Bankruptcy -- Consumer Law -- We sue debt-collection agencies (and the companies who hire them)!

We STOP the harassment with or without bankruptcy!

You can fight back against creditor abuse and harassment!

Welcome!

When life’s events leave you in a situation where you just can’t recover on your own, then the law can step in and give you the fresh start that you need to begin living without staggering debt that ruins futures, marriages, and standards of living for today and for retirement years.

Your problems will not go away on their own. Hoping that “tomorrow will be a better day” will not solve them either. It takes action. It takes a solid plan that will work. Not everyone needs to file for bankruptcy. Some clients have come to us telling us how they have finally decided to file for bankruptcy in order to make bill collectors stop their never-ending harassment, and we told them that we could make the debt-collection telephone calls and letters stop without resorting to bankruptcy. Other clients crunch the numbers and realize, like some large corporations have done lately, that they need debt relief provided only by bankruptcy laws, and they make a sound business decision to seek debt relief in bankruptcy. We will listen carefully to you and look carefully at your unique situation in order to help you best solve your financial issues.

You can make debt-collection agencies stop their never-ending telephone calls and nasty letters (without filing for bankruptcy).

There are several laws that provide consumers with protection from harassment and abuse.  Just because you owe someone money does NOT give them the right to continually harass you -- especially if you have told them to leave you alone and to stop their harassment.  Some of these laws are statutes while other laws are "common law" as recognized by our Texas courts.  Here is a list of some of the most commonly used laws that protect consumers just like you:

    Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (federal law)
    Texas Debt Collection Act (state law)
    Texas Deceptive Trade Practices--Consumer Protection Act (state law)
    Unreasonable Collection Efforts (under Texas common law)
    Right to Privacy (under Texas common law)
    Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (under Texas common law)

If a creditor violates any one or more of the laws listed above, they can be ordered by a court to pay YOU money.  They will probably be ordered to pay your attorney's fees and court costs as well.  Some of the above laws also permit the court to award punitive or exemplary damages which can be for large sums of money.  Such exemplary damages are in addition to the regular money damages, attorney's fees, and court costs that may be awarded to a victim of creditor harassment.  More than one credit card company (or other lender) has found itself leaving the courthouse owing a LOT more money to the consumer than the consumer ever charged or otherwise borrowed from them!

Some creditors  (like banks and credit card companies) will tell you that the federal law called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) does not apply to them, therefore they can continue calling you.  This is only a "half truth."  While the FDCPA generally applies only to debt-collection agencies (and not to original creditors), it can also apply to original creditors in certain circumstances.  What they won't tell you is that even if the FDCPA does not prohibit their harassment -- Texas state laws do!  The credit card company may even lie to you and tell you that since the federal law allows them to harass you and federal laws "trump" state laws, that they can continue to call you.  Do not believe it!  Section 1692n of the FDCPA expressly states that the protections provided to consumers under the federal FDCPA are IN ADDITION to  any other protections available under any other laws and that the FDCPA does not preempt or overrule any other laws that protect your rights to be free of creditor harassment.  By the way, the Texas Debt Collection Act applies to both debt-colection agencies as well as original creditors (or companies that purchase accounts from original creditors).  Don't let anyone tell you that you just have to put up with constant collection calls and letters because you owe money and may be behind on your payments.

We want to help you stop creditor harassment.  Just send us an email with "bill collectors" in the subject line and we will send you a form letter that you can use to make the harasment stop.  Just follow the instructions and send the letter by certified mail, return-receipt requested, and keep a copy of your letter and the green postal return receipt.  If the harassment does not stop, please let us know and we will be glad to meet with you to discuss filing a lawsuit to make the harassment stop!  We routinely take such cases on a contingency-fee basis ("no attorney's fee if no recovery").  The handout we will send you via email with our "cease debt-collections demand" form letter is free and our gift to you.  If you wish to meet to discuss the possibility of filing suit to make the harassment stop, please contact us for a free initial consultation.  Help is only a phone call away.

Don’t fear bankruptcy.In some cases, bankruptcy is overkill.  In other instances, it is the only way to achieve the debt relief you need in order to get a fresh start financially.  Bankruptcy is often misunderstood.  Your credit rating will not be ruined forever (or even for the seven to ten years that a bankruptcy filing remains  on your credit report).  Did you know that approximately thirty percent (30%) of your credit scores are determined by the amount of debt you owe and that bankruptcy gets rid of much (in some cases all) of your debts?  You will still be able to get a credit card (if you want one), car loans, mortgages, etc., even after you file for bankruptcy.  There are lenders who specialize in lending to those who have come through the bankruptcy process and are willing to work with you to help you get on your feet.  Of course, one of the benefits of the bankruptcy process is that you will finally be able to go to bed at night knowing that you are debt-free and that every month that goes by you are putting a little money in savings.  You will never again be caught needing credit cards to buy groceries. We will help you by arranging for you to receive financial planning advice from the nation’s top experts in personal finance, and their education (viewable either online or on DVD video) will be a part of the bankruptcy process and included in the fee for filing your case.

We offer a FREE initial office consultation so you can learn about your options and whether bankruptcy or some other alternative may be best for you. You are not just another case file number to us.  We understand how you have been dealing with tough financial issues and how you want to pay your bills – if only there was enough money to spread around or if lenders would just freeze their high interest rates (which they don’t).  We understand how it feels when you are trying to eat dinner or trying to read a bedtime story to your little ones and the telephone rings with a nasty bill collector on the line. We understand how the loss of a job, large medical bills, or a divorce can cause even the best managed financial ships to sink.  You are not alone.

Your time is important and so is your financial future. That is why when you visit the Pullis Law Firm, you will consult with the principal attorney, Robert Pullis, Esq. We know our clients personally and take pride in providing excellent personal service to them. In addition to bankruptcy services, we can help you with any estate planning needs you may have, as Robert Pullis, Esq., holds two post-doctoral law degrees (LL.M. degrees): one in Estate Planning from the University of Miami and one in Taxation from the University of Houston. Whether you are like most people and only need a simple Last Will & Testament or whether you need something more complex that considers tax planning issues, we can help. Maybe your personal or business bankruptcy case involves the IRS and tax issues; don’t panic, we can help.  If you need a simple Last Will & Testament, Revocable Living Trust, or Living Will, please let us help you.  If you need more complex estate-planning services because of your level of wealth, or because your spouse is not a U. S. citizen and you need a Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT) to avoid paying estate taxes upon your death, we can help, and we would be glad to meet with you to discuss your needs and goals.

You have the absolute right to not be harassed by bill collectors. You have the right to take control of your financial future.  Debt relief isn’t just for big companies like Delta Airlines and General Motors – the law is there to help you too.  Help is only a phone call away. If you would like additional information regarding bankruptcy and how we can help you, contact us today for a free initial consultation.  Help is only a phone call away.