Will County Lawyers Stop Creditor Harassment

Attorneys Help Stop Debt Collector Harassment in Joliet, Plainfield, and Bolingbrook

Having financial problems can be highly stressful for you and your family. Harassing phone calls at home or work, calls to family and friends, threatening letters, creditors showing up at your door, and civil judgment actions can quickly wear you down. Most debt collectors have no sympathy for your situation, and they often push the limits of what is legal in order to collect as much money as possible. The good news is there are legal avenues available that can put an end to creditor harassment.

At Scheinbaum & West, LLC, we understand that many good people go through financial difficulties, and we work hard to provide the right legal solution to get them back on their feet. Our attorneys have extensive experience assisting clients who are continually being bothered by debt collectors, and we are committed to ensuring that our clients no longer have to endure creditor harassment.

One strategy to stop creditor harassment is bankruptcy. We have an in-depth understanding of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy laws, and we work closely with our clients to thoroughly analyze their finances and develop the best legal avenue toward financial freedom.

Consumer Protection from Creditor Harassment

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) establishes guidelines that creditors must follow when they are attempting to collect a debt. These guidelines apply to third-party debt collectors and buyers of debt.

Some of the rights you have under the FDCPA include:

• Creditors are only allowed to call between 8 am and 9 pm local time.
• Creditors are not allowed to call you at work if your employer does not allow it.
• Creditors cannot make robocalls without your consent.
• Creditors are not allowed to make false, deceptive, misleading, or threatening statements.
• Creditors cannot call you repeatedly with the intent to annoy, harass, or abuse you.
• Creditors must send you written notice advising you of your rights within five days of the date they first contact you about a debt (unless you pay the debt right away).
• You have the right to request additional information about your debt.

You can take action on your own to temporarily stop creditor harassment. You may send them a request in writing to stop contacting you regarding a particular debt. In most cases, debt collectors are required to comply with this request. Keep in mind, however, that this solution may only be temporary. If you legitimately owe the debt they are trying to collect, then there is a chance they will file a lawsuit against you to obtain a civil judgment and collect the debt via wage garnishment or other means.

One of the best solutions for permanently ending creditor harassment is bankruptcy. Bankruptcy protection is afforded by the automatic stay of the Bankruptcy Code, which forbids continuation of most civil procedures such as lawsuits, harassing telephone calls, and wage assignments. This means that when you file for either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, creditors must stop collection activity immediately upon being notified of the bankruptcy proceeding.

Speak With a LaSalle County Creditor Harassment Attorney

There is no excuse for anyone to be mistreated by creditors. Even if you are significantly behind on your bills, you still have rights, and you deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. If creditors do not adhere to these rights, they may be in violation of the law. At Scheinbaum & West, LLC, we work closely with clients to develop the right legal strategy to halt creditor harassment once and for all. For a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, contact our office today at 815-729-9860.

We represent clients in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies in Joliet, Will County, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, Naperville, Cresthill, Lockport, Homer Glen, Mokena, Ottawa, LaSalle County, and surrounding Illinois communities.