Resources

Useful Information for Consumers

• Tape Recording Collection Calls: Five Easy Steps
  Always seek advice from a competent attorney before taping debt collection calls in your state. It is a federal crime to record any conversation when you are not a party to it. This is known as wiretapping and the civil and criminal penalties for such conduct are severe.

Forms

No attorney-client relationship is formed by viewing or using these forms. Please read any included instructions and disclaimers carefully before using any of these forms. If you need help, sign up for a half-hour consultation.

Debt collection defense forms:

• Collection communications log (DOC or PDF) This log should be used to record as much detail as possible about every communication with a debt collector.
• Request for validation letter (PDF) This letter can be used to demand validation of a debt within 30 days of the first written communication by a debt collector.
• Answer & discovery requests in a debt buyer lawsuit (PDF) (Definition of “debt buyer” and “debt buyer lawsuit.”) These forms can be used for a formal response to a debt buyer lawsuit.

Generic civil forms:

• Generic civil answer & affidavit of service (PDF) This generic answer and affidavit of service can be used to respond to any civil lawsuit.

CLE Seminar Materials

• Offensive Defense: An Introduction to Protecting Consumers from Unscrupulous Debt Collectors (Volunteer Lawyers Network, 4.2.2008)

Links & reference material

• Caveat Emptor
  Law, politics, news, and information from the consumer advocate’s point of view. Caveat Emptor is a blog and “user manual” for consumers.

• Minnlawpedia
  Ignorance of the law is no excuse. So don’t be ignorant. Minnlawpedia is a user-generated repository of Minnesota law and legal procedure.