Credit, debt collectors and scams · consumer protection

When a company gets your money or your record wrong

The mortgage application came back declined because of an account you never opened. A collector calls your sister to talk about a debt you already paid. The used car you bought turns out to have been in a flood, and the dealer stops answering. None of these feel like a legal problem at first. They feel like a mess you're supposed to sort out on the phone, on hold, one company at a time.

Some of them are legal problems. Federal and state consumer protection laws set rules for credit reporting companies, debt collectors, lenders and sellers, and some let you bring a claim when a company breaks them. Tell us what happened.

Tell us what happened

This may be for you if

My credit report shows an account, late payment or debt that is wrong, and the credit bureau won't fix it.
A debt collector keeps calling, threatens me, or is trying to collect money I don't owe.
Someone opened accounts in my name and the companies are still treating the debts as mine.
A seller or dealer lied to me about what I was buying, or added charges I never agreed to.
My bank or card company won't reverse charges I never made.

What we do, and what we do not

We do

A lawyer at our firm looks at your case and works out which consumer protection rules, if any, may apply.
Consumer cases often turn on federal law and the law of the state where you live. When another firm is better placed to lead yours day to day, we choose that firm for you, from firms we have vetted for their expertise and track record, and we stay responsible for your case with them.

We do not

We don't negotiate or settle debts for a fee, and we aren't a credit repair company.
We don't promise that an entry will come off your report or that a debt will go away.

Two firms on your side, for the cost of one

When another firm leads your case, you have two law firms on your side, and it costs you no more than one firm would. The firm leading it day to day is one that brings consumer cases in the state where you live, and it's your first call for questions about the case. Our firm stays responsible for your case with them for as long as it lasts: we check in often, keep our own calendar of its deadlines, and we're who you write to if something doesn't feel right.

You decide whether to go ahead, and nothing happens until you say yes.

How it works, step by step How fees work, and how they are shared

Problems we often hear about

Mistakes on your credit report
Accounts that aren't yours, debts shown as unpaid after you paid them, and disputes the bureaus ignored.
Debt collectors crossing the line
Harassing calls, threats, contact with family or employers, and collectors chasing debts you don't owe.

What helps to have ready

A copy of your credit reports, if the problem shows up there.
Any letters, emails or texts from the company or collector, with the envelopes if you kept them.
A log of calls: dates, times, the number that called and what was said.
Copies of any dispute you sent and any reply.
The contract, receipt or sales paperwork, if you bought something.
Any police or identity theft report you filed.

What to have ready before you talk to a lawyer
A short, practical list you can use for any kind of problem.

Questions people ask

Can I afford a lawyer for this?

It costs nothing to ask. Some consumer protection laws let a court order a company that broke the law to pay the consumer's reasonable lawyer fees, which can make these cases worth bringing even when the money involved is modest.

I was scammed by someone I can't find. Can you get my money back?

Often, no lawsuit can reach a stranger who has disappeared, and we would rather tell you that plainly. Report it to your bank or card company at once and to the Federal Trade Commission. If a bank, platform or seller you can identify played a part, tell us: that can change the picture.

Should I stop paying a debt I think is wrong?

Don't decide that on your own. Stopping payment can have real consequences, including a lawsuit against you. Dispute the debt in writing, keep copies, and let the lawyer who reviews your inquiry advise you.

I have already been sued over the debt. Is it too late?

No, but the court papers have a deadline to respond, and missing it can mean a judgment against you by default. If you have been served, look for a lawyer licensed in that state right away, and send us your inquiry too.

Your name, photo or private records misused
If a company exposed or misused your personal information, that can be a separate claim.
Insurance claims denied or underpaid
If the company that let you down is your insurer, that has its own route.
Investments that were not what you were told
If the scam was sold to you as an investment.

This page explains things in general terms. It is not legal advice about your situation, and the law differs from state to state.