Warning: Self-Help Resources are NOT legal advice and may not apply to your case. Please talk to a lawyer about the facts of your case.
There are 45 resources
AIDS Law Manual: Creditors and Bankruptcy
(Separate Website)
This manual is intended to be legal information, and should not be considered as legal advice. Individuals should consult with an attorney.
By: AIDS Legal Referral Panel
Approved Credit Counseling Agencies in California
(Separate Website)
By: United States Department of Justice -- U.S. Trustee Program
Approved Debtor Education Agencies in California
(Separate Website)
By: United States Department of Justice -- U.S. Trustee Program
Complaint Resolution Program
(Separate Website)
The Program is responsible for resolving consumer complaints. Complaints are assigned to a representative, who will assist in resolving the complaint.
By: State of California Department of Consumer Affairs
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Consumer Financial Rights
(Separate Website)
Glossary of Federal and State laws regulations covering many services offered by financial institutions.
By: FDIC
Consumer Form Letters and Opt Out Information
(Separate Website)
Sample letters for debt collection, credit reports, and credit disputes.
By: Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
Consumer's Guide to Repossession Practices
(Separate Website)
This brochure was prepared to help you understand your rights and responsibilities as a consumer, and to answer common questions about repossession agencies and their practices.
By: California Department of Consumer Affairs -- Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
Creditors Seeking Federal Benefits in Your Bank Account? Understanding Your Rights
(Separate Website)
If you receive federal benefits and have an unpaid debt, a creditor or the debt collector it hires may get a court order to try to take money from your bank account to pay the debt. The court order is called a garnishment.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Dealing with Debt Collection Harassment
(Separate Website)
If you are being harassed by debt collectors, you
should consider the following eight steps.
By: National Consumer Law Center
Read this in:
Chinese / 中文
,
Spanish / Español
Debt Collection Form Letters
(Separate Website)
Sample letters for debt collection, credit reports, and credit disputes.
By: Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
Debt Collection Frequently Asked Questions: A Guide for Consumers
(Separate Website)
Here are some questions and answers about your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
By: Federal Trade Commission
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Debt Collection Practices: When Hardball Tactics Go Too Far
(Separate Website)
This guide provides information about how to stop calls from collectors and how to talk with them about your account or to dispute a collection action. It also explains your right to privacy, and how debt collection efforts may affect your job, your credit report, even information in your medical files.
By: Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
Fair Credit Billing
(Separate Website)
Have you ever been billed for merchandise you returned or never received? Has your credit card company ever charged you twice for the same item or failed to credit a payment to your account?Here is information about the dispute settlement procedures provided by the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA).
By: Federal Trade Commission
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Fair Debt Collection
(Separate Website)
By: Central California Legal Services, Inc.
Fair Debt Collection Facts for Consumers
(Separate Website)
This brochure answers commonly asked questions about your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
By: Federal Trade Commission
For People on Debt Management Plans: A Must Do-List
(Separate Website)
Frequently Asked Questions about Debt Collection
(Separate Website)
By: Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
Glossary of Legal Terms
(Separate Website)
A Glossary of terms from the California Courts Self-Help Center
By: Administrative Office of the Courts
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Going to Court Without a Lawyer - Representing Yourself in Court
(Separate Website)
Whatever the reason, you have the right to represent yourself, to be your own lawyer in all cases in California. It is very important that you learn about what is at stake in your case.
By: Administrative Office of the Courts
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
How to Complain: Guidelines for Resolving Complaints
(Separate Website)
An illustrated booklet that gives helpful advice for resolving complaints.
By: Consumer Action
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
How's Your Legal Health?
(Separate Website)
Legal Health Checklist
By: The State Bar of California
Improve Your Credit: Put Bad Credit Behind You
(Separate Website)
An easy-to-read brochure that explains why having good credit is important, your rights, how to check your credit report, how to dispute mistakes, and how to begin to rebuild good credit.
By: Consumer Action
Read this in:
Chinese / 中文
,
Korean / 한국어
,
Spanish / Español
,
Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt
Legal Document Assistants (LDAs)
(Separate Website)
A Legal Document Assistant is NOT a Lawyer. By law, they cannot give you legal advice or represent you in the courts in any matter. An LDA is a professional who is authorized to prepare legal documents for a client, but only at the direction of the client.
By: California Association of Legal Document Assistants (CALDA)
Managing Debt, Facts for Consumers
(Separate Website)
Information about credit counseling, debt management plans, and debt consolidation.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Paying the Debts of a Deceased Relative: Who Is Responsible?
(Separate Website)
By: Federal Trade Commission
Public Law Library of Alameda County
(Separate Website)
Open to the public, the county law library provides legal information material and resources held in its collection for your research.
By: Council of California County Law Librarians
Questions and Answers on Home Foreclosure and Debt Cancellation
(Separate Website)
By: United States Internal Revenue Service
Rebuilding Good Credit
(Separate Website)
It's worth your effort!
By: Consumer Action
Simple Steps Can Prevent Tax Scams as Private Debt Collection Begins
(Separate Website)
Information for taxpayers to protect against scam artists impersonating as the IRS.
By: Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Deptartment of Treasury
Summary of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Statutes
(Separate Website)
This Legal Guide covers the federal and California fair debt collection practices statutes. The fair debt collection practices statutes promote honest, fair, and responsible debt collection by giving consumer debtors specific rights.
By: California Department of Consumer Affairs
Take Charge California!
(Separate Website)
This website contains information about how to be a smart, safe, and protected consumer. Includes information on how to file complaints.
By: State of California Department of Consumer Affairs
The California Domestic Partnership Law: What it Means for You and Your Family
(Separate Website)
The purpose of this publication is to provide information about California's domestic partnership law to couples who are registered as domestic partners with the State of California or who are considering doing so.
By: National Center for Lesbian Rights
Time-Barred Debts
(Separate Website)
"Time-barred" debts are debts so old they are beyond the point at which a creditor or debt collector may sue you to collect.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Vehicle Repossession
(Separate Website)
Facts for Consumers
By: Federal Trade Commission
Wage Garnishment
(Separate Website)
Wage garnishment occurs when an employer withholds the earnings of an individual for the payment of a debt as the result of a court order or other equitable procedure.
By: United States Department of Labor
What are Fair Debt Collection Practices?
(Separate Website)
Debt collectors face unique challenges that can tempt some in the business to engage in illegal behavior. If you believe that a debt collector is hounding or threatening you, it may be time to review your legal rights.
By: Better Business Bureau
What Can A Lawyer Referral Service Do For Me?
(Separate Website)
What Can I Do if I'm Being Harassed by a Collection Agency?
(Separate Website)
Answers from the Consumer Action Help Desk
By: Consumer Action
What to Do if You Receive a Demand for Payment from a Creditor or Debt Collection Agency
(Separate Website)
This Legal Guide gives you information that will help you respond to a demand for payment from a creditor or debt collection agency.
By: California Department of Consumer Affairs
What You Should Know about Debt Collection
(Separate Website)
This brochure provides a summary of your
rights when dealing with collectors and some
guidelines for determining what debts should
be given priority in a financial crisis.
By: National Consumer Law Center
What You Should Know About Foreclosure Prevention and the Various Stages of Foreclosure
(Separate Website)
By: Project Sentinel
Your Rights under California's Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
(Separate Website)
This is a general guide and not intended as legal advice.
By: California Department of Justice -- Office of the Attorney General
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