Consumer Protection Services
We provide strong and strategic legal representation for consumers facing lawsuits or whose rights have been violated. Our services include defending against debt collection actions, such as credit card lawsuits, and pursuing claims under key consumer protection laws, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and other state and federal consumer protection statutes. We also take legal action against fraudulent business practices.
Your Rights as a Consumer
Consumer protection laws exist to shield individuals and small business owners from unfair treatment by large corporations, banks, and insurance companies.
Below are some of the most common consumer rights violations and how our team can help you fight back, protect your interests, and secure the compensation you deserve.
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law designed to protect consumers from harassment, abuse, and unfair practices by third-party debt collectors. Enacted in 1977, the FDCPA sets strict guidelines on how debt collectors can communicate with consumers and prohibits deceptive or abusive collection tactics.
Under the FDCPA, debt collectors CANNOT:
- Harass or threaten you with violence, obscene language, or repeated calls.
- Call you at unreasonable hours (before 8 AM or after 9 PM) without permission.
- Contact your family, friends, or workplace about your debt.
- Lie about the amount you owe or falsely claim legal action has been taken against you.
- Continue contacting you after you request, in writing, that they stop.
If a debt collector violates your rights under the FDCPA, you may be entitled to damages of up to $1,000 per violation, plus legal fees.
At Consumer Defense Partners, we fight to protect consumers from unlawful debt collection practices. If you're experiencing harassment or unfair treatment from a debt collector, contact us today for a free consultation.
Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a federal law enacted in 1991 to protect consumers from unwanted telemarketing calls, robocalls, text messages, and faxes. The TCPA restricts businesses and debt collectors from using autodialers, prerecorded messages, and unsolicited communications without obtaining prior consent from the recipient.
Under the TCPA, consumers have the right to:
- Opt-out of telemarketing calls and texts by registering on the National Do Not Call Registry or requesting removal from a caller's list.
- File lawsuits and seek damages of up to $500 per violation (or up to $1,500 per willful violation) if they receive unwanted or unauthorized calls or messages.
- Take legal action against businesses that use deceptive or harassing communication tactics.
At Consumer Defense Partners, we help individuals who have been victims of TCPA violations fight back against illegal robocalls and harassment. If you believe your rights have been violated under the TCPA, contact us today for a free consultation.
How to Stop Telemarketers & Robocalls
One way to reduce the number of robocalls is to register your cellphone and/or residential number on the Federal Trade Commission's do not call registry. The TCPA prohibits any solicitation calls once the number is registered. However, not all telemarketers follow the law, and you may still get robocalls from the same telemarketer even after registering on the do not call list.
If you receive multiple calls, voicemails, or voicemails in one week from the same caller, even if it may be from a different phone number, that may be a violation of the TCPA. Identical voicemails from the same person are also an indication of a robocall.
A consumer can recover up to $500 for each violation of the do not call registry, up to $500 per phone call that violates the TCPA, and up to $1,500 per phone call if the consumer can show that the TCPA was violated knowingly and willfully.
