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Last year, Estelle* received a letter from an unknown-to-her attorney who offered to defend her in a scheduled debt collection hearing. This was the first Estelle had heard of the lawsuit, which was filed against her by a third-party debt buyer which sought to collect an old consumer debt.
Estelle took the letter to a legal aid agency. The advocates she met there explained that a lawsuit was pending against her, and that her best bet was to obtain legal representation. Since Estelle had a low income, the agency referred her to VIP.
Estelle explained to her VIP Case Manager that she fell behind on her credit card payments following a major surgery. “I had no way to get this debt fixed or paid at the time,” Estelle recalled.
She had to stop working and began receiving long-term disability payments, but she had to spend the payments on rent to avoid being evicted. Estelle worried that, if she lost the case, her car would be repossessed and her wages would be garnished when she returned to work.
VIP referred Estelle’s case to a volunteer lawyer who specializes in defending clients against debt buyers. The volunteer easily prevailed at the debt collection hearing by pointing out the numerous deficiencies in the debt buyer’s case. The case was resolved in Estelle’s favor, and she was able to walk away from a $5,000 debt.
“VIP’s services are superb. My attorney showed up and showed out,” Estelle said. “She was an angel sent to me. I owe my attorney and VIP a huge thanks. Nothing like this has ever happened to me.”
*All names are pseudonyms.