Skip to main content
  Washington LawHelp
 
 
  Helping Low-income People Find Solutions to Civil Legal Problems  
 
Consumer & Debt Consumer & Debt > 
Debt collection
  Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.


Bookmark and Share

 
There are 9 resources  
  Your Rights
 
   Dealing with Debt Collectors - Video
Short video explaining valuable information about how to deal with aggressive debt collectors.
By: Federal Trade Commission

    Read this in: Spanish / Español
  
   
   Debtors' Rights: Dealing with Collection Agencies This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page.
This publication helps you understand debt collection practices and your rights when dealing with debt collectors. Includes form letters you can use to mail to debt collectors requesting that they stop contacting you.
By: Northwest Justice Project
 
    Read this in: Chinese / 中文 , Laotian / ພາສາລາວ , Russian / Pусский , Somali / Soomaali , Spanish / Español , Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt
  
   
   Debtors' Rights in a Lawsuit
This publication provides information on how to represent yourself when you are being sued for money.
By: Northwest Justice Project
 
    Other Formats:   This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page. PDF File
    Read this in: Chinese / 中文 , Laotian / ພາສາລາວ , Russian / Pусский , Somali / Soomaali , Spanish / Español , Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt
  
   
back to top      
 
  Representing Yourself
 
   How do I Answer a Lawsuit for Debt Collection
0205EN - This packet helps you represent yourself when you have been served with a lawsuit for debt collection. It should be used with our publication "Debtors' Rights in a Lawsuit".
By: Northwest Justice Project
 
    Other Formats:   This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page. PDF File
    Read this in: Spanish / Español
  
   
   How to Claim Personal Property Exemptions This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page.
0220EN - Information and sample forms to be used when claiming that some of your property is exempt (protected) from being taken to pay a debt.
By: Northwest Justice Project
 
  
   
   How to Present a Charity Care Defense to a Lawsuit for Hospital Debt Collection This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page.
5910EN - This packet is intended to help you when you are being sued for hospital-based medical services which you would not owe if the hospital had correctly determined your eligibility for Charity Care.
By: Northwest Justice Project
 
    Read this in: Spanish / Español
  
   
   Community Debt and Bankruptcy Issues This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page. (Separate Website)
Community debts are those debts that both you and your spouse are responsible for. This fact sheet defines which types of debts are defined as community debts. (PDF file)
By: Legal Voice
  
   
   Payday Loans: What to do if You Get Caught in the Debt Trap
A payday loan is a short-term, high-cost loan that must be paid back on or before your next payday, whether your income is from employment or government benefits. Payday loans are made by storefront lenders, check cashers, pawn shops, credit unions, and Internet-based providers.
By: Northwest Justice Project
 
    Other Formats:   This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page. PDF File
    Read this in: Spanish / Español
  
   
   Prioritizing Debt: Which Bills do I Pay First?
General information about which bills you should pay first when you are having trouble paying all of your debts.
By: Northwest Justice Project
 
    Other Formats:   This link opens a PDF file in a new window.  If you do not have an accessible Acrobat Reader, a link is provided at the bottom of this page. PDF File
    Read this in: Laotian / ພາສາລາວ , Russian / Pусский , Spanish / Español , Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt
  
   
back to top      
 
 
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
Get Acrobat Reader  
 
 

Information, Not Legal Advice.  We are providing this information as a public service.  We try to make it accurate as of the date noted in the materials.  Sometimes the laws change.  We cannot promise that this information is always up-to-date and correct.  Most of the information provided on this web site is specific to Washington State law.

We do not intend this information to be legal advice.  By providing this information, we are not acting as your lawyer.  If you need legal advice, you should contact a lawyer through your local legal aid organization.  Always talk to a competent lawyer, if you can, before taking legal action.

Permission for copying and distribution granted to the Alliance for Equal Justice and individuals for non-commercial use only.

Lawyer Advertising.  This web site is not intended to be advertising or solicitation.  The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based on advertisements. Before hiring an attorney, you should investigate his or her reputation and qualifications.

Links.  Some of the items listed here have not been prepared by us, but are instead "links" to information prepared and posted by others.  We cannot guarantee the accuracy of information posted on other sites.  The links are not intended to imply that we sponsor or are affiliated or associated with the persons who created those sites, nor are the links intended to imply that we are legally authorized to use any trade name, registered trademark, logo, legal or official seal, or copyrighted symbol that may be reflected in the links.

In an effort to improve this site, we would appreciate learning about your visit to Washington LawHelp.

Survey

 

Sign up for our Email Newsletter
 

 Creative Commons License

The work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. You are welcome to copy and distribute this material as is, but not for commercial purposes. You may not alter, transform, or build on this work without our permission, but feel free to ask.

Washington LawHelp is provided as a public service by the Northwest Justice Project in collaboration with other legal aid providers in the Alliance for Equal Justice and Washington courts.

Northwest Justice Project     Washington Courts     Columbia Legal Services     The Alliance for Equal Justice     Legal Services Corporation    
© 2001 - 2011, Pro Bono Net, All Rights Reserved. Legal Help in Other States

Bobby WorldWide Approved 508 Level A conformance icon, W3C-WAI Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0