Ray Johnson and all of us
at the Johnson Law Firm believe you deserve the same quality legal representation that big corporations receive.
--Call the Johnson Law Firm today for a free initial consultation .
Johnson
Law Firm Blog on Consumer Protection Issues
Don't Take Rides From Strangers
OK, So We're Biased Against Consumers: Big Deal--Everybody Does It
We're Not Biased, They Just Pay Us
If You Snooze, You Lose
Married Women And Credit: What's Love Got To Do With It?
C'mon And Take A Free Ride
Iowa Legislature Fiddles While Rome Burns
There Won't Be any Trumpets Blowing, Come The Judgment Day
Just Let It Ring
Another Day Older And Deeper In Debt
Credit Counseling: Out of the Frying Pan, into the Fire?
Jury Duty ... Do I Have To?
Take The Freakin' Car, But Leave The Dale Earnhart Bumper Sticker
Would It Be Safer To Hide It Under The Mattress?
Another Day For You And Me In Paradise
Freedom For You, Foreclosure For Me
Why Is My Airbag Delivering My Newspaper?
The Song Remains The Same
If You Pay To Build It They Will Come--Or Maybe Not
Are you the Victim of Debt Collector Harassment?
Iowa and federal fair debt collection laws prohibit many abusive,
harassing, fraudulent or deceptive collection practices in collecting consumer debt.
To file a lawsuit against you, a collector
generally will need an Iowa attorney. Ironically, the most abusive debt collectors do not file lawsuits and are frequently
collecting debt you have defenses to, such as you do not owe the debt, they are attempting to collect excessive amounts,
or the debt is time barred (to old to be collectible). There are almost always good defenses to collections by debt
buyers who purchase debt for pennies on the dollar. Despite the abuse, most debts being collected by the most abusive
collectors should be a much lower priority for you to pay than bills such as your house payment, feeding your children or
keeping your utilities turned on.
Don't let an abusive debt collector determine your family budget!!! There are legal ways to get the calls
and abuse stopped.
Debt Settlement Companies
Many consumers jump out of the frying pan and into the fire with
credit card debt by responding to radio, television or phone solicitations touting miracle cures for credit card problems.
Virtually none of these companies can provide competent legal representation in Iowa. Thousands of consumers have been
further victimized by making payments to debt settlement companies who then fail to settle the debts, but instead pocket hefty
fees for questionable services that leave the consumer worse off. One size does not fit all for individuals with debt
problems.
Debt settlement
companies cannot provide the services of an experienced, licensed attorney. Many charge higher fees for inferior services
that would border on actionable malpractice if provided by a licensed attorney. Examples of poor legal advice given
by debt settlement companies include advice to make payments on debts that are time barred, paying on debts purchased by debt
buyers that could never be reduced to judgment in court due to lack of proof, making payments on accounts of a consumer that
should have filed bankruptcy, or where a consumer is completely judgment proof and the payments make it impossible for the
consumer to meet higher priority expenses such as housing, utilities or for medical care.
Iowa Debt Collection Law Firms
There are debt collection lawyers in Iowa who do file lawsuits. Some, such as the
Litow Law Office, will also file arbitrations with the National Arbitration Forum.
Mann Bracken is an out of state law firm that will file arbitrations against Iowans. Correspondence
or service of process from these law firms or the National Arbitration Forum in Minneapolis should
be taken seriously. Iowa law firms include:
Charles Litow
Litow Law Office
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Kevin
Abbott
Wetsch & Abbott
Mark Quandahl
Brumbaugh & Quandahl
Omaha, Nebraska
Curt
McCormick
Neiman, Stone & McCormick
Mark Abendroth
Christopher Low
Matthew Hrubetz
Abendroth and Russell
Des Moines,
IA
Joseph Bertroche
Bertroche Law Offices
Cedar Rapids,
Iowa
Bertroche
Law Offices
Des Moines, Iowa
Many times there are valid defenses to lawsuits filed by these
Iowa law firms. Even where there are no defenses, judgments can often be avoided or settlements can be had for less
than the amount claimed in a lawsuit. Options become limited, however, the longer a consumer waits to obtain qualified
legal assistance.
Registered Iowa Debt Collectors
Nearly all debt collectors need to be registered in Iowa to collect
debt here. That includes debt buyers and third party collectors. Do not hesitate to ask the collector calling
you in Iowa if they are registered in Iowa to collect debt here. Call the Iowa Attorney General to verify if they are
telling you the truth. Is the debt collector contacting you registered to collect debts in Iowa? Click
below to start your inquiry.
Registered Iowa Debt Collectors