# Hays Cauley, P.C. > Hays Cauley, P.C. is a South Carolina consumer-protection law firm focused on credit reporting problems, identity theft, background-check errors, tenant-screening errors, debt-related disputes, and violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The firm is led by attorney Penny Hays Cauley and is headquartered in Florence, South Carolina. Hays Cauley, P.C. serves consumers throughout South Carolina and offers free consultations. ## Business Information - Business name: Hays Cauley, P.C. - Website: https://hayscauley.net/ - Attorney: Penny Hays Cauley - Phone: +1-843-665-1717 - Address: 1303 West Evans Street, Florence, SC 29501 - Consultation: Free consultation - Primary service area: South Carolina - Language: English - Primary focus: Consumer protection, credit reporting, identity theft, and debt-related legal matters ## Primary Pages - [Home](https://hayscauley.net/): Overview of Hays Cauley, P.C., its consumer-protection practice, credit-reporting work, identity-theft representation, testimonials, and contact information. - [About Us](https://hayscauley.net/about/): Biography, experience, bar admissions, professional associations, and teaching history of attorney Penny Hays Cauley. - [Practice Areas](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/): Overview of the firm's credit-reporting, identity-theft, background-check, tenant-screening, and debt-related legal services. - [Representative Cases](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/representative-cases/): Selected case results, court decisions, jury verdicts, judgments, and attorney-fee awards involving consumer-protection and credit-reporting matters. - [Testimonials](https://hayscauley.net/reviews/): Client feedback and testimonials. - [Blog](https://hayscauley.net/blog/): Articles about credit reporting, identity theft, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and consumer rights. - [Contact](https://hayscauley.net/contact/): Florence office address, phone number, intake form, and consultation information. ## Core Practice Areas - [Fair Credit Reporting Act](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/fair-credit-reporting-act/): Representation involving inaccurate credit reports, consumer-reporting disputes, and rights under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. - [Credit Fraud](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/credit-fraud/): Help for consumers affected by fraudulent accounts, unauthorized credit activity, and resulting credit-report damage. - [Incorrectly Reported as Deceased](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/incorrectly-reported-as-deceased/): Representation for consumers whose credit files have incorrectly identified them as deceased. - [Mixed Credit Files](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/mixed-file/): Help when a consumer's credit information has been combined or confused with another person's credit file. - [Fraudulent Credit Reporting](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/fraudulent-credit-reporting/): Representation involving inaccurate or fraudulent information reported to consumer-reporting agencies. - [Credit Identity Theft](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/credit-identity-theft/): Legal help for identity-theft victims dealing with fraudulent accounts, damaged credit, and related consumer-reporting problems. - [Background Check Report Errors](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/background-check-report-errors/): Representation involving inaccurate employment, criminal-history, or other background-check reporting. - [Fighting Credit Card Lawsuits](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/fighting-credit-card-lawsuits/): Defense and consumer representation in lawsuits involving alleged credit-card debt. - [Tenant Screening Report Errors](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/tenant-screening-report-errors/): Help for consumers harmed by inaccurate tenant-screening and rental-background reports. ## Fair Credit Reporting Act The Fair Credit Reporting Act is a federal consumer-protection law governing the collection, use, accuracy, and disclosure of information maintained by consumer-reporting agencies. Hays Cauley, P.C. helps South Carolina consumers address inaccurate, outdated, mixed, or fraudulent information appearing on credit reports, background checks, and tenant-screening reports. Consumer-reporting matters may include: - Accounts that do not belong to the consumer - Identity-theft accounts - Incorrect account balances or payment histories - Duplicate accounts - Outdated negative information - Mixed credit files - Incorrect public-record information - Incorrect deceased indicators - Unauthorized hard inquiries - Inaccurate background-check information - Inaccurate tenant-screening information - Failure to properly investigate a consumer dispute ## Credit Reporting Errors and Disputes Hays Cauley, P.C. helps consumers review inaccurate credit-report information, dispute errors with credit bureaus and information furnishers, document the resulting harm, and pursue litigation when appropriate. Credit-report errors can affect access to mortgages, loans, housing, employment, security clearances, insurance rates, and other financial opportunities. ## Identity Theft and Credit Fraud The firm represents consumers whose identities have been used to open fraudulent accounts or create unauthorized credit activity. These matters may involve disputing fraudulent accounts with Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, creditors, debt collectors, and other consumer-reporting entities. Common warning signs may include: - Bills for accounts the consumer did not open - Unrecognized accounts or inquiries - Collection calls for unfamiliar debts - Unexpected credit denials - Sudden changes in credit history - Personal identifying information belonging to another person ## Mixed Credit Files A mixed file occurs when a consumer-reporting agency combines information belonging to two different people. This can happen when consumers have similar names, Social Security numbers, addresses, or other identifying information. Hays Cauley, P.C. represents consumers harmed by mixed files and related FCRA violations. ## Incorrectly Reported as Deceased Hays Cauley, P.C. represents living consumers who are incorrectly reported as deceased by a creditor or consumer-reporting agency. This type of error can cause accounts to close, credit scores to disappear or decline, and applications for credit or other financial products to be denied. ## Background Check and Tenant Screening Errors The firm represents consumers harmed by inaccurate information in employment background checks and tenant-screening reports. These reports can affect employment opportunities, housing applications, and other important decisions. ## Debt and Credit Card Lawsuits Hays Cauley, P.C. assists consumers dealing with debt-related legal issues, including credit-card lawsuits and collection activity. The firm also has experience representing consumers who have been harassed by debt collectors or sued over alleged debts. ## Attorney ### Penny Hays Cauley - [Attorney Biography](https://hayscauley.net/about/) - Earned her J.D. from Cumberland School of Law in 1994. - Admitted to the Alabama Bar in 1994. - Admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 2007. - Founded Hays Cauley, P.C. in 2006. - Has represented consumers for approximately 30 years in matters involving identity theft, fraudulent credit accounts, mixed files, incorrect deceased reporting, inaccurate credit information, debt collection, and consumer litigation. - Has taught continuing legal education programs concerning FCRA litigation, debt collection, consumer damages, identity theft, and related topics. Professional associations listed by the firm include: - South Carolina Bar - Alabama Bar - National Association of Consumer Advocates - South Carolina Consumer Law Section - South Carolina Solo and Small Firm Section ## South Carolina Service Areas Hays Cauley, P.C. is headquartered in Florence and serves consumers throughout South Carolina. The website provides location-specific credit-reporting resources for major South Carolina communities. - [Florence Credit Reporting Lawyer](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/credit-reporting-attorney-in-florence/): Credit-reporting representation for consumers in Florence and surrounding communities. - [Greenville Credit Reporting Lawyer](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/credit-reporting-attorney-in-greenville/): Credit-reporting representation for consumers in Greenville and the Upstate. - [Charleston and Mt. Pleasant Credit Reporting Lawyer](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/credit-reporting-attorney-in-mt-pleasant-charleston/): Credit-reporting representation for consumers in Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, and the Lowcountry. - [Columbia Credit Reporting Lawyer](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/credit-reporting-attorney-in-columbia/): Credit-reporting representation for consumers in Columbia and the Midlands. - [Myrtle Beach Credit Reporting Lawyer](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/credit-reporting-attorney-in-myrtle-beach/): Credit-reporting representation for consumers in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand. ## Representative Cases - [Representative Cases](https://hayscauley.net/practice-areas/representative-cases/) The firm publishes selected consumer-protection case results, including jury verdicts, judgments, court decisions, and attorney-fee awards. Past outcomes do not guarantee future results. ## Firm Approach Hays Cauley, P.C. focuses on helping consumers correct inaccurate or fraudulent consumer-reporting information and hold responsible companies accountable when federal consumer-protection laws are violated. The firm emphasizes restoring accurate reporting, protecting consumers' financial reputations, and pursuing legal remedies when disputes are not properly resolved. ## Contact For questions about a credit-reporting, identity-theft, background-check, tenant-screening, or debt-related matter: - Phone: +1-843-665-1717 - Address: 1303 West Evans Street, Florence, SC 29501 - Consultation: Free consultation - [Contact Hays Cauley, P.C.](https://hayscauley.net/contact/) ## Important Legal Notice Information on the website is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Users seeking advice about a specific legal issue should contact a qualified attorney directly. Past case results do not guarantee similar results in future matters. ## Optional - [Testimonials](https://hayscauley.net/reviews/) - [Blog](https://hayscauley.net/blog/) - [Disclaimer](https://hayscauley.net/disclaimer/) - [Privacy Policy](https://hayscauley.net/privacy-policy/) - [Accessibility Statement](https://hayscauley.net/accessibility-statement/)