Consumer Sues TRW, Others Over Alleged Credit Data Access Misuse

A consumer filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Orlando, Fla., alleging his rights were violated under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and naming TRW Inc.’s credit data operations in Orange as a defendant.

Stephen J. Shaw asks for more than $500,000 in damages and costs against several credit reporting agencies, banks and finance companies. Shaw’s suit alleges that the agencies and others failed to prevent an Orlando car salesman from repeatedly accessing his credit report. The salesman then allegedly used Shaw’s personal information to open 30 fraudulent accounts totaling $100,000 under Shaw’s identity at Orlando area banks and stores.

The lawsuit claims that the defendants failed to employ adequate computer hardware and software safeguards to prevent the illegal access to, and misuse of, the sensitive information contained in the credit databases about Shaw.