Kenneth Vercammen & Associates
A Law Office with Experienced Attorneys for Your New Jersey Legal Needs
      

Bad Debt Collection

Contract should include Buyer liable for court costs and legal fees

In your sales agreements, you should charge interest, costs and attorneys fees in the event of failure to pay according to schedule. Require the person or company receiving goods on credit sign a purchase agreement. Otherwise, you cant recover attorneys fees or interests if the debtors fails to pay and tries to "stiff you". Unless the contract specifically states the buyer is liable for attorneys fees upon default, the judge cannot direct that the buyer pay your legal fees if there is a default.

Special Civil Part Court handles cases up to $10,000 In New Jersey, the court that hears disputes under $10,000 is called the Special Civil Part. The maximum amount which can be awarded has been raised from $5000 to $10,000. If you are owed even $15,000, you can file suit in Special Civil Part, but the maximum award you can receive is $10,000. In the Special Civil Part, the court costs of filing a complaint is under $50.00. Your attorney must prepare a complaint and a summons and deliver copies to the Special Civil Part Clerk. The complaint and summons is then mail by Certified and Registered Mail to the Defendant by the Court.

Don't let debt collectors violate Fair Debt Collection Act

The Fair Debt Collection Practice Act, 15 USCA Section 1692 was originally enacted in 1977 to provide remedies for unfair practices initiated by debt collectors in the collection of consumer- not commercial- debts. This applies to debt collectors trying to collect a debt for another company against a consumer. This law does not apply to a company trying to collect the debt itself. A formal verification notice must be mailed to the consumer debtor under the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act. The five items of information are

1) the amount of the debt

2) name of the creditor

3) a statement that unless the debtor disputes the validity of the debt within 30 days after the receipt of the notice, the lawyer will assume the debt is valid;

4) a statement that if the debtor notified the lawyer in writing within 30 days that the debt is disputed, the creditors will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment and mail it to the debtor;

5) a statement that the creditor will provide the debtor with the name and address of the original creditors, if different from the current creditor, if the debtor represents this in writing within 30 days;

The collection letter must contain the language "This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

CONCLUSION

Where it is obvious the debtor has not intent on paying, the don't wait to file suit.

Meet with an experienced Attorney to handle your important legal needs.
Please call the office to schedule a confidential "in Office" consultation.
Attorneys are not permitted to provide legal advice by email.

       Kenneth Vercammen's Law office represents individuals charged with criminal, drug offenses, and serious traffic violations throughout New Jersey. Our office helps people with traffic/ municipal court tickets including drivers charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Refusal and Driving While Suspended.

       Kenneth Vercammen was the NJ State Bar Municipal Court Attorney of the Year and past president of the Middlesex County Municipal Prosecutor's Association.

       Criminal and Motor vehicle violations can cost you. You will have to pay fines in court or receive points on your drivers license. An accumulation of too many points, or certain moving violations may require you to pay expensive surcharges to the N.J. DMV [Division of Motor Vehicles] or have your license suspended. Don't give up! The Law Office of Kenneth Vercammen can provide experienced attorney representation for criminal motor vehicle violations.

       When your job or driver's license is in jeopardy or you are facing thousands of dollars in fines, DMV surcharges and car insurance increases, you need excellent legal representation. The least expensive attorney is not always the answer. Schedule an appointment if you need experienced legal representation in a traffic/municipal court matter.

       Our website www.njlaws.com provides information on traffic offenses we can be retained to represent people. Our website also provides details on jail terms for traffic violations and car insurance eligibility points. Car insurance companies increase rates or drop customers based on moving violations.

Contact the Law Office of
 Kenneth Vercammen & Associates, P.C.
 at 732-572-0500
for an appointment.

The Law Office cannot provide legal advice or answer legal questions over the phone or by email.  Please call the Law office and schedule a confidential "in office" consultation.  The Law Office now accepts payment by American Express, Visa and Master Card.

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Disclaimer This web site is purely a public resource of general New Jersey information (intended, but not promised or guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up-to-date). It is not intended be a source of legal advice, do not rely on information at this site or others in place of the advice of competent counsel. The Law Office of Kenneth Vercammen complies with the New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct. This web site is not sponsored or associated with any particular linked entity unless specifically stated.  The existence of any particular link is simply intended to imply potential interest to the reader, inclusion of a link should not be construed as an endorsement.

 

Last Revised March 5, 2008

İ 2008 Kenneth Vercammen & Associates, P.C.