[GA] How can someone get an eviction removed from their credit report if they were not named in the judgment?

GA Consumer Protection

Jon

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He should send the letter and documents to TransUnion Consumer Solutions at P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016, and also to TransUnion Rental Screening Solutions at P.O. Box 800, Woodlyn, PA 19094, since that division handles apartment screening. In the letter, he should clearly state that he is disputing the eviction tied to the specific case number, that he was not a party to the lawsuit, and that the attached final judgment proves this.

Because eviction records are often shared, he should immediately check his reports with Equifax and Experian. If the eviction appears there, the same dispute packet should be sent to them as well. He should also notify the company that supplied the eviction information, such as the property management company, since under the Fair Credit Reporting Act they are legally required to report accurate information. (15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2) Once the dispute is opened, the reporting agencies generally have 30 days to investigate. If they cannot show that your son was named in the judgment, the eviction must be removed. (15 U.S.C. § 1681i) While this process is ongoing, it can also help for your son to show prospective landlords the court judgment directly, as some will accept official court records as proof that the eviction does not belong to him.

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Good morning. My question is I live in Georgia and unfortunately my spouse and I fell on hard times and were evicted in 2024. My son had moved out in 2021 and now the eviction is showing on his credit. What can I do?

Lexi, Chatbot

I'm sorry to hear about the challenges you and your family are facing with the eviction situation. Can you please confirm if your son was listed on the lease during the eviction?

He was a roommate but moved out in 2021. He moved into the same complex where we were living at the time, and the office was supposed to sign a release for him, but it never went through because Covid happened. In the meantime, the manager who was handling it got fired, but the judgment only lists my spouse and me as the defendants, not him.

Lexi, Chatbot

Have you or your son attempted to dispute the eviction on his credit report with the credit bureaus?

I guess that's what I'm trying to figure out, what to do or how to do that. How do we dispute it? I have a copy of the judgment from the state court showing that his name is not on there. It's only TransUnion that denied him. Is that something I should send them to show that he wasn't on there?

Lexi, Chatbot

Is there anything else the attorney should know before I connect you? Rest assured they'll be able to help with your credit dispute.

That's basically it. He's got two different leases showing he wasn't living there at the time, because after he moved out of the complex where we lived, he moved into another one with his fiancé, so he hadn't been living there at all. I have an email from that manager stating that if he got approved in 2021, we would just have to sign the paperwork, but like I said, it was during Covid and then she got fired.

I'm just looking to get this off his credit report since he wasn't living there at the time and he shouldn't have to be going through this. I tried contacting the lawyer who represented the plaintiff where we were living, but he's been no help at all.

Jon

Hello, and thank you for reaching out! I'm Jon, a licensed attorney with over 13 years of experience, here to help. I understand legal matters can feel overwhelming, but you're in good hands. My goal is to explain things clearly and guide you toward the best possible solution for your situation. Just a quick note, our conversation is for general legal information only and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

I understand that you're trying to get this eviction off your son's credit report. Since you mentioned that TransUnion denied him, could you tell me if you've already contacted them directly to dispute this? If so, what was their response?

Thank you very much. I'm just looking to figure out how to take this eviction off my son's credit report. He wasn't living there at the time, he moved out in 2021, but that was during Covid and paperwork got dropped because the manager managing the property also got fired at the same time. Now he's moved to a different city and he's trying to get an apartment, and now, after almost two years, it's showing up on his credit report. The defendants listed on the judgment are my spouse and me only, not him, so I'm just trying to figure out how to go about this.

Jon

Thanks for sharing more details. Since you're in Georgia, it's important to know if you've already tried disputing this eviction directly with TransUnion. If so, what was their response?

No, we haven't disputed it yet. TransUnion is where I'm at. What do I do? Do I have him send paperwork showing that he's not listed on the judgment, that it's only my spouse and me?

Jon

Got it, thanks for clarifying. Do you have copies of your son's lease agreements and the email from the manager confirming his move out in 2021?

I know I can get them from him. He lived in two different places. He moved out in October 2021 in the same complex with his sister, and then a year later he and his fiancé moved out of that complex to a different one, so he hadn't been living with my spouse and me. I have the email from the manager back in 2021 saying that if he got approved for the apartment in the same complex, his name would be taken off after the paperwork was signed, but in the meantime she got fired and then Covid hit and nothing happened. The judgment only lists my spouse and me, not him.

Jon

Understood! I believe I have all the information I need. Is there anything else you'd like to add before I start working on your answer? If not, I'll get started right away.

No, that's about it at this point. Do I have to stay in this app, or will you message me or email me to let me know your answer? I have to get ready for work, but I'm trying to figure this out. He's trying to get this apartment soon, but it's affecting him right now, and it's not fair because he wasn't there and people dropped the ball and then Covid hit.

Jon

Got it! I just need a few minutes to put together a complete response for you. It shouldn't take longer than about 4 to 5 minutes, and I want to make sure it's clear and comprehensive. Thanks so much for waiting, I really appreciate your patience.

Thank you for taking the time to look into this for me. I had contacted the lawyer, like I said, who was the attorney for the complex, figuring I could get some help from him, but I'm not his client so he doesn't really want to help me out. But that's what the court said to do, was to maybe contact him, so I thank you for taking the time to look at this.

Jon

I'm really sorry you and your family are dealing with this. It's incredibly frustrating when an old paperwork mistake suddenly blocks someone who did the right thing by moving out and building their own rental history. The good news is that this is very fixable. Because your son is not named on the actual court judgment, the eviction should never have been attached to him. Since he's being denied housing right now, this needs to be handled quickly and clearly. The most important step is putting together solid proof that a human reviewer can't ignore. The court judgment is the strongest evidence and should be highlighted to show that only you and your spouse are listed as defendants. The 2021 email from the property manager helps show that the mistake happened at the leasing office level. Copies of your son's leases from 2021 through 2024 are also important because they prove he lived elsewhere when the eviction case was filed. Your son should then file a formal dispute with TransUnion using a written letter rather than relying only on the online dispute system, which is often automated. Sending the dispute by certified mail creates a paper trail and forces a real review.

Jon

So he should take the 2021 lease, the 2022 lease, the letter from the property manager stating he would have been taken off the lease once he got the apartment in 2021, and the judgment, and send that all to TransUnion? But you also said he needs to send a letter of dispute first. Can he send that all together?

Also, should I send him the paperwork of the judgment? I sent him a picture of the first page, but I have the actual judgment from the court.

Jon

Since your son is being denied an apartment right now, he should immediately mail one complete package to TransUnion via certified mail. This package should include a letter explaining that he was never a defendant in the case, along with the full court judgment, his 2021 and 2022 leases, and the manager's email. He needs to send the actual, multi-page judgment rather than just a picture of the first page so the bureau can verify his name is missing from the final order. Sending all of these documents together as one submission is the most effective way to prove the report is inaccurate and force them to correct it. Once he mails that, he should also check Equifax and Experian to ensure the same error isn't appearing there.

OK, do I need to get the copy of the judgment notarized for him?

Jon

No, you don't need to notarize it. A notary cannot certify court documents; only the court clerk can do that. A clear photocopy of every page of the judgment is usually enough for a credit dispute. If you want the strongest proof possible, you can get an official "eCertified" copy with a digital seal through the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) website for a small fee. This proves to TransUnion that the record is an authentic, unaltered government document showing your son was not a defendant.

OK, well then I guess I'll overnight him the judgment, or can I look up that eCertified copy on the website and then send it to him, or can he do that?

And once I go to that website, do I look under evictions and type in the case number?

Jon

You or your son can both use the website to get the eCertified copy; there is no need to overnight anything. Since court records are public, either of you can create an account on the GSCCCA eCertification portal, request the document, and pay the small fee, usually under $5. Once the court clerk approves it, you'll receive a secure PDF that you can simply email to your son. He can then print that PDF to include in his dispute package, which is much faster than waiting for the mail.

I do hope the information I provided was helpful and addressed your question. If there's anything else you need, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'm always happy to assist. Wishing you a fantastic day ahead!

Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate you. You have a great day yourself.

Jon

You're so welcome! I'm thrilled I could help. Don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything at all!

Jon

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