443-5545

If you actually paid the filing fee and filed papers, then you filed a bankruptcy. If you changed your mind after it was filed, it is too late to do anything about it. It will be on your credit report for 10 years.

Answer Applies to: Texas - Replied: 12/1/2011

Answered By: Charles Schneider, P.C.

Call now: (734) 237-1523

It is correct. It does not have to be removed as the fact of filing is not made false by the fact that you dismissed the case.

Answer Applies to: Michigan - Replied: 12/1/2011

Answered By: Kenneth A. Parker, P.C.

Call now: (678) 541-6770

Your credit report should not reflect that you attempted to file bankruptcy. Either a case was filed or it was not. If a case was not filed, then dispute the issue with the credit bureau.

Answer Applies to: Georgia - Replied: 12/1/2011

Answered By: The Law Office of Darren Aronow, PC

Call now: (516) 663-0970

If you actually filed with the courts it is part of your permanent record and will be there for 10 years. If you did not file, then send proof to the 3 credit reporting agencies and they will remove it.

Answer Applies to: New York - Replied: 12/1/2011

Answered By: Lake Forest Bankruptcy

Call now: (949) 218-2002

If you filed the case, it doesn't matter if you cancelled it; It happened. Anyone who says that they can remove it can only do so if they do something illegal in the process of getting it removed.

Answer Applies to: California - Replied: 12/1/2011

Answered By: Law Office of Raymond J. Dague, PLLC

Call now: (315) 422-2052

You sure can get it removed. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (a federal statute) requires that credit reporting agencies correct wrong information. Contact the agency which has the erroneous report on you, give them the facts, and I bet they will correct the report. There are severe penalties for their refusal to do so, so I bet they will clear your name once confronted with their error.

Answer Applies to: New York - Replied: 12/1/2011

Answered By: Carballo Law Offices

Call now: (510) 886-2772

If the credit report says you filed then there must be a case number there and the place you filed and if there is a case number then you did file and maybe the case was dismissed. You need to investigate more about this because the credit report should not say you filed unless you filed (or someone filed for you using your name).

Answer Applies to: California - Replied: 11/30/2011

Answered By: Ashman Law Office

Call now: (404) 768-3509

There is no such thing as "unfiling" the case. The moment you filed, it doesn't matter what you do after. That will show as a filing. There is no way to remove it from your report.

Answer Applies to: Georgia - Replied: 11/30/2011

Answered By: Grace Law Offices of John F Geraghty Jr.

Call now: (404) 660-2740

Write to the credit reporting agency and demand they make the correction.

Answer Applies to: Georgia - Replied: 11/30/2011

Answered By: Bankruptcy Law office of Bill Rubendall

Call now: (925) 827-2272

If you file for bankruptcy then dismiss the case it will appear on your credit report for 10 years.

Answer Applies to: California - Replied: 11/30/2011

Answered By: Indianapolis Bankruptcy Law Office of Eric C. Lewis

Call now: (317) 623-3030

If you filed a Voluntary Petition with the bankruptcy court, it does not matter if it was dismissed voluntary, involuntarily or if you received a discharge - it will appear on your credit report.

Answer Applies to: Indiana - Replied: 11/30/2011

Answered By: Weber Law Firm, P.C.

Call now: (713) 789-3300

If you filed a bankruptcy petition and was assigned a case number, you filed for bankruptcy, regardless of the fact that it may have been dismissed at a later time. There is nothing improper about reporting the filing of the bankruptcy case, and the fact that it was later dismissed, if these facts are indeed true. There is a process for removing incorrect information from your credit report, but there is no way to force the removal of information that is actually true.

Answer Applies to: Texas - Replied: 11/30/2011

Answered By: Judith A. Runyon, Esq. Attorney at Law

Call now: (951) 782-7495

If you filed a bankruptcy , but then changed your mind, it still shows up as a filed bankruptcy. If there is a case number on the credit report, then you must have filed one.

Answer Applies to: California - Replied: 11/30/2011

Answered By: Foster Law Group

Call now: (303) 297-7729

Did you hire someone to file bankruptcy? You might want to check with that person. They may have filed a bankruptcy case, then dismissed it. If it was dismissed, this does not remove the fact that you filed bankruptcy from your credit report.

Answer Applies to: Colorado - Replied: 11/30/2011

Answered By: Heupel Law

Call now: (303) 955-7570

Yes, it is correct and it will remain on your credit for eight years after the filing date. Although you did not complete the process, it is accurate that you filed bankruptcy, and thus, should be on your credit report.

Answer Applies to: Colorado - Replied: 11/30/2011

Answered By: The Schreiber Law Firm

Call now: (619) 269-8600

If it states the bankruptcy was dismissed, then it is accurate and cannot be removed. If it doesn't state it was dismissed, write to the credit bureau and tell them that the information is in error and to correct the credit report to reflect it was dismissed.

Answer Applies to: California - Replied: 11/30/2011

Answered By: Law Offices of Michael J. Berger

Call now: (310) 271-6223

You can not "cancel" a bankruptcy file. Once you file the bankruptcy, there is a permanent record of your bankruptcy filing. This is true even if the case is later dismissed. You can try to dispute it on line at the credit reporting agency's website, but the listing in your credit report is accurate.

Answer Applies to: California - Replied: 11/30/2011

Disclaimer: The responses above do not form an attorney-client relationship. These answers may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. These attorneys may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

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