PSA - The Value I received by using an Attorney.

[Indy17]

I just want to briefly state my experience with using an attorney for fellow users. My attorney was able to win two cases for me because of FCRA violations. Winning one made a $4,400 debt go away. The Other won me $1000. The only money I paid was $400 for each case for the filing fee. This attorney was happy to go over letters from debt collectors to look for violations. 

I would recommend people consider an attorney for these type of issues. 

If you are located in Indiana, PM me if you want my attorney's info. 

[WhoCares1000]

If you can get a decently priced attorney where it makes sense to use one, then yes, I would recommend using one. In most areas, attorneys cannot be had for less than the underlying debt. Also, quite a few people on this board cannot afford an attorney at any price. I am sure some actually file in forma paupis.

[BV80]

1 hour ago, Indy17 said:

I just want to briefly state my experience with using an attorney for fellow users. My attorney was able to win two cases for me because of FCRA violations. Winning one made a $4,400 debt go away. The Other won me $1000. The only money I paid was $400 for each case for the filing fee. This attorney was happy to go over letters from debt collectors to look for violations. 

I would recommend people consider an attorney for these type of issues. 

If you are located in Indiana, PM me if you want my attorney's info. 

We routinely suggest that readers employ the services of an attorney, is possible.   In fact, I and some other members include that suggestion in our signatures. 

[Goody_Ouchless]

2 hours ago, WhoCares1000 said:

In most areas, attorneys cannot be had for less than the underlying debt. Also, quite a few people on this board cannot afford an attorney at any price.

Very true - in some odd way we were "lucky" that our first case was for 10K, so the $1600 fee (if I recall) was a bargain. We ended up using same lawyer to handle all of our cases, with excellent results.

The major caveat is that the legal landscape has changed considerably. In our first case (around 2012) he was able to reverse a summary judgement, in part, because of sketchy documentation and shady behavior. Just two years later, on our last case, Midland wouldn't budge - even though we nailed them on an FDCPA violation - their attitude was "fine, knock off a grand and pay us the rest." It was the only account we settled, but I suspect if we had more distressed accounts that they would have ended badly. 

[fisthardcheese]

That is a good price for an attorney who will do the work of looking for violations.  In my state, attorneys generally charge half the amount of your debt, but can almost always make them go away, so depending on the value it could be worth it, but many people are unable to afford that price.