Messerli & Kramer is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) of the debt collection law firms in Minnesota. They’re very effective at what they do, and if you’re up against this 800-pound gorilla of the debt collection world, you’ll want to be prepared. Messerli & Kramer can be a very tough opponent.
1. Know your rights. Messerli & Kramer is not only a law firm, but also a debt collector. They’re regulated under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a law designed to protect you from abusive debt collection practices. See our previous post discussing how the FDCPA can protect you. If you know your rights, it’ll be much easier to deal with debt collectors without feeling like you got steamrollered.
2. Don’t make an agreement to pay without getting it in writing. This isn’t just for Messerli & Kramer–it’s for any law firm or debt collector. Before you start making payments on a debt, you want written proof of the terms of the agreement. You want to know the amount of the monthly payments and the number of payments it’ll take pay off the debt. If they’re still charging an interest rate, you’ll want to know about that too. At the very least, you’ll want the agreement in writing so that you understand your own obligations so that you don’t slip up.
3. If you’ve been sued, contact a consumer lawyer. Once you’ve received legal papers, you generally have 20 days to answer, so time is of the essence. If you don’t answer on time, Messerli & Kramer can get a default judgment against you. Also, you may have defenses against a debt collection lawsuit, especially if the lawsuit is on behalf of a debt buyer. Most consumer lawyers will give you a free consultation to discuss your defenses if you’ve been sued. If you need help, give us a call.
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Tags: debt collection, default judgment, FDCPA, Messerli & Kramer, Messerli and Kramer, Minneapolis consumer attorney