Posted On: April 17, 2008

Likelihood of Credit Damage

Credit damages can be an important and extensive form of damages in more than 14 types of tort actions. Credit damages may not jump out at you at intake because your client may be too embarrassed to tell you about credit problems or your client is not yet aware of credit problems or nothing has yet been documented which would indicate the possibility of damage to credit.

Frequently credit damages are only revealed sometime after you are retained and as the case develops. It is therefore crucial that you or your staff monitor the case for potential credit damages, so that potential credit damages will come to your attention in a timely fashion and are included in special damage claims.

You are probably wondering how to determine the potential extent of those damages in a given case. A tool designed to assist you in identifying the potential value of credit damages is the CreditDamageScoreFinder© developed and made available by Georg Finder.

It is absolutely imperative to evaluate the potential value of credit damages so as not to overlook a significant, in some cases the most significant, element of damages in a case. A step by step analysis should be utilized to make sure that nothing is overlooked. To better understand what you will need to assess the viability of your credit damage claim, access the CreditDamageScoreFinder©.

When you look at the 8 areas of inquiry of the CreditDamageScoreFinder©, you will understand what information you will need to evaluate the credit damage aspects of your case. Thus, for example, you will have to obtain information about credit cards, mortgages, vehicles, and lines of credit.

Completing the CreditDamageScoreFinder© requires information about the credit history of your client, ideally during the initial intake interview. It is likely that during the intake interview, using the Credit Damage Measurement Score check-list, you will learn of the credit documents that your client will have to provide you.

It is also critical to obtain a commercial or subscriber credit report available for a small fee from any of the three credit agencies. Commercial credit reports are used by lenders in making determinations about credit availability to an individual and at what cost. They are distinct from the inadequate credit reports readily available at no charge upon request. Without the information contained in the commercial credit report, it is difficult, if not impossible, to see the true picture of credit status. Additionally, the commercial credit report will be one of the tools used by the expert who will calculate the value of the credit damages.

Calculation of credit damages requires the services of an expert in the field. The expert will consult with you regarding the potential value of the case. If the expert determines that there is sufficient value to make credit damages worth pursuing, a variety of services and products will be available, ranging from a detailed report of the value of the credit damages to testifying at trial.

The leading expert is Georg Finder. To learn about the services Finder offers and how to substantiate a claim for credit damages, please go here.

Posted On: April 3, 2008

The CreditDamageScoreFinder© for Personal Injury and Wrongful Termination Cases

The CreditDamageScoreFinder© is the most important tool available for determining whether you have actionable credit damages in a personal injury or wrongful termination case. The score obtained will indicate one of four different possibilities:

  • 0 – 5: Credit damage case is marginal; continue to monitor for more indications of credit damage.
  • 6 – 10: Significant credit damage is likely; begin to assemble documents; obtain fresh commercial credit report.
  • 11 – 15: There is definite measurable credit damage; contact credit damage expert.
  • 16+: Significant credit damage; retain credit damage expert immediately to include credit damages in damage demand.

Understanding the information utilized to obtain the score will help you understand the elements of credit damage.

The CreditDamageScoreFinder© for personal injury and wrongful termination cases calls for information in eight areas:

  • Lost Earnings
    • A minimum of 6 to 8 weeks of lost wages or equivalent commissions will be necessary in most cases to trigger the likelihood of a credit damage claim.
  • Conversion of Funds to Maintain Lifestyle or to Make Payments
    • The necessity to prematurely dip into retirement funds, borrow money from friends or relatives, or divert money from cash flow to maintain lifestyle or make payments are all indications that a credit damage claim may be viable.
  • Mortgage
    • Late payments, denial of a mortgage to purchase property, and denial of an application to refinance are all indicators of credit damages.
  • Credit Cards
    • Cancellation of a card or cards, increased interest rates, and lower limits all reveal credit damage.
  • Financial Relief
    • Filing for bankruptcy, discharging debts in bankruptcy, and utilizing the services or a credit counselor can all reveal credit damage.
  • Insurance
    • If a policy is cancelled, rates are adjusted or renewal is denied demonstrate credit damage.
  • Line of Credit
    • Refusal of credit or a home equity line, refusal of refinance or upward adjusted interest rates are signs of credit damage.
  • Accounts in Collection

The CreditDamageScoreFinder© is a powerful tool to enable you to evaluate the next steps to take in regard to making a claim for credit damage. You will probably want to wait two months from the date of injury, while the elements of credit damage are developing, to utilize the CreditDamageScoreFinder©. Even then a low score may only signify that still more time will be necessary to allow the indicators of credit damage to develop a higher score. On the other hand, bear in mind that even a high score is only indicative of the possibility of substantial credit damage. Only the analysis provided by a credit damage expert can be definitive.

For more information visit the web site of the credit damage expert, Georg Finder.