Barry, Slade & Wheaton, LLC

We Sue Abusive Debt Collectors™

 

Welcome To Barry, Slade & Wheaton, LLC

bary-foxnewsWe are a Minnesota consumer rights law firm dedicated to the protection of consumers against abusive and illegal collection practices by debt collectors. We end collection harassment. If you have been subjected to collection harassment, calls to the workplace, or other abuse, call us today.  Pete Barry recently appeared on the San Francisco Bay Area Fox News discussing abusive debt collection practices in the United States.  Click here to watch the video.

The story features Pete's FDCPA Boot Camp for consumer attorneys.  As one boot camper, Daniel T. LeBel, recently put it, "If you have any interest in representing consumers who’ve been abused by debt collectors—go to Pete Barry’s FDCPA Boot Camp. Pete seamlessly weaves together the various provisions of the statute, his insight into the collections business, and his battle-tested strategies for exposing the truth about illegal collections."
 

Jan 2012 Atlanta FDCPA Boot Camp A Huge Success!

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Attorneys travelled from all over the country to attend the FDCPA Boot Camp. During a rapid-fire weekend, they learned how to quickly assess consumer clients as well as learned effective litigation strategies in suing debt collectors.  Consumer Lawyer Pete Barry spent 30 hours over 2.5 days with a razor sharp focus on effective, practical, and ethical approaches to litigation against illegal debt collectors.

Here's how one recent Boot Camper, Blake Field from Las Vegas, put it: "The FDCPA Boot Camp is, without a doubt, the single most effective tool for getting up to speed on claims under the act and maximizing damages for your clients.  This isn’t your typical lecture: Mr. Barry’s dynamic, in-your-face speaking and litigation style captivates your attention and inspires you to achieve."
 
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(612) 379 - 8800
 

You Have A Right to Sue Harassing Debt Collectors

Debt collectors must treat you with truth, fairness, dignity, and respect.  Period.  Any debt collector who crosses the line and abuses you for the collection of a consumer debt can be sued in federal court for damages under a law called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

Debt Collectors Are Prohibited From Doing Lots of Things

  • Threatening lawsuits, garnishment, liens, or arrest for not paying a bill
  • Calling your family, friends, neighbors or employers to collect a debt
  • Leaving abusive phone messages
  • Insulting, yelling or swearing at you
  • Calling your workplace after telling the collector not to call you there
  • Lying, threatening, or otherwise harassing you in any way

If you have suffered from any of these abusive bill collection practices, you may be entitled to compensation.  We can help any consumer who is currently in collections, or has suffered from collection harassment.  Call us today at (612) 379-8800 to speak with an attorney and get a free phone consultation on your case.

What to Do if You're Abused By a Collector

If you're contacted by a debt collector, you have a right to dispute the debt either verbally or in writing.  If you want to preserve some rights under the FDCPA, you must send a written dispute within 30 days of your receipt of the first "validation notice" from the debt collector.  Even if you owe the debt, or you cannot pay, you still have rights under the FDCPA.  Most of our clients owe the debt being collected but because of financial circumstances, or a dispute over the goods or services, they cannot pay it.  In order to preserve your rights under the law, it's important for you to keep good records of all of the contacts.  Click here to see our collections communications log.

Important Steps You Can Take To Help Your Case

  1. Save copies of all letters and notices from collection agencies.
  2. Save all phone messages and voice mails- this is very important!
  3. Make note of your conversations with these bill collectors.
  4. Call a consumer rights attorney to help you recover your damages.

There Is No Fee In Your Case Unless We Recover

The law says that any debt collector who violates your rights may be made to pay you statutory damages of up to $1,000, actual damages, and attorney's fees and costs, if you win your FDCPA case.  If we agree to represent you in an FDCPA case, you won't pay any attorney's fees unless we recover on your behalf.  You may be responsible for any other costs in your lawsuit.

$1,000 Recovery Possible For Statutory Damages In An FDCPA Case