jastor-ga,
Thanks for bringing your question to Google Answers, and best of luck
in resolving your situation.
From what I can see, most collection lawyers are willing to work on a
contingency basis, so it shouldn't be difficult to find one in your
area.
For starters, here are some collection lawyers and firms in the Los Angeles area:
[The lawyers listed here have all confirmed that they work on contingency]
http://www.agencycollect.com/chq/default.flash.asp
Dyne, Friedland & Omrani, P.L.C.
Steven Friedland
818/593-2041 Fax: 818/593-2033
6355 Topanga Canyon Blvd Ste 235
Woodland Hills, CA 91367-2108
Law Offices of Allan D. Sarver
Allan Sarver
800/757-7785 Fax: 818/981-0026
16027 Ventura Blvd Ste 660
Encino, CA 91436-4469
Law Offices of Howard Goodman
Howard Goodman
818/996-8903 Fax: 818/996-2942
18321 Ventura Blvd Ste 915
Tarzana, CA 91356-4255
Law Office of Martin F. Goldman
Martin F. Goldman
310/470-8487 Fax: 310/474-0653
10880 Wilshire Blvd Ste 2240
Los Angeles, CA 90024-4123
The Guerrini Law Firm
John D. Guerrini
626/229-9611 Fax: 626/229-9615
750 E Green St Ste 200
Pasadena, CA 91101-2126
Zide & O'Biecunas
Thomas Zide
818/988-0180 Fax: 818/988-1217
14123 Victory Blvd
Van Nuys, CA 91401-1928
The Law Offices of Robert B. Serian & Assoc.
Robert B. Serian
661/257-7470 Fax: 661/257-7474
27955 Smyth Dr Ste 107
Valencia, CA 91355-4043
==================
The firms below also do collections. They likely can do them on a
contingency basis, but this was not explicitly confirmed in the
information sources consulted:
Seals & Tenenbaum
2323 W. Lincoln Avenue, Suite 127,Anaheim, 92801
714/991-9131; FAX: 714/991-6526
EMAIL: roberttyler@sealstenenbaum.com
WEBSITE: www.sealstenenbaum.com
The Guerrini Law Firm
750 East Green Street, Suite 200,Pasadena, 91101
626/229-9611; FAX: 626/229-9615
EMAIL: guerrini@guerrinilaw.com
WEBSITE: www.guerrinilaw.com
Burnett & Matthews LLP
4675 MacArthur Court, Suite 1540,Newport Beach, 92660
949/729-0705; FAX: 949/729-0630
EMAIL: aem@burnett-matthews.com
Jacqueline N. Anker
27 W. Anapamu Street, #325,Santa Barbara, 93101
805/962-1024; FAX: 805/962-9043
EMAIL: anker@ankerlaw.com
WEBSITE: www.ankerlaw.com
Brachfeld Associates, PC
20300 S. Vermont Ave., Suite 120,Torrance, 90502-1338
310/273-7867; FAX: 310/273-9867
EMAIL: ebrachfeld@brachfeldcollections.com
WEBSITE: www.brachfeldcollections.com
Greenbaum & Katz, LLP
840 Newport Center Dr., Suite 720,Newport Beach , 92660
800/519-0562; FAX: 888/760-7210
Toll Free: 800/519-0562
EMAIL: info@statewidecollectionattorney.com
WEBSITE: www.collectionlaw.com
Hollins Schecter, Attorneys at Law
1851 East First Street, 6th Floor,Santa Ana, 92705
714/558-9119; FAX: 714/558-9091
EMAIL: jphillips@hollins-law.com
WEBSITE: www.hollins-law.com
Deborah R. Bronner & Associates
11600 Washington Pl., Ste. 116A, P.O. Box 661392,Los Angeles, 90066
310/572-1286; FAX: 310/572-0112
EMAIL: debbronner@aol.com
WEBSITE: www.cl9.com/bronner
Bruce A. Hatkoff, A Law Corporation
l6633 Ventura Blvd., Ste. 940, Encino, 91436-1801
818/990-5180; FAX: 818/990-2463
EMAIL: BAHHAT@prodigy.com
Chandler J. Coury
6433 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Suite 280,Canoga Park, 91303
818/710-0119; FAX: 818/986-8584
EMAIL: courylaw@pacbell.net
Martin F. Goldman
10880 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 2240, Los Angeles, 90024
310/470-8487; FAX: 310/474-0653
EMAIL: martylaw1@aol.com
Law Offices of T. Britt Rudman
9190 West Olympic Blvd., #119,Beverly Hills, 90212
310/274-8529; FAX: 310/861-8916
EMAIL: tbrudman@beverlyhillslegal.com
WEBSITE: www.beverlyhillslegal.com
Collection Lawyers
2850 Artesia Boulevard, Suite 201,Redondo Beach, 90278-3414
800/653-5720; FAX: 800/871-5423
EMAIL: GCohn@CollectionLawyers.com
WEBSITE: www.CollectionLawyers.com
Dyne, Friedland & Omrani, PLC
6355 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Ste. 235,Woodland Hills, 91367-2100
818/593-2041; FAX: 818/593-2033
EMAIL: dynelaw@pacbell.net
Law Offices of Louis Jacobs
11693 San Vicente Blvd. #318, Los Angeles, 90049
310/312-1860; FAX: 310/444-2060
EMAIL: lj@ljacobslaw.com
WEBSITE: www.ljacobslaw.com
=======================
You also asked what steps you could take short of hiring an attorney.
Please note the disclaimer at the bottom of this page. Google Answers
is no substitute for professional legal advice, so take all this with
the appropriate grains of salt.
Please be aware that most states have rather strict laws regarding
collections, since the process has, in the past, often been abused by
unscrupulous collection agents who resort to harrassment:
http://www.ag.ca.gov/consumers/general/collection_agencies10.htm
Your rights under California's Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
For that reason, be very careful in taking collection measures on your
own that go beyond normal business practices, such as sending an
overdue notice.
One option to consider is to use commercial collection services rather
than a lawyer. These services, too, often work on a contingency fee
basis. They will attempt to recover the money owed, but if it comes
to the point of having to file a lawsuit, then you'll have to turn the
case over to a lawyer.
Some services in the LA area are:
http://www.arhelp.com/los-angeles-collection-agency.asp
Los Angeles Collection Agency
http://www.scs-1.com/
Southwest Collection Service, Inc
http://www.thecityoflosangeles.org/collectionagency/index.html
Other Collection Agencies In Los Angeles, California
====================
Depending on the circumstances of the debt, it may also be possible to
file a lien on your own. A lien is a form of "encumberance" on a
property that, in effect, stakes your claim on the property because of
an outstanding debt. For instance, a lien on a house would prevent
the owner of the house from selling it, until the lien is cleared.
I can't offer any specifics on this option, since it depends so much
on the particulars of your case. But here is a link to some general
information on liens in California:
http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/smallclaims/collectlien.htm
Putting a Lien on a Debtor's Property
Although this page is geared towards collecting legal judgements (e.g.
from small claims court), the information will give you a good
overview of lien options, and the process involved.
Some more general information on liens can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lien
I trust this information fully answers your question.
However, please don't rate this answer until you have everything you
need. If you would like any additional information, just post a
Request for Clarification to let me know how I can assist you further,
and I'm at your service.
All the best, and again, good luck!
pafalafa-ga |
