Provides legal advice for the following issues for low-income debtors:
-  Lawsuits and issues related to debt collection
-  Collection agency abuse
-  Supplemental proceedings
-  Garnishment
-  Auto purchase or auto loan disputes
-  Consumer scams
-  Contracts/warranties
-  Identity theft
-  Predatory lending
-  Student loans (federally subsidized or private)
-  Overpayments to debt creditors
-  Poor credit
-  Debts to a landlord, or client is considering breaking their lease

Does not assist clients with bankruptcy, but can help a client decide if bankruptcy is a good option. 
Interpreter services are available to assist non-English-speaking clients.

Debt Collection Defense Clinic offered by Northwest Justice Project at Debt Collection Defense Clinic

Provides legal assistance for low-income debtors including: debtors with lawsuits and issues related to debt collection, collection agency abuse, supplemental proceedings and garnishment.

Programs that provide assistance for people who are unable to pay their creditors and need to declare bankruptcy. Included may be help in evaluating a personal or business bankruptcy as an option, assistance in completing and filing bankruptcy forms and/or representation in bankruptcy hearings.

Bankruptcy Assistance

Programs that provide assistance for prospective or current public financial assistance recipients who are having difficulty understanding and/or obtaining the full benefits to which they are entitled by law under various income support entitlement programs. The programs may help people understand the eligibility criteria for benefits, how much they can work without affecting their benefits (for some programs), the benefits provided by the program, the payment process and the rights of beneficiaries; provide consultation and advice; help them complete benefits application forms; negotiate on their behalf with public assistance benefits staff; and/or represent them in administrative hearings or judicial litigation. Included are welfare rights organizations that offer a range of advocacy services as well as legal aid programs that offer more formalized legal assistance. Entitlement programs include (but are not limited to) General Relief (GR), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Food Stamps/SNAP, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Welfare Rights Assistance

Programs that provide assistance for people who need to settle a dispute or resolve a problem regarding the negotiation, interpretation or performance of a contract. A contract is a legal agreement between two or more people/organizations which creates an obligation to do (or refrain from doing a particular thing) and which specifies the terms and conditions under which that thing should be done.

Contract Law

Programs that provide assistance for people who believe they are victims of unscrupulous lending institutions that have pressured them into signing a loan agreement they cannot afford. Predatory lending tactics include high pressure sales techniques; misleading or fraudulent direct mail campaigns; failure to disclose unusually high interest rates, hidden transaction costs, excessive fees and punitive penalty clauses such as balloon payments; and loan agreements that are based on home equity rather than a realistic ability to repay. Predatory lenders frequently target the most vulnerable consumers including older adults, low income individuals, and people residing in communities underserved by traditional banking institutions.

Predatory Lending Assistance

Programs that provide legal assistance for people who have received a judgment in their favor and need to file for a writ of execution and attach the wages or benefits of the individual in order to obtain payment; and/or which help individuals who have had a judgment made against them ensure that the amount of money that is garnished does not exceed the limits established by federal law and that their rights are not violated.

Wage/Benefits Garnishment Assistance

Programs that provide assistance for people who have cases involving violations of federal and state statutes governing sales and credit practices involving consumer goods, in situations where appeals to consumer complaints organizations have not resolved the issue. Consumer law cases involve deceptive or unconscionable advertising and sales practices, product quality, credit financing and reporting, debt collection, leases, and other aspects of consumer transactions.

Consumer Law

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding debt collection practices, misrepresentation, fraud, impersonation of government or law enforcement officials, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of collection agencies or repossessors.

Collection Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the companies that manufacture, sell, service or repair automobiles.

Automobile Complaints

Programs that provide a hotline, website or other mechanisms that consumers can use to report the activities of telephone and Internet scammers and other con artists who attempt to persuade older adults, individuals who live alone, disaster victims and other vulnerable people to part with their savings. Common scams include fraudulent prize offers, "free" travel packages that have hidden costs or which never materialize, "get rich quick" investments that turn out to be worthless, tax debt/refund scams, phony charities with names that are similar to well-known organizations and schemes involving promises to recover an individual's money following their victimization by another scam. Reports may be filed by consumer fraud victims or by people who have information about individuals they know to be perpetrating these types of scams.

Consumer Fraud Reporting

Programs that are staffed by lawyers who offer information and guidance regarding legal matters, proposed lines of conduct, claims or contentions including opinions on the party's rights, responsibilities and liabilities; and who offer suggestions for an appropriate course of action, but do not represent clients in court.

Legal Counseling

Programs that provide a hotline, website or other mechanisms that people can use to report instances in which someone fraudulently obtains private information about an individual, e.g., his or her Social Security number, uses it to apply for credit in that person's name, runs up large bills and then disappears without paying the bills leaving the victim with ruined credit. Identity thieves may also purchase expensive medical services in the victim's name, or give the victim's name and personal information to a law enforcement officer leaving the individual subject to arrest. Identity thieves may also steal the identities of individuals who are deceased. Also included are programs that help identity theft victims re-establish their identity and credit standing.

Identity Theft Reporting/Recovery Programs

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding improper, unethical or illegal practices in the provision of housing.

Housing Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the clarity of conditions of warranties, product guarantees and service agreements; problems with obtaining repair services, replacements or refunds as promised by the warranty or guarantee; or other similar problems.

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Debt Collection Defense Clinic offered by Northwest Justice Project at Debt Collection Defense Clinic