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03 Sep, 2024 by Anonymous
Very poor representation. Likes to scream and yell probably because he does not know what he is doing. Absolutely the worse lawyer I have ever dealt with over the years. Do not waste your time on this person, look elsewhere for another lawyer.
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05 Jun, 2019 by Paul
Douglas Floyd is just about the very worst attorney that one can contact. I just called him to get his opinion on a personal injury case involving a senior citizen who suffered chemical burns from a leaking package that was mailed to her over Amazon.com.
Douglas Floyd was extremely arrogant, discourteous, aloof, and inconsiderately dismissive. Without even hearing the extent of the incurred injuries and damages, after about 3 - 4 minutes into the conversation, he said that he will not take the case as he does not think that there is enough money in it for him...
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26 Jul, 2018 by Anonymous
I had the displeasure of having a conversation with this man regarding an issue I am having. He seems to lack any social cues, respect for others and comes off terribly offensive. Honestly, if he treats everyone as poorly and as disrespectful as he did me, I wonder how he has been able to maintain any type of client base. Bypass this attorney and find a real one.
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07 Jun, 2018 by Bryan
After collecting my retainer he went silent. ALWAYS attending personal matters...showed up to court & didn't have a clue who I was & was very condescending every time I had a question. He did absolutely NOTHING I couldn't have done myself & I would be 3k richer. Instead I just paid for this clown to golf & laugh at all of us peasants. He is better than everyone after all. Heed this warning & hire anybody but this joke.
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10 Aug, 2016 by Anonymous
I hired this lawyer over a year ago to file bankruptcy. I struggled for 6 months to get him paid in full so I could get this past me and move on and rebuild my life. It's now been over a year and my case is not even filed yet. There have been 6 different women work there since I hired him. Absolutely nothing has been done on my case! This is so frustrating! I keep being told they are working to get things done but week after week has passed and I'm no closer to being done with this than I was the day I hired him!!
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05 Sep, 2012 by Anonymous
This attorney rarely returned calls and didn't ever know what was going on, the attorney did not fight for us and didn't even show up for the most recent hearing! I will be taking every legal action that can be taken against this attorney, I would not recommend anyone waste your money with this poor excuse for an Attorney.
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24 Dec, 2023 by Christopher
I had my child for 11 years without a word from my ex wife. No support. No visits. No phone. Zero contact. She went to prison for 4 years for child abuse on her other child. My daughter was 13 and did not wish to see her mom. He did nothing for us and she got full visitation right, minimal child support. No back child support was given. And I had to drive a total of 8 hours every other weekend.
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06 Feb, 2021 by Ron
I trusted Robert Miller on a case involving my grandkids and CPS. I was innocent and still got treated like a was guilty...especially by my lawyer Mr Miller. He looked down at me and talked over my head trying to make me feel stupid. He did not fight for me by telling me such things like my 4th and 14th amendment rights being violated and i had no day in court to defend myself, which is what's called a violation of due process. He also never informed me of writ of mandamus or other legal options or game plans. All these rights I have and payed him money to defend me and he never told me anything. I wouldn't trust him fighting a traffic ticket.
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11 May, 2015 by Jesse
I called this attorney and he was extremely rude. I wanted to know if he would be able to help me out on a divorce and he said he wouldnt do any business over the phone. I wanted to talk since I dont live in the city where I need him to represent me.
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05 Oct, 2014 by Anonymous
Very disappointing relationship. What was originally disclosed to me regarding the timeline and cost of my case doubled in a months time, without warning and without any solid work performed. When questioned, we got pushback and attitude.
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20 Aug, 2014 by Anonymous
Without going into the details of my situation while working with Eric Dankesreiter, I would rate him as below average. He relied too much on intimidation/threats and made statements that were not factually accurate while representing my position. It was a bit embarrassing and not very professional. I would not recommend him.
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19 Apr, 2017 by Anonymous
Hired milks. Called for a year but secretary would say milks was out. Come to find out milks left Arlington location and was in Dallas. Milks never called or emailed. He was still my attorney. Also no knowledge
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16 Jun, 2016 by Anonymous
I ended up with JD as a result of my orginal lawyer leaving the firm he was partner with JD. That should have been a big red flag! I didn't have time or the money to search for another lawyer and figured since JD was at the same firm as my original lawyer, he would be just as prepared as good. BIG MISTAKE! JD sold me a fairytale during my consult with him and wheeled me in by stating he would review all my previous lawyers ,ie his former partner's notes, but did not! I noticed as the months went by that it go harder and harder to get in touch with his office and found out his paralegal had quit too! Another red flag! I couldn't get legal advise or a status update on my case. When I finally did get in touch with JD, he would brush it off and say they are short help and phone lines are messed up! How professional! I ended up having to hire another attorney and thankfully they were able to save my case at the last minute. My advise is, if an attorney's partner and paralegal leaves...RUN and save yourself the headache of being ignored and taken advanced of.
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25 Mar, 2021 by Andrea
This guy was horrible. He failed to get protective order in timely fashion or meet with me and tried to convince me of splitting my son 50/50 after the father abandoned, stalked, harassed, and was mentally unstable. He then said he needed an extra $7k retainer on top of $2.5k he already received. I fired him the next day and he refused to give any of the 7k back nor did he provide a single invoice. This man is a THIEF and should not be allowed to practice law for his lack of ethics.
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31 Dec, 2014 by Anonymous
He didn't seem to really work on the details of my case until the very day of mediation. Prior to that, he forgot about our meetings that didnt involve his payment and wasn't prepared for them which left us discussing the exact same things we had already discussed; yet, he had no problem charging me for that meeting and thensome. During one meeting (in which I paid him more $) he yelled and threw papers at me when he got upset that I wouldn't just agree with his point of view of how I should just forget about getting things that the mediated contract noted should have occurred. Yes, I know that complaining about paper being thrown at me sounds silly because it was merely paper, but it should not have happened in the first place. I never felt like he was "on my side" and his advice during mediation was just to give into what the other side demanded since it'll cost more $ in the long run...but that didn't stop him from charging me more than $3,000 after that! Very unprofessional! It'll be a waste of YOUR time and money.
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30 Dec, 2021 by Jose
SHE PRESIDES OVER HER COURT WITH GOD LIKE COMPLEX NOT ALLOWING PLAINTIFF OR DEFEDANTS THAT AREN'T IN HER BRITISH ACCREDITTED COUNTRY CLUB THE SAME PRIVILIGES AND LIBERTIES AFFORDED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHS ACT OF 1964. SHE SHOULD NEVER BE IN OFFICE. PERRIOD!!!!!!!!
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20 Jan, 2016 by Anonymous
I used Cynthia for my divorce and custody case, she was a little less expensive than the other consultation with another attorney... I got what I paid for. She didn't return my calls, emails or texts for months and when she finally did she claimed she never got my messages. I used a friends phone once and she answered right away but that didn't work after she had the number. She sat on paperwork, and then worded the decree incorrectly causing me to pay more money than I had to as well as having the attorney general put my child support payments on hold because of the verbiage being wrong on my decree so they couldn't send it to have the money taken from my ex husbands check. When I reached out to her I had to wait over a month to reach her and then she sat on the paperwork again and finally got to court several months later. She sent me a text saying the judged signed and she would send me the decree and my Q-Dro and I never received it nor was I able to reach her again. She was horrible!
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01 Jun, 2011 by Anonymous
Robert hooked me in with a low ball retainer. Then proceded, in my view, to represent my adversary. I fired Robert and hired a new attorney that very quickly addressed my needs that Robert had drawn out for weeks and Robert charged me more. Needless to say hiring two lawyers is expensive!
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08 Apr, 2011 by Anonymous
Wished I could disagree with prior rating... but had the misfortune of using Mr. Kizer. He talked a very good game. However, in my child custody case, where my child (1 of 2) wanted to live with us, he did the following items incorrectly or poorly :
*Advised us to file with the court WHILE the decree he had a copy of stated we must mediate (but we foolishly listened)
* Created simple filings that the opposing counsel had to correct AND he charged us for the fixes
* Advised us to get a child counselor to provide a witness for my child - while decree said not to do so (all of the procedural issues made the judge very angry)
* Day of court didn't even have child counselor letter (the one piece of evidence he wanted us to get) with him ** Didn't have us fill out a standard discovery document
* When we complained about the bill and the quality of work he ** demanded payment AND ** filed a letter with the court saying we were the problem
* We were specific about our complaints and they were not addressed.
** ADVICE TO YOU : STAY CLEAR. Hopefully this is specific enough so you know that the complaint is legitimate.
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07 Aug, 2023 by Anonymous
Never started the case. Don't text message your Attorney after they contact you. They bill you per letter e.g. (character) not sentence or reply! A busy Attorney doesn't mean their good... a one man show? Bottom line before retaining with credit / cash... Beware!
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09 Jun, 2022 by Anonymous
I would have done better representing myself. He promises so much, delivers nothing except requests for more money. My 12 year old could do more than he did.
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04 Jan, 2024 by Anonymous
I consulted with Ms. Jarrett for a landlord/tenant matter. She did not follow through or provide any help to me for reasons that I likely cannot mention here. Beware!
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30 Aug, 2022 by Anonymous
I first make contact with this law firm back in July and spoke to Linda Pesnell, Legal Assistant of William D. Farrar. Spoke about my potential case I explained the details and she asked me to send over a contract for review. I haven't heard from her for about maybe a couple of weeks so I decide to call it back to get an update she laughed and joked and said yeah you know Mr Farrar will review the case and get back to me. I sent a few emails that's a few messages. She returned my phone call and told me she is so sorry she put the file on his desk but he's just been not paying attention and that she would follow up and reassured me that someone will contact me. Well, several weeks passed and again I sent emails and plus messages. However I did not receive a phone call so I left another message and send some additional emails and then after several more weeks I get a call and she says oh I'm so sorry I will celebrating my birthday so I couldn't get back to you in a timely matter I will let Mr Farrar know. After another couple of weeks I hear nothing so I left a message and send emails. Then she calls me and says oh we apologize but Mr f a r r a r will be unable to take your case. So I asked, out of the inconvenience of me waiting almost 2 months could you please find someone for me or refer me to another attorney. She said okay and I never heard from her since. Completely unprofessional I would highly advise that you do not use their services.
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22 Aug, 2021 by Anonymous
Casey threatened our management firm after notifying a venue not to book our client without our permission. The threats of a lawsuit trying to coerce us to remove a negative review caused us great harm of free speech. We told them all was needed was a simple confirmation of our notification to their client but instead they persisted in strong arming tactics to try and intimidate us.
Very unpleasant and unwanted communication
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28 Jul, 2014 by Anonymous
Use your money else where he has no more fight in him. He did nothing for us. Never had a call back after he was paid in full. All bark NO BITE!
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22 May, 2017 by Anonymous
We used him for a probate. from start to finish it took much longer than it should have because Mr. Frishman, kept "going to trial" and never had time for us. when we would call would would leave messages with a secretary but were not sure if he got them. If he returned the call they were curt and he would say he does not do business by phone, and would reply to the emails the same way. yet when we made appts. found it very easy to cancel for other commitments.
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11 Nov, 2014 by Anonymous
I had the horrible pleasure of coming in contact with Mr. Edmond O'suji through a referral. In all my years I never seen such fraud, deceit and misrepresentation so much before in my life. This attorney has been deemed negligent, he failed to allow or advise me on proper process or ethical process of my case, he accepted a plea without my knowledge, he entered into a financial arrangement regarding my case without communicating anything to me. As a result my integrity and my case has been compromised. Future word of advice to any future prospects that are considering retaining this gentleman. Please do yourself a favor and save yourself the headache of dealing with dishonest attorney that will make provisions and accept pleas without your knowledge. He does not care about the consumer and has been known to misinform clients for his own gain.
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19 Jul, 2012 by Eugene
Once Mr. Rossi found out I was a member of the Texas Legal Protection Plan he was no longer interested in representing me. He is listed on TLPP's website as a provider of legal services to their members.
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26 Apr, 2017 by Eddiegabriel
I was referred to this very attorney, Reicke Bauman, byanother attorney. After he looked at my case, and decided Mr. BAUMAN WOULD BE BETTER EQUIPPED. BOY WAS HE WRONG! I can't say the same for Mr. BAUMAN, AND WON'T EVER. On 3 occasions Reicke Bauman was less than truthful, and never returned my calls or emailed the info he had promised, one mistrust after another. He went from...I'm optimistic about your case, to dodging phone calls and emails. Then after contacting Mr..Miller to ask, "was this guy real, as you have portrayed him?" Because he not only doesn't do what he says, in my case, he doesn't return calls. You get a crappy cell phone message it seems, with a less than a professional voicemail of him telling you, your not the only client...Well, I can't see him with many...for the way he treats them, (present company included). However; later, I found a very competent, (not working out of his house as it appeared for Mr. Bauman) real Attorney. I feel the sorriest for Mr. Robert Miller, who stuck his neck out, and referred the SHMUCK. Nothing He said, He did...NOTHING! AND IT WAS TOO EASY TO SAY, SIR, I CAN'T TAKE YOUR CASE AT THIS TIME, OR ANYTHING! BUT TO BLATANTLY LIE AROUND EVERY CORNER, AFTER BEING REFERRED, IS SOOOO UN-BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL. HE MIGHT BE GOOD AT WHAT HE DOES...BUT THEIR ARE BETTER I'M SURE, WITHOUT THE LIES.
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01 Mar, 2021 by Anonymous
This attorney represented an organization I was a board member of. The firm was disorganized - Mr. Treece was always on vacation. The firm was non-compliant including findings by the public utility commission for failure to meet requirements under state law. The firm was inept including mishandling of election processes that had to be redone multiple times because the firm's advice was not in compliance with state law. Avoid this attorney and this firm. They are TERRIBLE.
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28 Aug, 2015 by Anonymous
Don't waste your money with this attorney. Never calls back. Let my case just sit there for 18 months while I continued to ask for a court date. Nothing was being done an I couldn't even get him on the phone. Had to hire another attorney to finish my case.
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15 Aug, 2015 by Nicole
After meeting Mrs. Richards in person I found out she was very rude and unprofessional. As a client I didn't enjoy being talked down to or hearing her talk down to others around her. I choose not to allow her to continue to representing me. The last thing I wanted was for people to view me as being like her. Someone belittling others should not deal with the public in anyway. I was able to see first hand what people say about attorneys are sadly true!
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16 May, 2017 by Anonymous
Hired Zimmerman law firm for my custody case. The first person i spoke to was the office assistant. Explained my case and requested fees. She said Ms Zimmerman was out of town but that she would call her and get back to me soon. She called back stating that could take my case and quoted a fee. It seemed low so i asked what the payments would be. The assistant stated that was the full fee but that if the case turned or more complicate or went of a long time then anticipate i might be asked for then. I paid the fee that day.
I then didnt hear from anyone for always 2 weeks. I was in a panic not knowing if my answer had even been sent to the court. It was dur beginning of Nov. Our first phone appt was set for an evening but ms Zimmerman never called. When i called the office she stated she had forgot and would call me that even. We went over everything and i was advised to start working on my discovery questions.
There was minimal contact between ms Zimmerman and after that. Most correspondence was with the assistant.
I needed to speak directly to ms Zimmerman around Jan and made a few requests over a few days. After about a week she emailed me stating she would not continue to work on my case till i brought my accout current. Stating i had missed 2 monthly payments. What was due was not in the email and since i had never received bill and thought i had paid the entire fee upftont i was cometely confused.
I sent numerous emails, texts, phones and voicemails eventually begging someone to reply to me and jusy tell me how i could get it current. I actually had to contact another attorney to find out what my rights were. She advised me on what to say and do. Once i did that i finally received a response and owe quite a bit more. I had to pay it, we were months into my case.
The process continued on doing discovies ect. In Feb the assistant notifies me of my court date that is set in 36 hrs. Im completely surprised. Hours of calls and text message and i have found out they knew about the court date since Dec. Theyre place was to postpone because they weren't prepared but had learned at the last minute that couldnt happen. My options were court unprepared, enter into an amicus agree that the other side was proposing or fire my attorney and try to start over. Really the only option was the amicus which i was adamantly against. Mr zimmerman called begged me to give them the opportunity to fix everything. They were even going to cover half the amicus costs and let me pay out the rest. They would send paymeny immediately. They said its best to be first one payed.
After the amicus was assigned i didnt talk to my lawyers again. Not until the amicus never reveived payment and came after me 2 months later. My lawfirm mailed an important, time sensitive payment regular mail and never followed up to make sure payment was received. They have nothing to show proof of that first check being sent in Feb.
I have ultimately lost this custody case. My lawyers couldnt be reached the entire day the recommendations came out.
The sent me a detailed explanation of why i lost why i verified thru the amicus was completely false.
And now its been 5 days since i asked for some kind of billing stated on case and still have not received it. Child custody is just too important to deal these kind of issues. Beware of this lawfirm
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31 Oct, 2017 by Anonymous
she wont fight for you. You can accomplish more on your own. Biggest waste of time and money. I hired her to handle my divorce. She accomplished nothing in over a year.
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22 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
Did not do anything to earn the money. Had to do all research during discovery period myself my
Very unhappy with results
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27 Aug, 2024 by Anonymous
Shawn Jaffer and there attorneys are not litigation lawyers to represent you in credit bureau lawsuits. They do not represent you to the best of there ability or represent you in your best interest. I wasted 31/2 years of disputes and cfpb complaints in 8 months hiring These incompetent lawyers since January 2024. They file motions to withdraw from your case or motions to dismiss your case
with excuses. They don't always take your phone calls. In my opinion These attorneys don't work for you to win, there against you. Think twice before you hire this firm. Speak to many different lawyers first before jumping in with this firm..you may end up botching your case up using I say this lightly, don't waste your time, there not skilled enough in the fcra litigation business. You can decide..when they lose or dismiss your case.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Debt Collection Lawyer Can Do for You
A debt collection lawyer helps individuals and businesses navigate legal matters related to debt collection. Whether you’re a creditor seeking to recover unpaid debts or a debtor facing aggressive collection actions, a debt collection lawyer can provide valuable assistance. These lawyers help creditors pursue legal action to collect overdue debts and ensure compliance with debt collection laws. On the debtor’s side, they help defend against unlawful collection practices, negotiate repayment plans, or file for bankruptcy if necessary.
If you’re dealing with a debt collection issue, a lawyer can ensure your rights are protected and work toward a resolution that aligns with your financial or business needs.
When Should I Hire a Debt Collection Lawyer?
You should consider hiring a debt collection lawyer if you are facing any of the following situations:
-
For Creditors:
- Unpaid debts: If you’re a creditor (such as a business or individual) with unpaid invoices, loans, or accounts receivable, a lawyer can help you pursue legal action to recover the debt.
- Debtor refuses to pay: When a debtor is unwilling or unable to make payments, a lawyer can assist with filing lawsuits, securing judgments, and enforcing those judgments to collect the debt.
- Negotiating repayment plans: If you’re willing to work with a debtor to arrange a payment plan, a lawyer can negotiate and draft a legally enforceable agreement.
- Legal representation in court: If a debtor disputes the debt or countersues, a lawyer can represent you in court and ensure your legal interests are protected.
- Securing liens or garnishments: A lawyer can help you secure liens on a debtor’s property or garnishments on their wages to recover the owed debt.
-
For Debtors:
- Facing debt collection lawsuits: If you’ve been sued by a creditor or collection agency, a lawyer can represent you in court and help you defend against the claim or negotiate a settlement.
- Debt collection harassment: If creditors or debt collection agencies are harassing you or violating your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a lawyer can help stop the harassment and potentially sue for damages.
- Negotiating debt settlements: If you owe a significant amount of money but want to avoid bankruptcy, a lawyer can negotiate with creditors to reduce the total amount owed or set up a payment plan.
- Disputing a debt: If you believe a debt is incorrect or have been wrongfully targeted by debt collectors, a lawyer can help you dispute the claim and provide evidence to resolve the matter.
- Bankruptcy options: If your debts are overwhelming and you’re unable to repay them, a debt collection lawyer can help you explore bankruptcy as an option for debt relief.
Hiring a lawyer early in the process can help you protect your financial interests and avoid escalating legal issues.
What Does a Debt Collection Lawyer Do?
A debt collection lawyer provides a variety of services depending on whether they are representing the creditor or the debtor. Their responsibilities often include:
-
For Creditors:
- Filing lawsuits: A lawyer can file a lawsuit against a debtor who has failed to pay what they owe. This includes preparing and submitting legal documents, representing you in court, and pursuing judgments.
- Negotiating settlements: If the debtor is willing to settle, the lawyer can negotiate a payment arrangement or reduced settlement that ensures you recover some or all of the debt.
- Securing judgments and enforcement: After obtaining a court judgment, a lawyer can help enforce it through methods like wage garnishment, bank levies, or property liens.
- Reviewing contracts and agreements: A lawyer can review your contracts and lending agreements to ensure that they comply with the law and are enforceable if a debtor defaults.
-
For Debtors:
- Defending against debt collection lawsuits: If you’re being sued by a creditor, a lawyer can challenge the lawsuit, dispute the debt’s validity, or negotiate a more favorable settlement.
- Stopping harassment: If debt collectors are using unlawful practices to collect a debt (such as threatening you or contacting you excessively), a lawyer can intervene and protect your rights.
- Negotiating debt relief: A lawyer can negotiate with creditors to reduce the total amount of debt you owe or develop a manageable payment plan that suits your financial situation.
- Disputing inaccurate debts: If a debt is not valid, a lawyer can help you gather evidence to dispute the claim and prevent further collection actions.
- Filing for bankruptcy: If your debts are overwhelming, a lawyer can advise you on whether filing for bankruptcy is the best option and help you through the process.
How Are Debt Collection Lawyers Paid?
Debt collection lawyers typically charge for their services in different ways depending on the complexity of the case and whether they represent a creditor or debtor. Common payment structures include:
- Hourly rate: Many debt collection lawyers charge by the hour, with rates typically ranging from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience and the case’s complexity. Hourly fees are common when the lawyer is representing either party in litigation or negotiation.
- Contingency fee: For creditors, some lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if they successfully recover the debt. Their fee is typically a percentage of the recovered amount, usually ranging from 20% to 40%.
- Flat fee: For specific services, such as reviewing a contract, drafting a demand letter, or defending a straightforward debt collection lawsuit, a lawyer may charge a flat fee.
- Retainer: For larger or ongoing cases, a lawyer may require a retainer fee ranging from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the complexity of the case and the expected duration.
It’s important to discuss fees with your lawyer during the initial consultation and understand the total cost of their services before proceeding with your case.
How Much Does a Debt Collection Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a debt collection lawyer depends on whether you are a creditor or debtor, the complexity of the case, and the lawyer’s experience. General cost estimates include:
- Hourly rates: Most debt collection lawyers charge between $150 and $500 per hour. Complex cases involving litigation or large amounts of money may result in higher legal fees.
- Contingency fees: If the lawyer works on a contingency basis, they typically charge between 20% and 40% of the recovered amount. For example, if you recover $10,000 and the contingency fee is 30%, the lawyer would take $3,000.
- Flat fees: For simpler services like drafting a demand letter or responding to a debt collection lawsuit, flat fees may range from $500 to $2,500, depending on the work required.
- Retainers: For larger or ongoing cases, a lawyer may require a retainer fee ranging from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the complexity of the case and the expected duration.
Always ask for a detailed cost estimate during your consultation to avoid surprises and ensure that the services fit your budget.
Top Questions to Ask a Debt Collection Lawyer
Before hiring a debt collection lawyer, it’s important to ask the right questions to ensure they have the experience and expertise to handle your case. Key questions to ask include:
-
What experience do you have with debt collection cases?
Make sure the lawyer has experience handling cases similar to yours, whether you’re a creditor or debtor. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges by the hour, on a contingency fee basis, or a flat fee, and ask for a detailed estimate of the total cost. -
What is the likelihood of success in my case?
Ask the lawyer for an honest assessment of your case and the potential outcomes. -
How long will the process take?
Debt collection cases can take time, so ask the lawyer how long they expect the process to last, from filing the claim to recovering the debt or resolving the dispute. -
What are my legal rights?
Ask the lawyer to explain your rights as a creditor or debtor, including protections under laws like the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). -
Will you personally handle my case?
In larger firms, junior attorneys or paralegals may handle parts of the case. Make sure you know who will be managing your case.
How to Check the Credibility of a Debt Collection Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable debt collection lawyer, take the following steps to verify their credentials and track record:
- Verify their bar status: Check with your state bar association to confirm that the lawyer is licensed to practice law and has no history of disciplinary actions.
- Look for debt collection experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in debt collection law and have successfully handled cases like yours.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for client reviews on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to see what previous clients have said about the lawyer’s professionalism and ability to handle debt collection cases.
- Ask for references: A reputable lawyer should be able to provide references from past clients who have worked with them on debt collection matters.
- Check for certifications or memberships: Look for certifications or memberships in organizations like the National Creditors Bar Association (NCBA) or other relevant associations that focus on debt collection law.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To get the most out of your first consultation with a debt collection lawyer, it’s important to come prepared with relevant documents and information. Here’s what you should bring:
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For Creditors:
- List of outstanding debts: Bring a detailed list of the debts owed to you or your business, including invoices, contracts, or other supporting documentation.
- Previous communication with the debtor: Provide copies of any emails, letters, or phone call logs showing attempts to collect the debt.
- Contracts or agreements: Bring any contracts or agreements related to the debt, as they may be critical in proving your case.
- Judgment information (if applicable): If you’ve already obtained a court judgment against the debtor, bring the judgment documents and any enforcement attempts.
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For Debtors:
- Debt collection letters or notices: Bring any correspondence from creditors or collection agencies, including demand letters and collection notices.
- Payment records: Provide proof of any payments made toward the debt, including receipts, canceled checks, or bank statements.
- Debt validation or dispute documentation: If you’ve disputed the debt or requested validation, bring copies of the dispute letters and the creditor’s response.
- Legal summons or lawsuit documentation: If you’re facing a lawsuit, bring the court summons, complaint, and any legal documents related to the case.
By preparing thoroughly for your consultation, you can help the lawyer assess your situation more effectively and provide the best legal advice tailored to your needs.
