Debt Collection Articles

Exeter Finance Repossessed My Car — What Do I Do?

If Exeter Finance just repossessed your car, you have rights — and a short window to use them. California law requires Exeter to follow strict rules before, during, and after the repo. If they broke

What Is Exeter Finance?

Exeter Finance is a Texas-based subprime auto lender that finances car purchases through a network of dealerships — including CarMax. If you are hearing from them, it is because they hold your auto loan. They

United Auto Credit Repossessed My Car — What Do I Do?

If United Auto Credit just repossessed your car, you have rights — and a short window to use them. California law requires UACC to follow strict rules before, during, and after the repo. If they

What Is United Auto Credit?

United Auto Credit is a subprime auto lender that purchases car loans from dealerships and then collects on them. If you are hearing from them, it is because they hold your auto loan — or

DriveTime Repossessed My Car — What Do I Do?

If DriveTime just repossessed your car, you have rights — and a short window to use them. California law requires DriveTime to follow strict rules before, during, and after the repo. If they broke any

What is DriveTime?

DriveTime is a buy-here, pay-here used car dealer — meaning they sell you the car and finance it themselves, all in one place. If you are hearing from them, it is because you financed a

Credit Acceptance Repossessed My Car — What Do I Do?

If Credit Acceptance just repossessed your car, you have rights — and a short window to use them. California law requires CAC to follow strict rules before, during, and after the repo. If they broke

What Is Credit Acceptance Corporation?

Credit Acceptance Corporation is a Michigan-based subprime auto lender that finances car loans for borrowers with bad or no credit through a network of dealerships. If you are hearing from them, it is because they

Westlake Financial Is Suing Me — What Do I Do?

If Westlake Financial is suing you, the worst thing you can do is ignore it. A default judgment gives them the ability to garnish your wages and freeze your bank account. But Westlake has to

Westlake Financial Repossessed My Car — What Do I Do?

If Westlake Financial just repossessed your car, you have rights — and a short window to use them. California law requires Westlake to follow strict rules before, during, and after the repo. If they broke

My Car Got Repossessed in California — What Are My Rights?

If your car was repossessed in California, you have more rights than most people realize. The lender had to follow strict rules before, during, and after the repo. If they broke any of them, you

Can I file bankruptcy to get my car back?

Sometimes yes. If your car was just repossessed and has not been sold yet, filing bankruptcy can stop the process and may allow you to get the vehicle back. Once the car is sold at

How Bad Does a Repo Hurt Your Credit?

A repossession is one of the most damaging things that can happen to your credit. It can drop your score significantly and stay on your credit report for seven years. But the damage is not

They Sued Me for the Rest of My Car Loan After the Repo — Do I Have to Pay?

Not necessarily. California law requires lenders to follow strict rules before they can collect the leftover balance after a repossession. If they skipped any of those steps, you may owe nothing. Do not ignore the

Can I Get My Stuff Out of My Repossessed Car in California?

Yes — your personal belongings in a repossessed car are not part of the repossession. California law requires the repossession company to inventory your property and give you a chance to get it back. You

What happens if I voluntarily give my car back?

This article covers voluntary repossession in California. If you are in another state, repossession laws vary — consult the rules in your state before taking action. Quick Answer: Voluntarily returning your car to the lender

They Threatened Me During the Repo — Was That Legal?

This article covers wrongful repossession and breach of the peace under California law. If you are in another state, the breach of the peace standard applies nationwide under the Uniform Commercial Code, but your specific

Can They Repo Your Car Without Notice?

This article covers auto repossession notice requirements in California. If you are in another state, the rules on advance notice vary. The general principles here apply in most states. Quick Answer: Yes — in California,

Do You Still Owe Money After a Repossession? Understanding the Deficiency Balance

This article covers deficiency balances after auto repossession in California. If you are in another state, the general rules apply but specific procedures and timelines may differ. Quick Answer: Yes — in most cases you

How to Get Your Car Back After Repossession

This article covers auto repossession law in California. If you are in another state, your rights and deadlines may be different. The federal rules discussed here — including your right to retrieve personal property —

What Happens If I Stop Paying My Credit Card Debt in California?

Quick Answer If you stop paying your credit card debt in California, you will face a predictable sequence of consequences — late fees, collection calls, damage to your credit report, a lawsuit, and ultimately a

How Payday Loans Work in California

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Gurstel Law Firm — Who Are They and What Do They Want From Me?

Quick Answer Gurstel Law Firm P.C. is a national debt collection law firm founded in 1997 that files collection lawsuits on behalf of banks, credit card companies, auto lenders, and debt buyers. The firm operates

Who Is Harris and Zide and what do they want from you

Quick Answer The Law Offices of Harris & Zide is a California-only debt collection law firm founded in 1988 and based in South Pasadena. It files collection lawsuits on behalf of Bank of America, Barclays,

Who Is Rausch Sturm? What to Do If They Sue You in California

Quick Answer Rausch Sturm LLP is a national debt collection law firm that represents banks, credit card companies, auto lenders, and debt buyers in collection lawsuits across the country, including California. The firm has been

Who is Zwicker and Associates and why are they bothering me?

Zwicker & Associates — LWL <div class=”quick-answer” style=”background:#002b5b;color:#fff;border-radius:8px;padding:20px 24px;margin:0 0 32px 0;”> <strong style=”font-size:1.1em;”>Quick Answer</strong> <p style=”margin:8px 0 0 0;”>Zwicker & Associates is a national debt collection law firm that sues consumers on behalf of

Who Is Nelson & Kennard? What to Do If They Contact You in California

Quick Answer Nelson & Kennard is a California debt collection law firm that sues consumers on behalf of creditors and debt buyers. If they have contacted you, you have rights under the FDCPA and California’s

How to Stop Payday Loan Calls and Harassment in California

Quick Answer If a payday loan debt collector is calling you repeatedly, threatening you, or contacting you at work, you have the right to make it stop — and the right is enforceable. Under the

Are Online Payday Loans Legal in California

Quick Answer Online payday loans are legal in California — but only if the lender holds a valid DFPI license as a deferred deposit originator under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law (CDDTL), Financial Code

Payday Loan Laws in California

Quick Answer California regulates payday lending under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law (CDDTL), Financial Code §§ 23000–23106. The law sets strict limits on loan amounts, fees, and lender conduct — and gives borrowers specific

Can a Payday Lender Take Money From My Bank Account Without Permission?

Quick Answer A payday lender can withdraw money from your bank account — but only with your authorization, only within the limits of what you agreed to, and only within the rules set by California

How to Get Out of Payday Loan Debt in California

Quick Answer If you are trapped in payday loan debt in California, you have options — and several of them cost nothing to use. California law gives you specific rights that most borrowers never exercise,

What Happens If a Payday Loan Check Bounces in California

Quick Answer If a payday loan check bounces in California, the lender can charge you a single $15 NSF fee — nothing more. They cannot charge it multiple times, add interest, threaten criminal prosecution, or

Can a Payday Lender Sue You in California?

Quick Answer Yes, a payday lender can sue you in California — but only within four years of your default, only in the proper court, and only if they can prove the debt is valid

Can a Payday Lender Garnish My Wages in California?

Quick Answer A payday lender cannot garnish your wages in California without first suing you and winning a court judgment. No lender — payday or otherwise — has the automatic right to reach your paycheck.

How Payday Loans Work in California

Quick Answer This article explains how deferred deposit transactions work under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law (CDDTL), Financial Code §§ 23000–23106 — the specific product most people mean when they say “payday loan.” If

What Happens If You Don’t Pay a Payday Loan in California

Quick Answer What happens when you stop paying a payday loan in California depends on what type of loan you actually have. California law treats different short-term loan products differently — and the protections described

Who Is Mandarich Law Group and What Do They Want From Me?

Quick Answer Mandarich Law Group is a high-volume debt collection law firm that files lawsuits across California on behalf of the largest debt buyers in the country — including Midland Funding, Portfolio Recovery Associates, LVNV

Who Is Hunt & Henriques and What Do They Want From Me?

Quick Answer Hunt & Henriques is the highest-volume debt collection law firm in California. If you have been served with a lawsuit by Hunt & Henriques, you are dealing with a firm that files more

Who Is Jefferson Capital Systems LLC and What Do They Want From Me?

Quick Answer Jefferson Capital Systems LLC is a large debt buyer that purchases defaulted consumer accounts — primarily credit cards, auto loans, telecom debt, and retail installment accounts — from original creditors for pennies on

Who Is LVNV Funding LLC and What Do They Want From Me?

Quick Answer LVNV Funding LLC is one of the largest debt buyers in the United States. If you have received a letter or lawsuit from LVNV Funding or its servicer Resurgent Capital Services, it means

Who Is Cavalry SPV and What Do They Want From Me?

Quick Answer Cavalry SPV I LLC is one of the largest debt buyers in the United States. If you have received a letter or lawsuit from Cavalry — also known as Cavalry Portfolio Services —

Who Is Portfolio Recovery Associates and What Do They Want From Me?

Quick Answer Portfolio Recovery Associates is one of the largest debt buyers in the United States. If you have received a letter or a lawsuit from PRA, it means they purchased your defaulted account —

Who Is Midland Credit Management and What Do They Want From Me?

Quick Answer Midland Credit Management is one of the largest debt buyers in the United States. If you have received a letter or a lawsuit from Midland, it means they purchased your defaulted account —

Can a Doctor’s Office Send Me to Collections in California?

Quick Answer Yes — a doctor’s office, medical group, or specialty provider can send an unpaid bill to collections in California. But before doing so, and once the account is in collections, both the provider

Can Medical Debt Affect My Credit Score in California?

Quick Answer Medical debt can affect your credit score in California — but recent changes to federal and state law have significantly reduced its impact. Paid medical collections no longer appear on credit reports. Medical

How to Negotiate a Medical Bill in California?

Quick Answer Medical bills in California are negotiable — far more than most people realize. Hospitals, medical groups, and debt buyers all have financial incentives to settle for less than the face amount of the

What Happens to Medical Debt When You Die in California?

Quick Answer When you die in California, your medical debt does not disappear — but it does not automatically pass to your family members either. Your debts become obligations of your estate. Creditors must file

How to File a Complaint Against a Medical Debt Collector in California?

Quick Answer If a medical debt collector has harassed you, made false statements, or violated any other provision of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act or California’s Rosenthal Act, you can file a complaint with

What Is a Medical Debt Validation Letter and How Do I Use One?

Quick Answer A medical debt validation letter is a written demand you send to a debt collector requiring it to prove the debt is valid, that it has the legal right to collect it, and

Can Unpaid Medical Bills Result in a Lien on My House in California?

Quick Answer Yes — but only after a creditor obtains a court judgment against you. A hospital or medical debt collector cannot place a lien on your home simply because you owe a bill. They

Can Medical Debt Collectors Garnish My Wages in California?

Quick Answer A medical debt collector cannot garnish your wages in California without first suing you and obtaining a court judgment. There is no shortcut. Before a single dollar can be taken from your paycheck,

What Happens If I Don’t Pay My Medical Bills in California?

Quick Answer If you don’t pay your medical bills in California, your account will likely be sent to collections, your credit may be affected, and you could eventually be sued. But California law gives patients

Can a Hospital Sue Me for Medical Bills in California?

Quick Answer Yes — a hospital or medical provider can sue you for unpaid medical bills in California. But before a lawsuit can happen, hospitals that receive public funding must follow strict billing and financial

Can You Stop Student Loan Wage Garnishment Before It Starts?

Can You Stop Student Loan Wage Garnishment Before It Starts? Quick Answer Yes. Federal law gives you the right to request a hearing before wage garnishment begins on a defaulted federal student loan. If you

Can They Garnish My Wages for Student Loans?

Can They Garnish My Wages for Student Loans? If your federal student loans are in default, the government has collection powers that most creditors do not have. It does not need a court judgment. It

What Happens to Your Debt When You Die in California?

Quick answer: When you die in California, your debts do not automatically pass to your children or other family members. Your debts become obligations of your estate — the assets you leave behind. Creditors must

What is a charge-off and does it mean I don’t owe the debt anymore?

Quick answer: A charge-off means the original creditor has written your debt off its books as a financial loss. It does not mean the debt is forgiven, cancelled, or gone. You still owe it. The

Can a debt collector garnish my Social Security?

Quick answer: Federal and California law both prohibit judgment creditors from garnishing Social Security benefits to pay consumer debts. But that prohibition does not enforce itself. If a debt collector levies your bank account and

Why is a company I never heard of suing me for a credit card debt?

Quick answer: The company suing you is almost certainly a debt buyer — a business that purchased your defaulted credit card account from the original bank or lender for pennies on the dollar. You never

Can a Debt Collector Put a Lien on My House in California?

Quick answer: Yes — once a creditor has a money judgment against you, it can record an Abstract of Judgment with the county recorder and create a lien on real property you own in that

I Was Never Served With a Lawsuit But There’s a Judgment Against Me — What Can I Do?

Quick answer: If there is a judgment against you and you were never served with the lawsuit, you may be the victim of defective service — sometimes called “sewer service,” a practice in which process

What is a debtor’s examination and what do they ask?

Quick answer: A debtor’s examination — formally called an Order of Examination — is a court proceeding in which a judgment creditor can question you under oath about your income, assets, bank accounts, and property.

Can a Debt Collector Sue Me for an Old Debt in California — And Can They Restart the Clock?

Quick answer: Yes — a debt collector can sue you for an old debt in California, even one that is years old. But if the debt is older than four years from your last payment

What Is the Difference Between Dismissal With Prejudice and Without Prejudice in California?

Quick answer: A dismissal with prejudice ends a case permanently — the plaintiff cannot refile the same claim again. A dismissal without prejudice ends the current case but leaves the door open for the plaintiff

Can I Win in Arbitration Against a Debt Collector in California?

Quick answer: Yes — consumers can and do win in arbitration against debt collectors. The process is less formal than court, but the same fundamental problems that plague debt collectors in litigation follow them into

What Is Arbitration and Can It Help Me If I’m Being Sued for Debt in California?

Quick answer: Arbitration is a private dispute resolution process that takes place outside of court. If the credit card agreement or loan contract you signed contains an arbitration clause, you may be able to use

Can a debt collector sue me without proof?

Quick answer: Yes — a debt collector can sue you without proof. Filing a lawsuit requires only a complaint, not evidence. If you do nothing and let a default judgment enter, the collector wins without

Is There an Agency That Regulates Debt Collectors in California?

Quick answer: Yes. The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) is the state agency that licenses and regulates debt collectors operating in California. Since 2022, debt collectors — including debt buyers, collection agencies,