What Does a Debt Collector Attorney Do—and Do You Need One?

Do I Need a Debt-Collector Attorney? And If So, What Kind?

When people use the term “debt collector attorney,” they are usually referring to one of two types of legal professionals: 

1. A bankruptcy attorney to help them get out of debt
2. A consumer protection attorney to help them fight back if their rights have been violated.

Let’s take a look at these two professionals. 

Part One: You Need Help Getting Out of Debt

If your bills have become unmanageable, collectors are blowing up your phone, or you’re behind on major payments like a mortgage, car loan, or credit card, a bankruptcy attorney is often your best ally.

A bankruptcy attorney will:

• Help you decide if bankruptcy is the right move
• Determine which type of bankruptcy to file (Chapter 7 or Chapter 13)
• Stop creditor harassment the moment your case is filed
• Protect your wages, home, car, and bank account
• Wipe out qualifying debts like credit cards, personal loans, and medical bills
• Guide you through rebuilding your credit afterward

Let’s take a minute to dispel some myths about bankruptcy. After all, bankruptcy gets a bad rap. For decades, it’s been framed as a last resort or a personal failure, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Bankruptcy is a legal tool, written into the system, designed to help regular people reset after financial hardship. Job loss, medical bills, divorce, inflation: these are the kinds of events that push people into debt, not reckless spending. Filing for bankruptcy doesn’t mean you’ve given up. It means you’re choosing a path forward, one that stops the bleeding and gives you the structure, protection, and timeline you need to rebuild. And with the right plan, you can come out the other side with better credit, less stress, and a shot at real financial freedom.

Watch & Learn: You’ve Been Lied to About Bankruptcy

Consider calling a bankruptcy attorney if: 

• You’re behind on credit card or loan payments
• You’re being sued by a creditor
• Collectors are threatening wage garnishment
• You’ve tried budgeting, settlement, or consolidation—but nothing’s worked
• You’re stressed, stuck, and ready for a real reset

Here’s the part most people don’t realize: Filing bankruptcy immediately stops collection activity, including lawsuits, garnishments, and phone calls. That legal protection is called the automatic stay, and it goes into effect the moment your case is filed.

In other words, bankruptcy might not just be a last resort. It might be your most powerful financial tool. 

If you need an introduction to a bankruptcy attorney, we are happy to help. Schedule a free consultation with a debt professional, and we’ll connect you with a bankruptcy attorney in your state. 

Part Two: You’re Being Harassed or Misinformed

If you’re getting calls that don’t stop, letters filled with legal threats, or credit report entries that don’t look right, you may need a debt collector attorney who focuses on consumer rights. These attorneys, consumer rights attorneys, help when collectors or credit bureaus break the law. That includes violations of: 

• The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
• The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
• State-level consumer protection laws

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

This federal law limits what debt collectors are allowed to do. It protects you from harassment, lies, and intimidation. For example, collectors can’t call you at work if you’ve told them not to. They can’t call in the middle of the night, threaten you with jail, or misrepresent what you owe. If they do, they’ve broken the law—and a debt collector attorney can hold them accountable.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act

This law governs your credit report. It requires that the information reported about you is accurate, complete, and up to date. If a creditor or credit bureau reports something incorrectly, like a paid-off account showing as unpaid or an account that was discharged in bankruptcy, you have the right to dispute it. And if they fail to fix the error, an attorney can step in and potentially get you compensation.

State-level Consumer Protection Laws

Many states offer additional protections on top of federal laws. These can include stricter rules on how debt is collected, tighter timelines for correcting credit errors, or higher penalties for abusive behavior. A consumer protection attorney will know the laws in your state and can use them to your advantage.

How Can a Consumer Rights Attorney Help Me?

If you’re being harassed by debt collectors, receiving letters that feel more like threats than information, or spotting credit report errors that never seem to get fixed, a consumer rights attorney can step in and level the playing field. These attorneys specialize in holding debt collectors and credit reporting agencies accountable when they break the law, something that happens far more often than most people realize.

A consumer rights attorney can stop the harassment, challenge false information, and even take legal action on your behalf. If you’ve told a collector not to call you at work and they keep doing it, that’s a violation. If they’re calling before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., lying about what you owe, threatening arrest, or continuing to report a discharged debt after your bankruptcy, they’re breaking federal law.

Consumer rights attorneys can sue collectors who use illegal tactics, demand the removal of inaccurate credit entries, and pursue damages when your rights have been violated. And in many cases, if a company is found liable, they may have to pay your attorney fees, not you, and you might receive financial compensation.

You might want to contact a debt collector attorney if: 

• A collector is calling you repeatedly, even after you’ve asked them to stop
• You’re getting confusing or threatening letters from companies you don’t recognize
• You’re being asked to pay a debt that seems inflated or unfamiliar
• Your credit report includes inaccurate, outdated, or duplicate entries
• You filed bankruptcy, but collectors are still contacting you about discharged debt

Table 1: What Kind of a Debt Collector Attorney Do You Need? 

If …	Call a …
You can’t keep up with payments and need a way out of debt	Bankruptcy Attorney
You’re being sued for a debt you may not owe	Consumer Rights Attorney
You’re being harassed by collectors	Consumer Rights Attorney
Your credit report has errors you can’t fix	Consumer Rights Attorney
You’ve already filed bankruptcy, but collectors won’t stop calling	Consumer Rights Attorney
You want a full legal reset and to start rebuilding your credit	Bankruptcy Attorney

In some cases, you may need both. For example, a bankruptcy attorney can help you eliminate the debt, and a consumer rights attorney can help you fight back if creditors break the law during or after the process. And in some cases, your debt collector attorney specializes in both bankruptcy and consumer rights. 

In any case, debt doesn’t fix itself, and neither do violations of your rights. If you’re feeling stuck, ashamed, or overwhelmed, the best thing you can do is get clarity.

You don’t need to have all the answers before making the call. A good attorney will walk you through your options and help you understand your rights.