Resources For Wisconsin Folks Who Have Debt

• If you are being harassed by a collection agency- you can sue a creditor for monetary damages
• For more information peak with a bankruptcy attorney; totally free, no obligation! Request a phone consultation with Debt Advisors.
• File a formal complaint by visiting The Wisconsin Department of Justice.

When you find yourself in a desperate financial crisis remind yourself that there are laws in place to protect Wisconsin residents who struggle with debt.  When bills have become out of control, you are left feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.  The last thing anyone in this situation needs is to be harassed or taken advantage of by banks, creditors, collection agencies or payday loan lenders.   This kind of treatment is unnecessary and unproductive.  After all, it’s a creditors attempt to collect money from an empty pocket.

Harassing Calls About Unpaid Debt

A debt collector can call to collect the unpaid debt but the law states how and when this can be done.  Creditors, including banks and payday loan lenders have been known to cross the legal line sometimes in order to collect unpaid debt.  The state of Wisconsin acknowledges specific laws which protect consumers and debtors. Even after bankruptcy has been finalized, consumer laws continue to offer protection.  Some of the key laws regarding debt collection in Wisconsin are noted and briefly explained below…

Key Laws For Bankrupt Wisconsin Residents

• The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention & Consumer Protection Act ,(BAPCPA).  This act was passed in 2005 to protect WI consumers and support bankruptcy abuse prevention.   Many amendments to the bankruptcy code have been passed since its inception, including a requirement to take a “means test” to determine if a debtor is qualified to file either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy.  The means test is administered and submitted by a local bankruptcy attorney to determine current monthly income, expenses and eligibility.  For example, if the current monthly income is higher than the median income then Chapter 7 cannot be filed safely without abusing bankruptcy laws.  Here are a handful of the 2016 bankruptcy code amendments that impacted the Consumer Protection Act:  Production of Tax Returns and other documents, the bankruptcy Means Test, limits on Automatic Stay, and more protection for consumers after bankruptcy has been filed.
• The Wisconsin Consumer Act.  Sometimes banks or other creditors will carry out behavior which is illegal according to the WI Consumer act.  For example, they may try to continue to collect for debt that is no longer the responsibility of the debtor.  In the event that this happens to you, is important to have a general understanding of consumer protections such as The Wisconsin Consumer Act.
• The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.  (FDCPA) The Federal Trade Commission protects consumers through the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.  This includes the prevention of fraud, deception, or misrepresentation by those entities who wish to collect unpaid bills and loans.  This act pertains to household debts, personal debts, and family debt such as medical bills, car loans or credit cards.  However, it does not cover debts incurred to run a business.

Bankruptcy To Stop Collection Agencies

The laws outlined on this page apply to collection of unpaid bills whether you file bankruptcy or not. Keep in mind, if debt isn’t paid, any silence will be short-lived.  The best way to stop debt collectors is to have a debt resolution or repayment in place. Consider Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 to get out of debt for good. As soon as bankruptcy is declared, the “automatic stay”is set forth which halts actions by creditors. By filing bankruptcy, our attorneys can tackle your debt issues and harassing calls head on. It’s not common, however, if a debt collector attempts to make contact  after bankruptcy has been filed, we need to know about it. At Debt Advisors, we are here to help before, during, and after bankruptcy.

• Read more about how bankruptcy can protect you.

How Our Law Firm Can Help

Your first step should be to speak with an attorney that can relate to your financial situation and can clearly explain you’re your rights.  Take the time to fill out a request for a free consultation; it’s the single most important thing that you can do right now. The people you’ll speak with at Debt Advisors are bankruptcy experts.  We have the experience and know-how to get you out of debt. Even further, we utilize Wisconsin Laws to determine if you may have a case against collections. If you do, we can assist in obtaining monetary compensation for your troubles.