Debt Collection, Garnishment, Repossession
Financial Protection Assistance
Offers information on various financial topics, empowering consumers with knowledge on banking, loans, credit, fraud prevention, and more.
Disputing Credit Card Charges
It takes a little patience and knowledge of the dispute settlement procedures provided by the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA).
Financial Protection Assistance
Offers information on various financial topics, empowering consumers with knowledge on banking, loans, credit, fraud prevention, and more.
Medical Debt Information for Consumers - Los Angeles County
Provides information and resources about medical debt, including tips for managing and preventing it, understanding consumer rights, and accessing financial assistance programs for those impacted by medical bills.
Financial Protection Assistance
Offers information on various financial topics, empowering consumers with knowledge on banking, loans, credit, fraud prevention, and more.
Financial Protection Assistance
Offers information on various financial topics, empowering consumers with knowledge on banking, loans, credit, fraud prevention, and more.
Auto Repossession
Covers how vehicle repossessions work, what happens after a car is repossessed, and options to avoid repossession such as negotiating payments or voluntary surrender.
Vehicle Repossessions
This page explains your rights and responsibilities if your car is repossessed (voluntarily or involuntarily), including how to get your vehicle back, what notices you must receive, and how to retrieve personal items from the car.
What should I do if I can’t make my car payments?
If you’re experiencing financial difficulties, it may be difficult to know where to start, but there may be a number of options to help you address short or longer-term financial challenges. You also have rights and protections if you’re at risk of having your car or vehicle repossessed.
Auto Repossession
Covers how vehicle repossessions work, what happens after a car is repossessed, and options to avoid repossession such as negotiating payments or voluntary surrender.
Vehicle Repossessions
This page explains your rights and responsibilities if your car is repossessed (voluntarily or involuntarily), including how to get your vehicle back, what notices you must receive, and how to retrieve personal items from the car.
Auto Repossession
Covers how vehicle repossessions work, what happens after a car is repossessed, and options to avoid repossession such as negotiating payments or voluntary surrender.
Vehicle Repossession
If you don’t make your car payments on time, your lender might have the right to take your car without going to court or telling you first. Here’s what to do if you can’t make car payments or if your car is repossessed. This article has more information about the federal laws regulating repossessions, but there may be California laws that apply too.
Vehicle Repossessions
This page explains your rights and responsibilities if your car is repossessed (voluntarily or involuntarily), including how to get your vehicle back, what notices you must receive, and how to retrieve personal items from the car.
Auto Repossession
Covers how vehicle repossessions work, what happens after a car is repossessed, and options to avoid repossession such as negotiating payments or voluntary surrender.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
ADR Types and Benefits. The Judicial Council of California has created a video series with descriptions of different kinds of dispute resolution and where each might be helpful.
Ask for a Fee Waiver if you can't afford filing fees
In most cases, you have to pay a fee to file papers with the court. If you can’t afford the filing fee, you can ask the court for a “fee waiver” in order to file for free. With a fee waiver, you also may not have to pay for certified copies, sheriff's service of process fees, or other costs related to starting a case, such as the cost for a court reporter to be at your trial.
Dealing with Errors on Your Consumer Report
You have the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information in any consumer report prepared about you by a consumer reporting agency (CRA) including credit reporting agencies (credit bureaus) and specialty agencies (check writing history, medical records, rental history).
Debt Collection - Know Your Rights
Thanks to laws enacted in California and nationwide, there are rules that debt collectors and buyers must abide by. In addition, these laws establish rights for consumers that these companies cannot violate. Here are some of the rights you have as a consumer. This page has some of the rights you have as a California consumer.
Financial Protection Assistance
Offers information on various financial topics, empowering consumers with knowledge on banking, loans, credit, fraud prevention, and more.
Get Real Debt Help!
Having trouble paying your credit card bills? Is your home in danger of foreclosure? Many people are struggling with debts. Ads from companies offering to help may be tempting, but beware – it could be a trap that will leave you worse off than before. Learn how to avoid scams and get real help with your debt problems. This resource has more information on possible options for debt relief! Note that this resource has information on federal legal protections. You may have additional rights under California law. Click "Find Legal Help" to find an attorney to see how this applies to your situation.
Medical Debt and Your Rights
The Health Consumer Alliance is here to help you understand your medical bills and whether you can reduce your debt.
Medical Debt Collection – Know Your Rights
If you are a California consumer with a medical bill that has been sent to a debt collector, you have rights! Before paying a debt collector with possible fake claims, or worse, getting involved with a lawsuit or paying expensive penalties, it’s important to know your rights and your options.
Debt Collection - Know Your Rights
Thanks to laws enacted in California and nationwide, there are rules that debt collectors and buyers must abide by. In addition, these laws establish rights for consumers that these companies cannot violate. Here are some of the rights you have as a consumer. This page has some of the rights you have as a California consumer.
How to Complain
This guide offers suggestions to help you get results when you have a problem with the purchase of goods or services. It explains the proper way to make a complaint, and also discusses using government agencies, consumer groups, lawyers and small claims court. A sample complaint letter and a list of compliant-handling agencies are included.
Disputing Credit Card Charges
It takes a little patience and knowledge of the dispute settlement procedures provided by the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA).
Get Real Debt Help!
Having trouble paying your credit card bills? Is your home in danger of foreclosure? Many people are struggling with debts. Ads from companies offering to help may be tempting, but beware – it could be a trap that will leave you worse off than before. Learn how to avoid scams and get real help with your debt problems. This resource has more information on possible options for debt relief! Note that this resource has information on federal legal protections. You may have additional rights under California law. Click "Find Legal Help" to find an attorney to see how this applies to your situation.
Medical Debt Information for Consumers - Los Angeles County
Provides information and resources about medical debt, including tips for managing and preventing it, understanding consumer rights, and accessing financial assistance programs for those impacted by medical bills.
Vehicle Repossessions
This page explains your rights and responsibilities if your car is repossessed (voluntarily or involuntarily), including how to get your vehicle back, what notices you must receive, and how to retrieve personal items from the car.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
ADR Types and Benefits. The Judicial Council of California has created a video series with descriptions of different kinds of dispute resolution and where each might be helpful.
Ask for a Fee Waiver if you can't afford filing fees
In most cases, you have to pay a fee to file papers with the court. If you can’t afford the filing fee, you can ask the court for a “fee waiver” in order to file for free. With a fee waiver, you also may not have to pay for certified copies, sheriff's service of process fees, or other costs related to starting a case, such as the cost for a court reporter to be at your trial.
Auto Repossession
Covers how vehicle repossessions work, what happens after a car is repossessed, and options to avoid repossession such as negotiating payments or voluntary surrender.
Bankruptcy Basics Videos
This video series from the US Bankruptcy Courts has information on the requirements for bankruptcy cases. Some of this information may be out of date. Confirm with an attorney before acting on this information.
California Attorney General: Charity Care and Medical Bills
If you cannot afford to pay your hospital medical bills, you may be eligible to have part or all of the bill forgiven as Charity Care under California’s Hospital Fair Pricing Policies law.
Coping with Debt
If you or someone you know is in financial hot water, consider the options in this resource.
Dealing with Errors on Your Consumer Report
You have the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information in any consumer report prepared about you by a consumer reporting agency (CRA) including credit reporting agencies (credit bureaus) and specialty agencies (check writing history, medical records, rental history).
Debt Collection - Know Your Rights
Thanks to laws enacted in California and nationwide, there are rules that debt collectors and buyers must abide by. In addition, these laws establish rights for consumers that these companies cannot violate. Here are some of the rights you have as a consumer. This page has some of the rights you have as a California consumer.
Disputing Credit Card Charges
It takes a little patience and knowledge of the dispute settlement procedures provided by the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA).
Dollar For
Dollar For helps you apply for financial assistance from your hospital. We don’t pay your bills — we get the hospital to forgive them.
Financial Protection Assistance
Offers information on various financial topics, empowering consumers with knowledge on banking, loans, credit, fraud prevention, and more.
Get Real Debt Help!
Having trouble paying your credit card bills? Is your home in danger of foreclosure? Many people are struggling with debts. Ads from companies offering to help may be tempting, but beware – it could be a trap that will leave you worse off than before. Learn how to avoid scams and get real help with your debt problems. This resource has more information on possible options for debt relief! Note that this resource has information on federal legal protections. You may have additional rights under California law. Click "Find Legal Help" to find an attorney to see how this applies to your situation.
Hospital Fair Pricing Policy Search Tool
Look up a hospital's fair pricing policies in California.
How to Complain
This guide offers suggestions to help you get results when you have a problem with the purchase of goods or services. It explains the proper way to make a complaint, and also discusses using government agencies, consumer groups, lawyers and small claims court. A sample complaint letter and a list of compliant-handling agencies are included.
Medical Debt and Hospital Bills Dispute Program
File a complaint if you were denied financial assistance for your hospital bill. Find hospital policies and applications for charity care and discount payment, and hospital debt collection policies.
Medical Debt and Your Rights
The Health Consumer Alliance is here to help you understand your medical bills and whether you can reduce your debt.
Medical Debt Collection – Know Your Rights
If you are a California consumer with a medical bill that has been sent to a debt collector, you have rights! Before paying a debt collector with possible fake claims, or worse, getting involved with a lawsuit or paying expensive penalties, it’s important to know your rights and your options.
Medical Debt Information for Consumers - Los Angeles County
Provides information and resources about medical debt, including tips for managing and preventing it, understanding consumer rights, and accessing financial assistance programs for those impacted by medical bills.
Natural Disasters and Your Federal Student Loans and Grants
Questions and Answers for borrowers and students impacted by federally declared natural disasters.
Vehicle Repossession
If you don’t make your car payments on time, your lender might have the right to take your car without going to court or telling you first. Here’s what to do if you can’t make car payments or if your car is repossessed. This article has more information about the federal laws regulating repossessions, but there may be California laws that apply too.
Vehicle Repossessions
This page explains your rights and responsibilities if your car is repossessed (voluntarily or involuntarily), including how to get your vehicle back, what notices you must receive, and how to retrieve personal items from the car.
What should I do if I can’t make my car payments?
If you’re experiencing financial difficulties, it may be difficult to know where to start, but there may be a number of options to help you address short or longer-term financial challenges. You also have rights and protections if you’re at risk of having your car or vehicle repossessed.