We are Collection Defense Attorneys serving the following counties in Illinois:
- Cook (Chicago)
- DuPage
- Kane
- Kendall
- Lake
- McHenry
- Will
- Winnebago
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We are Collection Defense Attorneys serving the following counties in Illinois:
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We focus on defending against lawsuits by debt collectors and offer an unheard of 100% money back guarantee
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) allows consumers to sue debt collectors that break the law. We hold debt collectors accountable when they violate the FDCPA.
Many of these companies prey on people trying to settle their debts. They often take a lot of money but leave consumers worse than they were before. If you hired a debt settlement company, call us to find out if you have a claim against them for breaking the law.
The Chicago consumer law center helped with case involving Calvary collection agency. I was given clear and concise information on the process, fees and timeline. The result was better than expected. I highly recommend this firm.
...Chicago Consumer Law Center got my $25,000 and $5,000 lawsuit dismissed.
A Collection Agency was suing me for $25,000 and $5,000. I was frightened by the letters. I was receiving phone calls and mail advertisements about a lawsuit I knew NOTHING about. I did not know where to turn. I saw a mail advertisement from Chicago Consumer Law Cent...
The Chicago Consumer Law Center is a fantastic firm that handled and won my first case against a debt collection agency called Cavalry. Out of nowhere, a lawsuit was delivered to my house via police officer and I immediately felt very overwhelmed.
In the next few days, a few letters from different firms reached out to offer their services...
Chicago Consumer Law Center is a great law firm. A job well done representing me against Cavalry Portfolio Services. LLC.
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We understand where you’re coming from! Click on one of the items below to view answers to some possible questions you might have.
Yes, definitely. Debt collectors file collection lawsuits and count on people ignoring a case (about 90%) or trying to settle it themselves (about 8%). 2% of people hire an attorney but often settle. An experienced attorney focused on litigating debt collection lawsuits can usually get the case dismissed.
With a Default Judgment a debt collector or creditor can freeze your bank accounts and take money out, garnish your wages, and put a lien on any property you have. In Illinois they can also charge 9% annual interest until the full amount is paid. Debt collectors count on a Default Judgment since 90% of people don’t show up in court and have a Default Judgment entered against them.
A Default Judgment will probably be entered against you. A Default Judgment means the case is over and the company suing you wins.
In Illinois, collection lawsuit trials are either in front of a judge (bench trial), which is the default, or with a jury of your peers. We file our Appearances with Jury Demands so that if a case goes to trial the jury determines the verdict.
An Appearance is a document you file with the court to let it know you are going to participate in the lawsuit. You or your attorney must file an Appearance within 30 days of you being served with the lawsuit. The deadline is known as the Appearance Date or Return Date. You have an option of making a Jury Demand which we almost always recommend doing.
No. This is probably the most common misunderstanding about a lawsuit. The Appearance Date or Return Date is a deadline to file an Appearance and Jury Demand. It is not a court date and you don’t have to go to court.
If it’s not the company that lent you the money, like a credit card company, they’re probably a debt buyer. A debt buyer is a company that buys defaulted debts then tries to collect or sue for the full amount.
I can’t tell you yes or no but I can give you some information on what could happen. They’ll probably have you sign something you don’t understand, likely an Agreed Judgment Order or similar, where you admit your guilty. They’ll file it with the court. Now you have a judgment against you. They won’t give you anything in writing, they won’t give you an accounting of your payments. Remember, they’re working in their best interest, not yours. You have to be willing to trust the lawyers suing you.
People get scared, figure they can’t win, don’t want to deal with court, and settle. They do this before finding out what their options are, which is mainly that cases filed by debt collectors can be won without paying them anything.
Probably not. If the debt buyer can’t serve you personally through the sheriff or process server, they can ask the judge if they can serve you by Certified Mail.
If you hire us we take over and take care of everything. You do not have to go to court. If you don’t hire an attorney to represent you, yes you do have to go to court on your own.