1) Who or What is the Credit Card Rights Coalition?

The Credit Card Rights Coalition (CCRC) is a self-help legal educational coalition of citizens that have joined forces with a network of paralegals, attorneys and administrative services providers dedicated to providing its members relief from a debt collection industry that is out of control.  Through a proprietary process developed by licensed attorneys and certified paralegals, we are able to identify, develop and litigate claims for violations of state and federal consumer protection laws.  Through this process, we are able to gain the consumer significant relief from skyrocketing unsecured debt burdens.

 2) Who can I count on for answers to questions that I have during the process?

The Credit Card Rights Coalition has developed a Support Division for this purpose. Email is the fastest and surest means of communications, as it allows a paper trail that can be traced for all consumer inquiries. However, we will also provide a contact phone number for any questions that may occur during the process..

3) Will I get status reports?

You will receive acknowledgement that you are entered into the system upon completion of your application and the payment of fees. You may also receive confirmations from the different agencies we are dealing with during the process.

4)  What should I do if an agency contacts me?

Any such communications directed to you by a 3PDC (3rd Party Debt Collector) must be forwarded to the CCRC support division within 48 hours.  

5) What is the e-mail address for Customer Service?

You will be furnished all our customer contact information upon confirmation that you are in the system. This will normally be in less than 10 days.  

6) Where are you based?

The CCRC is based in Modesto, California; however, we have paralegals and attorneys nationwide.

7) Do you guarantee member services?

Unfortunately, most of the work that the CCRC involves itself in is litigation related. As litigation is fraught with uncertainty, no guarantees can be made with respect to the overall outcome of all consumer credit accounts. However, we will guarantee that the CCRC will provide the most professional and lawful strategies and tools in the market to reconcile their members' unsecured credit accounts.

SECTION 2: HOW DOES THE CCRC DEBT RECONCILIATION PROCESS WORK?

8) How do you eliminate my debt?

Please understand that this is not a “Debt Elimination” process. If you are looking for a way to avoid your legal obligations under contract, you have found the wrong place. We have seen all of the processes out there, from UCC Redemption to Ultra Vires to Bonding to foreign mail drops coupled with lawsuits and liens, and everything in between. While some may work for a time, they all ultimately suffer the same fate—Failure—and in more and more cases, Sanctions.

The CCRC uses a proprietary set of tools and strategies developed by certified paralegals and licensed attorneys to validate unsecured debt claims, and then identify, develop and litigate consumer claims for violations of state and federal consumer protection laws. In all circumstances the CCRC will endeavor to secure validation of the underlying debt from an original creditor and any subsequent owners or holders of the unsecured debt account. During the process, some debts may be invalidated. A debt that is proven to be invalid must be forgiven and removed from the credit report and the records of the financial institution. Other debts may be subject to negotiation and settlement. Still others may be litigated. From our experience and research, rarely do any of these federal claims go to trial. Regardless of the strategy used on a particular account, the goal is to secure as much relief for the beleaguered member as possible from a debt collection industry that has completely lost its moral compass.

9) Isn’t it wrong to file lawsuits just to try to get out of debt?

Absolutely. The filing of unfounded claims is a violation of ethical guidelines and rules of procedure, and the CCRC will not sanction such activity. The process utilized by the CCRC uses our knowledge of debt collection industry practices to identify and develop viable lawful claims against the various parties in the collection process. Any lawsuits that are filed on our client’s behalf by CCRC attorneys are soundly based in law and fact.

10) I am currently making payments on my accounts, should I continue to make minimum payments?

Many people who come to us are already in default on at least one account. This is the most pressing question for those who have not defaulted. If you choose to enter an account into the process, then it is your choice whether or not to make payments to an account which you believe to be invalid.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 15 U.S.C. §1692, et seq. (FDCPA) provides for the withholding of payments during the dispute of a debt. Further, the Fair Credit Billing Act allows for the withholding of payment during a billing dispute. We believe that if payments continue to be made, they should be made under protest or duress. Otherwise, the act of payment may be interpreted as a validation of the disputed debt. Remember, the companies that you are dealing with are large, computerized operations who are more interested in checks and other forms of payment than any other type of communications. Therefore, if you choose to pay under protest, that fact should be communicated on the payment instrument itself.

11) How soon do you start the credit restoration process once funds and credit reports are sent in?

The process starts immediately after the funds and Application are received by the CCRC. The credit restoration process runs parallel to the debt reconciliation process, and the results of one process feed certain elements of the other process.

12) Do I need to get copies of all my credit reports before sending in my paperwork?

No. We will arrange to have your credit reports pulled from all of the major credit reporting agencies. You will know that the process is working when you begin to receive reports from the three major credit reporting bureaus.

13) What do I do when I receive my credit reports?

Once the requests for credit reports are filed, you will receive a number of copies of your credit reports from the credit reporting agencies. These documents may resemble junk mail, so please be sure to open all of your mail to make sure you do not throw them out by mistake. Immediately upon receipt, review your report (s), and then fax it to The Fulfillment Center and the CCRC. If you receive several reports over one or two days, fax them all. Every time you receive a credit report, act on it within 48 hours in the above manner. Time is of the essence!

14) How long does the total process take?

As with any legal process, it is impossible to determine the exact amount of time that will be necessary to complete the process. CCRC estimates that the complete process should take approximately 12-18 months on average. This includes credit restoration, reconciliation of unsecured debt, and any action on the federal level.

15) Will my credit file be blocked during this process?

During the first part of the process, CCRC’s provider partners will place a fraud alert on your reports. Do not let anyone access your Credit Report while in this process.

16) Will recent disputes or verifications on my credit report delay the credit restoration process?

No. The CCRC process starts fresh, and any historical activity on your reports will not have an impact on the demands for validation and verification that we make on your behalf.

17) Can I allow my credit report to be accessed by third parties during this process?

In order to ensure that there is no disruption to the credit restoration process, it is recommended that you not allow anyone to access your credit file. As such, you should avoid applying for anything or employing the services of anyone that would result in your credit report being pulled up and queried.

Various companies such as Insurance (Life, Car, and Home Owners), Utilities (telephone, cell phone, gas, electric, Cable TV), Credit Card, Auto Dealers, and Employers (Verification and Application) must not access your credit report, so it is advised that during the course of the process you not apply for any of those services. Make sure you notify them that they should not access your Credit Reports while this process is taking place. The credit reports will be blocked during this period and the enquiring companies will not be able to access your credit report without your permission. In the event that you have to allow access to an entity, please make sure to notify the CCRC prior thereto so as to avoid disruption.

18) Why do my credit reports show different treatment of my accounts?

Every credit reporting agency (CRA) reports differently. The end result of this process will be to clear all credit reports of any accounts you placed in the program and remove derogatory remarks on remaining accounts.

19) At what point in the process does a 3rd party debt collector become aware that this process is in motion?

When they receive notice that you have disputed the subject account or certainly when they are served with a federal complaint.

20) How do I stop phone calls from the creditors or collectors?

Cease and desist letters are very effective at stopping phone calls from collectors; however, we prefer that our clients accept these phone calls in order to enhance the strength of our federal suits against these collectors. We ask that our clients either record (when allowed by state law) or keep an accurate log of these calls to send on to the CCRC support team.

21) I currently have an attorney working for me. What do I do if I want to use the services of CCRC?

Please have your attorney contact us so that we can explain in detail our compliance review and reconciliation process, and the claims that we will develop on your behalf. To the extent that your attorney is engaged in the defense of any state collection claims, we are happy to share any defensive tool and strategies to maximize his/her representation of you. We are also always looking for consumer advocates to join our ever growing network, so have them get in touch with us as soon as possible.

22) How do I know my accounts are being worked on?

Any accounts submitted properly into the program are being worked on. If the paralegal needed additional information prior to sending your package to CCRC, you would have been contacted. As stated above, if you are receiving reports and other communications from the credit reporting bureaus, this is a good indication that our process is at work behind the scenes.

23) What if I want to know what is going on right now?

As with all legal processes, each step in the compliance review, claims development and reconciliation process takes time. Generally, the consumer protection statutes we operate under provide for response periods as long as 30 days. Please refer to your consultant with any questions, and then to the CCRC support team.

24) Do you dispute my unsecured debts?

We dispute the accuracy of each and every presentation of the account as part of the program.

25) Is anyone in compliance with the consumer protection laws?

From our experience, few if any debt collectors are in full compliance with the host of state and federal consumer protection laws. It is our mission to identify, expose and make actionable as many violations of those laws as possible.

ACCOUNTS / LOANS

26) Are signature loans at a bank considered to be unsecured?

Yes. A signature loan is secured only by your signature. Any unsecured debt can be reconciled through this process.

27) Can store cards like Sears, or JC Penney be reconciled through this process?

Yes. Increasingly, store credit cards are underwritten by the major credit card banks. The collection process that is used in these accounts is no different than any other unsecured credit account.

28) Can I include my spouse’s account in the process?

Yes. The process is based purely on the number of accounts you are processing regardless of whether they are in your, or your spouse's name.

29) Does the credit restoration process clear up late payments on my credit report?

Yes, we attack late payment entries and demand verification thereof. In the event that they fail or refuse to comply with the law regarding the proper method of verifying negative tradelines - as is the case in most situations - those entries must be removed.

30) Do you deal with Credit Union issued accounts?

Yes, as long as they are unsecured accounts.

31) Do you deal with accounts with a $0 balance?

It can be beneficial to your credit score to maintain open accounts that have $0 balances. We recommend not using them actively unless you can afford to pay the balances off.

32) What is the end result of your process?

Our goal is to perform a complete and total reconciliation of your unsecured debt portfolio, and to get the consumer as much relief from unbridled debt collectors as is legally possible. To do that we enlist a team of certified paralegals and licensed attorneys to validate claims and identify, develop and prosecute the inevitable claims that arise on your behalf against the collectors. At the end of the process, you should have your credit history restored, all unsecured credit accounts that have come through the process resolved to your maximum advantage, and the financial education and tools to ensure that you do not ever fall into the unsecured credit trap again.

33) Are electronically produced billing “statements” proof of validation of debts?

No, and we develop a paper trail where the collector is on notice that uncertified statements of account are not lawful evidence for purposes of validation. However, you need to understand that we are not just disputing the account/validity of any charges. We are identifying and developing claims where the creditor and/or collector is not in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Credit Billing Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and other state and federal consumer protection laws. These claims are separate and apart from any claims that a collector may try to assert against you.

34) Do balance transfers qualify for this process?

So long as you are dealing in unsecured accounts.

35) I am not behind on my accounts; can I still have them included in your process?

Yes, you can. However, you need to understand that this process may result in a short term decline in your credit scores while the reconciliation process proceeds. Any reduction in credit scores will be rectified during the credit restoration process.

36) Does this work on secured home mortgages or auto loans?

No, this process is restricted to unsecured credit accounts.

37) Does your process deal with student loans?

We do not currently have a process in place to deal with these loans. Student loans are government insured and sometimes government owned.

JUDGMENTS / LAWSUITS / ARBITRATIONS

38) What happens if I am sued and have to go to court?

First of all, no matter how uncomfortable you feel, you must show up. Understand that the interest of the court is to get your case through the system as quickly as possible. Do not let that intimidate you. If the judge or anyone else asks you if you owe the money, inform them that you have disputed the account, and that is all you have to say. It is in your best interest to follow the instructions on any document that was delivered to you notifying you of the filing of a lawsuit against you. Generally, consumers are required to file an appearance form that can be supplied by the court clerk’s office and pay a fee to the court. Consumers may also be required to file an answer to the complaint. Failure to file required documents may result in a judgment being entered against you, so make sure you read the papers carefully.

 In addition to the reconciliation process discussed herein, the CCRC does have attorneys in some locations who can appear in your defense in state collection actions. However, those attorneys may require a retainer for performing those defensive type services, as opposed to the claims that are developed through the reconciliation process, which are handled on a contingency fee basis. These retainers are your responsibility and are not covered by the CCRC program.

 Please be very clear that the process that we are discussing in this document involves the identification, development and prosecution of claims in federal court. The process does not directly deal with state court collection claims. However, the actions of the collectors at the state level form the basis of the claims that CCRC attorneys file on your behalf, and any illegal actions performed by the collectors will result in requests for damages.

39) Can you assist with a default judgment?

Default judgments are awarded to collectors when the defendant either does not show up for the first hearing, or fails to respond to a Complaint. The critical time for dealing with default judgments is within 30 days of the entry of the judgment. After that, the threshold for vacating default judgments can rise substantially.

As stated above, the CCRC reconciliation process does not directly deal with state court collection cases. However, we will prioritize treatment of any accounts that are in litigation during the course of the reconciliation process. Our recommendation is that any consumers who are subject to a summons for a state court collection action request as much time as they can get to respond to the complaint. This will allow us time to review the relevant account information, send any correspondence necessary, and develop the federal complaint for filing.

40) If I got a summons this week, can you help?

As with the default judgment discussed above, this process does not directly deal with state court collection actions. However, we are confident that whatever damage may be done by the collectors during their pursuit of the debt can be rectified through the reconciliation process.

CREDIT REPORTS

41) Can inquiries be removed from the credit report?

Yes, this is part of the credit restoration process and will be fully explained in the education package you will receive.

42) Once Negatives are investigated and removed, do they come back?

Negative information, once investigated and found unverifiable, outdated, misleading or inaccurate, may not reappear on your credit report according to the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act).

43) Is credit repair the same as credit restoration?

No. We only offer credit restoration. We do not offer or provide credit repair as part of the CCRC process.

44) Can we buy a new car or buy a new home while we’re in this process?

If you know you are going to buy a car or house during this time, do not start this process until you have completed your purchase, then you may get into the process. If you wait to purchase these items after you have your credit restored, you will probably get a better interest rate on your purchase.