If you are a victim of identity theft, credit reporting errors, debt collection harassment, or are facing any other consumer-related issue, you can depend on a dedicated San Diego County consumer lawyer from The Law Office of Barthel Legal to fight for you. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you.
Consumer Lawyer | Defending Your Rights
As a consumer, you have rights. Our job as consumer lawyers is to defend those rights at every turn. We are dedicated to representing consumers in San Diego County and throughout California, and you can have peace of mind when you turn to us for guidance.
Our Consumer Law Services
The Law Office of Barthel Legal proudly handles the gamut of consumer-related matters on behalf of our clients, including the following:
- Identity Theft: Identity theft is not only a common occurrence, but it is also a demoralizing one. Someone has robbed you of your ability to control your own finances. However, it’s time to regain your voice and go on the offensive.
- Debt Collection Harassment: Just because you owe a debt, does not mean that a debt collector can use any means necessary to collect. Under federal and state laws, debt collectors are forbidden from using unsightly debt collection methods.
- Credit Reporting Errors: Your credit report is one of the most important items in your financial portfolio. Unfortunately, credit bureaus will often put derogatory information in your credit report that is not accurate.
- Background Checks: Errors on background checks occur frequently. If you have ever been the victim of an inaccurate background check, you may be able to recover for the financial and emotional damages that this has caused you.
- Fraudulent Charges Or Wires: Victims of fraudulent charges not only get a refund but could be entitled to actual damages and statutory damages up to $30,000, depending on the facts of your case.
- Hacking & Scam Victims: If you are the victim of a scam or hacking that resulted in your money being stolen, you may be entitled to reimbursement of the stolen funds, actual damages, and even up to $1,000 in statutory damages.
Credit Reporting Errors Overview
Credit reporting agencies are companies that collect, store, and share credit information. There are three major credit reporting agencies in the United States: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. They receive information from creditors, debt collectors, courts, and other sources, and compile it into credit reports that they sell to authorized users.
Credit reporting agencies have a responsibility to ensure that the information they provide is accurate, complete, and up-to-date. They must also follow the rules and regulations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), a federal law that protects consumers’ rights regarding their credit reports. The FCRA gives consumers the right to:
- Access their credit reports for free once every 12 months from each of the three major credit reporting agencies
- Dispute any inaccurate or incomplete information on their credit reports
- Request that the credit reporting agencies investigate and correct any errors within 30 days
- Receive a notification if any adverse action is taken against them based on their credit reports
- Sue the credit reporting agencies or their users for damages if they violate the FCRA
If you find any errors on your credit report, you should act quickly to dispute them and have them corrected. You can do so yourself, however, there are times when credit reporting companies will fail to respond, fail to remedy the issue, or dispute your claim of an error. In this case, it is always best to have a competent San Diego County consumer lawyer in your corner.
Identity Theft & Fraud Overview
Identity theft is a nefarious crime that can wreak havoc on your life. It occurs when one person steals another person’s personal information, such as their name, Social Security number, or bank account number, and uses it for an illicit purpose, such as opening credit cards, taking out loans, or committing fraud. If you suspect that you have been a victim of identity theft, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself. They are as follows:
- Contact the fraud departments of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and place a fraud alert on your credit reports. This will prevent new accounts from being opened in your name without your verification.
- Review your credit reports for any unauthorized accounts or inquiries and dispute any errors with the appropriate credit bureaus.
- Contact the creditors or financial institutions where the fraud occurred and close or freeze any compromised accounts. Request written confirmation that the accounts have been closed or secured.
- File a police report with your local law enforcement agency and obtain a copy of the report. This will help you prove that you are a victim of identity theft and not liable for fraudulent charges or activities.
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (a lawyer from our firm can help you do so).
If the identity theft issue goes unresolved or the credit bureau fails to remedy the issue, you should strongly consider hiring a dedicated consumer lawyer from The Law Office of Barthel Legal. We can help you understand your rights, negotiate with creditors/debt collectors, file a lawsuit against the identity thief, and, in many cases, help you obtain compensation for any losses or damages you’ve incurred as a result of the theft.
Debt Collection Harassment Defense
If you are behind on your bills, you may be contacted by debt collectors who want you to pay them. But some debt collectors may cross the line and harass you with abusive, unfair, or deceptive tactics. They may call you repeatedly, threaten you with legal action, lie to you about your debt, or contact your family, friends, or employer.
Debt collection harassment is not only stressful and annoying, but also illegal. You have rights and remedies under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a federal law that protects consumers from abusive debt collection practices. A seasoned San Diego County consumer lawyer from The Law Office of Barthel Legal can help you exercise those rights.
Contact a California Consumer Lawyer Today
No matter the legal issue you’re facing, if you need a dedicated consumer lawyer in your corner, you are in the right place. We proudly represent consumers throughout the state of California, including in San Diego County, Imperial County, Riverside County, Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County. Contact The Law Office of Barthel Legal today so we can get started working on your case. We are here to fight for you, every step of the way.
If you are a victim of identity theft, credit reporting errors, debt collection harassment, or are facing any other consumer-related issue, you can depend on a dedicated San Diego County consumer lawyer from The Law Office of Barthel Legal to fight for you. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you.
Consumer Lawyer | Defending Your Rights
As a consumer, you have rights. Our job as consumer lawyers is to defend those rights at every turn. We are dedicated to representing consumers in San Diego County and throughout California, and you can have peace of mind when you turn to us for guidance.
Our Consumer Law Services
The Law Office of Barthel Legal proudly handles the gamut of consumer-related matters on behalf of our clients, including the following:
- Identity Theft: Identity theft is not only a common occurrence, but it is also a demoralizing one. Someone has robbed you of your ability to control your own finances. However, it’s time to regain your voice and go on the offensive.
- Debt Collection Harassment: Just because you owe a debt, does not mean that a debt collector can use any means necessary to collect. Under federal and state laws, debt collectors are forbidden from using unsightly debt collection methods.
- Credit Reporting Errors: Your credit report is one of the most important items in your financial portfolio. Unfortunately, credit bureaus will often put derogatory information in your credit report that is not accurate.
- Background Checks: Errors on background checks occur frequently. If you have ever been the victim of an inaccurate background check, you may be able to recover for the financial and emotional damages that this has caused you.
- Fraudulent Charges Or Wires: Victims of fraudulent charges not only get a refund but could be entitled to actual damages and statutory damages up to $30,000, depending on the facts of your case.
- Hacking & Scam Victims: If you are the victim of a scam or hacking that resulted in your money being stolen, you may be entitled to reimbursement of the stolen funds, actual damages, and even up to $1,000 in statutory damages.
Credit Reporting Errors Overview
Credit reporting agencies are companies that collect, store, and share credit information. There are three major credit reporting agencies in the United States: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. They receive information from creditors, debt collectors, courts, and other sources, and compile it into credit reports that they sell to authorized users.
Credit reporting agencies have a responsibility to ensure that the information they provide is accurate, complete, and up-to-date. They must also follow the rules and regulations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), a federal law that protects consumers’ rights regarding their credit reports. The FCRA gives consumers the right to:
- Access their credit reports for free once every 12 months from each of the three major credit reporting agencies
- Dispute any inaccurate or incomplete information on their credit reports
- Request that the credit reporting agencies investigate and correct any errors within 30 days
- Receive a notification if any adverse action is taken against them based on their credit reports
- Sue the credit reporting agencies or their users for damages if they violate the FCRA
If you find any errors on your credit report, you should act quickly to dispute them and have them corrected. You can do so yourself, however, there are times when credit reporting companies will fail to respond, fail to remedy the issue, or dispute your claim of an error. In this case, it is always best to have a competent San Diego County consumer lawyer in your corner.
Identity Theft & Fraud Overview
Identity theft is a nefarious crime that can wreak havoc on your life. It occurs when one person steals another person’s personal information, such as their name, Social Security number, or bank account number, and uses it for an illicit purpose, such as opening credit cards, taking out loans, or committing fraud. If you suspect that you have been a victim of identity theft, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself. They are as follows:
- Contact the fraud departments of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and place a fraud alert on your credit reports. This will prevent new accounts from being opened in your name without your verification.
- Review your credit reports for any unauthorized accounts or inquiries and dispute any errors with the appropriate credit bureaus.
- Contact the creditors or financial institutions where the fraud occurred and close or freeze any compromised accounts. Request written confirmation that the accounts have been closed or secured.
- File a police report with your local law enforcement agency and obtain a copy of the report. This will help you prove that you are a victim of identity theft and not liable for fraudulent charges or activities.
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (a lawyer from our firm can help you do so).
If the identity theft issue goes unresolved or the credit bureau fails to remedy the issue, you should strongly consider hiring a dedicated consumer lawyer from The Law Office of Barthel Legal. We can help you understand your rights, negotiate with creditors/debt collectors, file a lawsuit against the identity thief, and, in many cases, help you obtain compensation for any losses or damages you’ve incurred as a result of the theft.
Debt Collection Harassment Defense
If you are behind on your bills, you may be contacted by debt collectors who want you to pay them. But some debt collectors may cross the line and harass you with abusive, unfair, or deceptive tactics. They may call you repeatedly, threaten you with legal action, lie to you about your debt, or contact your family, friends, or employer.
Debt collection harassment is not only stressful and annoying, but also illegal. You have rights and remedies under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a federal law that protects consumers from abusive debt collection practices. A seasoned San Diego County consumer lawyer from The Law Office of Barthel Legal can help you exercise those rights.
Contact a California Consumer Lawyer Today
No matter the legal issue you’re facing, if you need a dedicated consumer lawyer in your corner, you are in the right place. We proudly represent consumers throughout the state of California, including in San Diego County, Imperial County, Riverside County, Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County. Contact The Law Office of Barthel Legal today so we can get started working on your case. We are here to fight for you, every step of the way.
