Fair Debt Collection & Consumer Rights Lawyers in Chicago, Illinois

Larry P. Smith & Associates, Ltd.

205 North Michigan Avenue Suite 4000 Chicago, Illinois 60601 USA

 (312) 222-9028

www.protectingconsumerrights.com
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Law Firm Overview Free Consultation

Larry P. Smith & Associates, Ltd., located centrally in Chicago, Illinois, is a private law firm with its focus on consumer rights. Since 2005, Smith & Associates has handled various consumer rights matters including fraudulent transactions, debt collector harassment protection, credit report inaccuracy problems, and lemon law cases for automobiles and consumer products. Our goal is to resolve the individual consumer's case swiftly and painlessly.

We are certified to handle cases throughout the federal districts of all of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, and Arkansas, as well as Missouri, Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Kansas. We also work with a great network of consumer rights attorneys in other states and have successfully handled matters throughout the country.

Practice Areas

Additional Practice Areas: Chapter 7 Bankruptcy; Chapter 13 Bankruptcy; Fair Credit Reporting Act; Fair Debt Collections; Consumer Fraud Protection.

Practice Areas Description

Larry P. Smith & Associates provides legal representation and services in the following areas of practice:

- Consumer Fraud Protection

Contact our office for a free case review of some of the following examples of consumer fraud cases we have seen:
• Misrepresenting or concealing that your vehicle had never been damaged before when, in fact, it has been in a prior accident.
• Misrepresenting or concealing the ownership history to hide the fact that the vehicle was previously a rent-a-car.
• Concealing that the vehicle was previously a rebuilt wreck, or was considered a total loss in a prior accident.
• Misrepresenting the actual mileage on the odometer
• Forgery or loan documents to alter financing terms
• Misrepresenting financing terms or that you were financed when you were not.

- Debt Collection

Abusive personal debt collection practices contribute to the number of personal bankruptcies, to marital instability, to the loss of jobs, and to invasions of individual privacy. Therefore, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was created to promote fair debt collection laws & procedures and to protect consumers against debt collection abuses. You have rights as a consumer when a debt collector is pursuing you. Larry P. Smith & Associates, a debt collection law firm, has been protecting consumer rights since 2005.

- Credit Report Problems

If you need to dispute a credit report, Larry P. Smith & Associates can provide helpful experience in legal credit repair as well as credit report dispute. The following information on how to dispute a credit report will make the process easier: Credit Reporting agencies have a duty to report items on your credit report with maximum possible accuracy. If any credit reporting agency is reporting anything on your credit file inaccurately, the Fair Credit Reporting Act provides for a method of disputing. The Fair Credit Reporting Act provides that upon receipt of a credit report dispute from a consumer, the agency must conduct a reasonable investigation into your dispute.

- Lemon Laws

If your new car needs repeated repairs or it has been out of service for several days, it may be a lemon and you may be entitled to a cash settlement, a refund or a new car. Even if your vehicle does not meet the lemon law requirements of your state, you may still be entitled to a cash settlement, refund or new car under federal law. Our experienced lemon law attorneys are here to walk you through every aspect of the lemon law process and make it quick and easy. Most of all, we can put an end to the headaches with your car.

- Bankruptcy

Many people face difficult economic times where making ends meet becomes impossible while debt piles up. Creditors and collectors will aggressively pursue the money they are owed regardless of your difficult situation. In many circumstances, they will file a lawsuit, obtain a judgment, and garnish your wages or your bank account. Personal Bankruptcy laws can save you a great deal of loss when your debts outweigh what you have. Our firm is a debt relief agency. We help people file for personal bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.

• Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is more commonly used by individuals who have only basic property, with little or no money beyond what's needed for monthly essentials. The process for Chapter 7 bankruptcy moves fairly quickly, and your debts may be discharged within just a few months. Chapter 7 bankruptcy often times lets you start fresh, with no liability for discharged debts. Creditors can't contact you during an automatic "stay" or after discharge of debt, which provides relief from harassment.

• Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Chapter 13 bankruptcy is more commonly used by individuals who have enough income to pay their expenses and want to keep their home equity or other property, but can't keep up regular debt payments. Chapter 13 bankruptcy also operates on a schedule that you've worked out with the bankruptcy trustee, and allows you anywhere from three to five years to get caught up with payments. Instead of dealing with individual creditors, you can make a single monthly payment to the bankruptcy trustee and not worry about interest during the time you're repaying what you owe.

• Identity Theft

Identity theft can be considered anything from a complete stranger hacking into your accounts or opening credit cards in your name, to the unfortunate circumstance of a friend or family member using your information for their own personal gain. Either way, the results can be dreadful -- ranging from personal bankruptcy to outrageous credit card debt settlement. Unfortunately, no matter what you do to protect yourself, you may still become a victim. Data breaches are constantly making the news as numerous financial institutions and retail stores are being hacked into. We, as consumers, cannot prevent a rogue employee from stealing company information and selling it to others for profit.

Attorneys

Mr. Larry P. Smith Managing Attorney Consumer Law, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collections

More Information on Larry P. Smith & Associates, Ltd.

Consumer Rights Attorney, Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois Consumer Fraud Lawyers
Debt Collection Attorneys, Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, IL Legal Credit Repair Attorneys
Lemon Law Firm in Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, IL Personal Bankruptcy Attorney
Credit Report Dispute Lawyer, Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Lawyer
Contact Larry P. Smith & Associates, Ltd.