Dealing with Creditors

Experienced Illinois Lawyers Deal with Creditors, Giving You Peace of Mind

Creditors do not care if you have food on your table or a roof over your head. They simply want their money and will work relentlessly to get it from you. Fortunately, you can put a stop to creditor harassment and eliminate your fears of answering the phone or checking your mail.

At Bankruptcy Advocates, in Carbondale, Illinois, and Lathram & Herbert, LLP, in Collinsville, Illinois, we have helped people file for relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code for more than 30 years.

Our bankruptcy attorneys are prepared to guide you through the bankruptcy process and help you stop creditor harassment once and for all.

Protecting Clients from Debt Collectors

Creditors and collection agencies must immediately cease all collection activity — including phone calls and letters — upon discovering that a debtor is represented by an attorney. All communication in connection with debts must then be directed to the attorney.

Once you file for bankruptcy, an ''automatic stay'' is enacted that prevents creditors from making any collection attempts on your property, assets or wages after the filing date. Creditors are also prohibited from proceeding with any pending foreclosures and repossessions.

Stop Creditor Harassment

Even if you do not file for bankruptcy, there are certain things that creditors and collection agencies are prohibited from doing under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Creditor harassment includes:

• Calling you at work after being requested to stop
• Threatening a wage garnishment, lawsuit or arrest
• Calling you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. local time
• Failing to identify themselves or their purpose for calling
• Attempting to get you to pay more than the debt is worth
• Using profanity, abusive language, or threats of force or harm
• Contacting you after discovering you have an attorney or have filed for bankruptcy
• Disclosing to third parties, such as neighbors, friends or family members that you owe money

These actions are illegal. If creditors break the rules, you have a right to file a lawsuit against them under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

When Experience Matters, Contact Us

Meet with one of our experienced attorneys to learn how we can help stop creditor harassment.

Email the Carbondale office or call 618 549 9800

Email the Collinsville office or call 618 623 4311

We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for relief under the Bankruptcy Code.

Two Firms - One Mission