When you find yourself in a difficult circumstance, consulting with a professional may be the best action. A Chicago consumer law attorney specializing in assisting customers with consumer protection can help you with a wide variety of concerns, such as:
- Debt collectors are harassing you.
- A creditor that refuses to submit accurate information about you to the credit reporting agencies.
- A business that breaches a contract it has with you.
- Being hurt as a result of a defective product.
- Concerns that emerge during or after the filing of a bankruptcy petition.
- You are experiencing difficulties with your student loans or your loan servicer.
- Advertising that is deceptive or fraudulent.
Where Should You Begin Your Search For The Perfect Lawyer?
- Begin your search online, where various directories are designed for locating lawyers that you may use to narrow down your options. In addition to allowing you to explore locations and practice areas, several of these websites may also allow you to read reviews of individual lawyers or law offices.
- There are different professional organizations that consumer protection lawyers may be a member of, the two most notable of which are the National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA), respectively (NACBA). Each organization has a directory of members that may be searched and filtered by geographic location.
- Consumer clinics in law schools, legal aid offices, and legal clinics at other higher education institutions may be helpful places to start if you believe you could qualify for free help.
What To Ask Attorneys While Interviewing Them?
When interviewing lawyers, you may want to ask the following questions:
- Have you been practicing law for a long time, and have you had any experience working with consumers?
- Approximately what proportion of your cases are concerned with consumer protection?
- I’m curious how many situations like these you’ve dealt with?
- How many of them did you get to keep?
- Would I be required to pay any costs upfront or future if we lose our lawsuit?
- Do you provide a no-obligation consultation to prospective customers?
- Are you a member of any consumer protection organizations? If yes, which organizations?
You may be charged an hourly fee by certain companies, while others may accept your case on a flat-rate basis by others. Another option is to develop a contingency payment arrangement, such as paying a portion of the difference between what you owe and how much you pay to satisfy your obligations. Although some law firms may agree ahead of time to waive the fee if you lose your case, you should expect them to analyze your claim before accepting it thoroughly.
