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Law Office of Doug Dern
Defense Against Debt Collection Lawsuits (FDCPA)
- Sued by a debt buyer like Midland Credit, LVNV Funding, or Portfolio Recovery in District Court?
- Don't let them take a default judgment or garnish your paycheck.
- We defend your lawsuit, force the debt buyer to prove their case, and turn abusive collection practices into counter-claims.
Stop Illegal Texts & Robocalls (TCPA)
How We Fight Back For You
- Receiving auto-dialed calls or text messages on your cell phone without consent?
- Did a collector keep texting after you replied "STOP"?
- Statutory Cash Recovery: You could collect $500 to $1,500 per illegal text or call directly from the debt collector.
FULL-SPECTRUM DEBT DEFENSE & CONSUMER PROTECTION
Fix Credit Report Inaccuracies (FCRA)
Complete Debt Resolution & Bankruptcy Backstop
Complete Debt Resolution & Bankruptcy Backstop
- Inaccurate collection accounts or outdated debts lowering your credit score?
- We force credit bureaus and debt collectors to delete illegal errors or pay statutory damages under the Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Derogatory Debt That Isn't Yours: Are debt buyers reporting collection accounts, charge-offs, or judgments that belong to someone else, were already paid, or were discharged in bankruptcy?
- Outdated & Zombie Debts: Is a debt collector re-aging old accounts or keeping negative marks on your credit report past the strict 7-year federal deadline?
- Ignored Credit Disputes: Did you submit a dispute to Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion, only to receive a generic "verified" response while the false collection remains?
- Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Protection: Under federal law, credit reporting agencies and debt collectors are legally required to report 100% accurate information. When they refuse to correct false tradelines, we sue them in federal court.
- Statutory Cash Recovery & Deletions: We fight to get the false collection account permanently deleted from your credit files and recover up to $1,000 in statutory damages, plus actual damages for harm to your credit score.
Complete Debt Resolution & Bankruptcy Backstop
Complete Debt Resolution & Bankruptcy Backstop
Complete Debt Resolution & Bankruptcy Backstop
- Overwhelmed by credit card debt, medical bills, or facing a pending lawsuit?
- If fighting the lawsuit isn't enough, we evaluate your full financial picture to provide complete relief through debt settlement or Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection.
Stop Wage Garnishments & Lawsuits Instantly: Filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy immediately triggers an federal "Automatic Stay." This legally forces debt collectors, process servers, and credit card companies to freeze all active lawsuits, wage garnishments, and bank levies on the spot.
- Wipe Out Unpayable Unsecured Debt: Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows eligible Michigan residents to completely discharge (wipe out) credit card balances, medical bills, personal loans, and old collection accounts—giving you a clean slate without paying pennies on the dollar.
- Protect Your Most Important Assets: Under Michigan bankruptcy exemptions, you don't have to lose everything to get debt relief. We structure your case to protect your home, your vehicles, your retirement accounts, and your personal belongings.
- Strategic Debt Settlement: If bankruptcy isn't the right fit for your situation, we negotiate directly with credit card companies and collection agencies to settle your balances for a fraction of what they claim you owe.
- Full-Spectrum Financial Evaluation: We don't push one-size-fits-all solutions. We look at your entire financial picture—income, assets, lawsuits, and harassment—to recommend the exact path that protects your paycheck and restores your peace of mind.
Zero-Risk & No-Upfront-Fees
Complete Debt Resolution & Bankruptcy Backstop
Zero-Risk & No-Upfront-Fees
- Sued by a debt buyer? Or getting harassed by illegal robocalls and text messages? You may be worried about the cost of hiring an experienced attorney—but you shouldn’t be.
- The Collector Pays: Under federal consumer protection laws (like the FDCPA and TCPA), when we win or settle, the debt collector pays our legal fees—not you.
- Free Case Evaluations: We review your court papers, text screenshots, and credit reports completely free of charge.
- No Financial Risk: If we don’t recover money or resolve your issue under these statutes, you don't owe us a dime for our time. We only take cases we believe we can win.
Severe Debt & Bankruptcy
Severe Debt & Bankruptcy
Zero-Risk & No-Upfront-Fees
If you are facing multiple lawsuits, severe credit card debt, medical bills, or a pending foreclosure, fighting them one by one may not be enough. That is where our full-spectrum approach works for you.
We evaluate your entire financial picture to see if bankruptcy is your best path to a truly fresh start:
- Stop Garnishments & Foreclosures Instantly: Filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy immediately triggers an "automatic stay," forcing all lawsuits, wage garnishments, and foreclosure sales to stop in their tracks.
- Discharge Unpayable Debt: Completely wipe out credit cards, medical bills, and signature loans so you can breathe again.
- Complete Legal Backstop: We use 25+ years of bankruptcy experience to protect your home, your car, and your paycheck.
FAQs
Severe Debt & Bankruptcy
FAQs
- FAQ Q&A 1:
- Question: What should I do if I’m served with a debt collection lawsuit?
- Answer: Do not ignore it! If you don't file a formal response in court within 21 days (in Michigan), the debt buyer wins automatically by "default." This allows them to garnish your wages, seize bank funds, or put liens on your property. Call or text us immediately so we can defend your rights and make them prove their case.
- FAQ Q&A 2:
- Question: How do I prove a debt collector texted or called me illegally?
- Answer: Stop deleting them! Screenshot any text messages, call logs, and voicemail messages. Even if you aren't sure it's illegal, snap a photo and text it to us at 248-882-0838. If you replied "STOP" and they kept texting, or if they used an auto-dialer to spam your cell phone, you could receive $500 to $1,500 per message/call.
- FAQ Q&A 3:
- Question: Can you fix my credit if it has inaccurate debt on it?
- Answer: Yes. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), credit bureaus and debt buyers must report 100% accurate information. If they ignore your disputes or report outdated or incorrect debts, we sue them to force the deletion of those errors—and we seek statutory damages and attorney fees at no out-of-pocket cost to you.
About The Law Office of Doug Dern
Aggressive in the Courtroom. Easy to Talk to in Person.
25+ Years of Michigan Legal Experience
You get direct representation from a seasoned trial attorney who knows Michigan district courts, local judges, and the exact playbooks used by debt collection firms like Midland Credit, LVNV Funding, and Portfolio Recovery.
Contact Us
Call or Text 248-882-0838
Make your event special with the birthday Magic of the Doug Dern Magic Show
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