Consumer Resources

Bankruptcy

WCBA (Winnebago County Bar Association)
(815) 964-5152

Web Sites:

• http://public.findlaw.com
• www.illinoislegalaid.org
  ~videos
         Consumer Law: Foreclosure issues
        “Cleaning up your credit”
  ~Articles regarding Bankruptcy
• www.legalhelpers.com
• www.consumerlaw.org/advice/content/consumer_info_content.html - Consumer Education Brochures can be downloaded free of cost.
• http://www.nacba.org/ - National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
• http://www.abanet.org/premartindale.html - Hire a lawyer

Collection Agency

WCBA (Winnebago County Bar Association)
(815) 964-5152

Web Sites:

• http://public.findlaw.com
• www.illinoislegalaid.org
  ~Forms – Consumer: - Collection/Repossession:
       Letter to Collection Agency
       Letter to Creditor
  ~Article regarding Collection Agency
• www.consumerlaw.org/advice/content/consumer_info_content.html - Consumer Education Brochures can be downloaded free of cost.

Consumer Fraud

Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Hotlines:
Chicago (800) 386-5438
Springfield (800) 243-0618
Carbondale (800) 243-0607
Spanish Hotline (866) 310-8398
ID Theft (866) 999-5630

Consumer Complaints

Illinois Attorney General’s Office:
www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers

Web Sites:

• http://public.findlaw.com
• www.illinoislegalaid.org
  ~Articles regarding Consumer Fraud, especially for senior citizens.
• www.consumerlaw.org/advice/content/consumer_info_content.html - Consumer Education Brochures can be downloaded free of cost.

Credit Practices / Reports

Web Sites:

• www.illinoislegalaid.org
  ~Forms: 
  - Letter to Dispute Credit Report
  - Letter to Credit Reporting Agency Requesting Them to Furnish a Notice of Credit Report Correction
  - Letter to Credit Card Company or Bank Where Criminal Opened a Fraudulent Account in Your Name
  - Letter to Credit Card Company or Bank to Report Identity Theft
  ~Articles regarding Credit Reports 
• www.consumerlaw.org/advice/content/consumer_info_content.html - Consumer Education Brochures can be downloaded free of cost.

Foreclosures

Self Help Center at the Courthouse
400 W. State Street, Rm. 304 in Law Library
Rockford, IL 61101
(815) 319-4526
--Navigator available:  9am-4pm M, Tu, W; 8am-3pm Th; 8am-3pm F
~ Self Help Manual # 19 – "What Happens If You Are Sued for Foreclosure"

WCBA (Winnebago County Bar Association)
(815) 964-5152

Web Sites:

• http://public.findlaw.com
• http://winnebago.illinoislegalaid.org or www.illinoislegalaid.org
  ~videos - Consumer Law:
  "What you can do to avoid Foreclosure"
  "What happens after the Foreclosure Sale?"
  "What happens once a Foreclosure lawsuit is filed?"
  "Mortgage Foreclosure Scams"
  -Housing:
  "Foreclosure"
  www.consumerlaw.org/advice/content/consumer_info_content.html - Consumer Education Brochures can be downloaded free of cost.

Garnishment

Web Sites:

• www.illinoislegalaid.org
  ~Forms: 
  - “Letter to Creditor to Stop a Wage Assignment”
  ~Articles regarding Garnishment

Identity Theft

Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Hotlines:
Chicago (800) 386-5438 
Springfield (800) 243-0618
Carbondale (800) 243-0607 
Spanish Hotline (866) 310-8398 
ID Theft (866) 999-5630

Web Sites:

• http://public.findlaw.com/
• www.illinoislegalaid.org
  ~Forms: 
  - Letter to Credit Bureau to Report Credit Card Theft
  - Letter to Credit Reporting Agencies to Report Identity Theft
  - Letter to Credit Card Company or Bank Where Criminal Opened a Fraudulent Account in Your Name
  - Letter to Credit Card Company to Report Stolen Credit Card
  - Letter to Insurance Company to Report Identity Theft
  ~Articles regarding Identity Theft 
• www.consumerlaw.org/advice/content/consumer_info_content.html - Consumer Education Brochures can be downloaded free of cost. 

Public Aid 

Public Aid Office
1111 N. Avon St.
Rockford, IL
(815) 987-7620

Small Claims

Self Help Center at the Courthouse
400 W. State Street, Rm 304 in Law Library
Rockford, IL 61101
(815) 319-4526
--Navigator available:  9am-4pm M, Tu, W; 8am-3pm Th; 8am-3pm F
~Self Help Manual # 7 – "Small Claims Court in Illinois"

Web Sites:

• http://public.findlaw.com/
• http://winnebago.illinoislegalaid.org or www.illinoislegalaid.org 
  ~Video - Consumer Law: Small Claims Court
• www.consumerlaw.org/advice/content/consumer_info_content.html - Consumer Education Brochures can be downloaded free of cost. 

Sweepstakes Scams

Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Hotlines:
Chicago (800) 386-5438
Springfield  (800) 243-0618
Carbondale (800) 243-0607
Spanish Hotline (866) 310-8398
ID Theft (866) 999-5630

Web Sites:

• http://public.findlaw.com
• www.illinoislegalaid.org
  ~Articles on Consumer Fraud, not Sweepstakes Scam specifically.
• www.consumerlaw.org/advice/content/consumer_info_content.html - Consumer Education Brochures can be downloaded free of cost.

Utilities (lack of/low income)

PSLS (Prairie State Legal Services)
303 North Main St., #600
Rockford, IL 61101
(815) 965-2902
(800) 892-2985

LIHEAP
555 N. Court
Rockford, IL
(815) 987-5711

Circuit Breakers
Zeke Giorgi Center
200 S. Wyman Rockford, IL 61101
(815) 987-7433

Web Sites:

• www.consumerlaw.org/advice/content/consumer_info_content.html  - Consumer Education Brochures can be downloaded free of cost.

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