Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Massachusetts

Car seized because of credit card dept

I got a credit card in 1992, I charged $300 on the card and when the bill came it was over $600. I called the company and they said that it was because of a deposit that they required. I refused to pay. I contacted them twice over the phone offering to pay what I charged $300 and they refused. In 2004 the company got a judgement against me in the amount of $1500, I got a paper to go to court but forgot about it. Two weeks ago the sheriff showed up at my door and seized my car. The car didn't receive any bidders at the auction. Did they have the right to do this after so many years? Since the car didnt sell will anything be taken of of the bill? I now owe an additional $500 to the sheriff for the seizure and towing and storage fees that I cant afford to pay what do I do?


Asked on 7/24/05, 2:07 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Raymond P. Bilodeau Law Office of Raymond P. Bilodeau

Re: Car seized because of credit card dept

First, contact the Attorney General's consumer protection office, They may have taken action against this scam, or they may be interested in pursuing it. Try to find all the papers, especially the original ad or mailing that led you to apply for the card.

If not, you may have waited too long to do much at this point. You don't say when you were sued or where, so any possible issues may be time-barred (statute of limitations), or may be so expensive as to not be worth pursuing privately.

There are possible violations of state and federal consumer protection and debt collection practices, but you'll have to bring all the paperwork you have to me or some other lawyer to review. I charge a $50 consultation fee which is waived if you retain me for subsequent legal action. Some lawyers claim not to charge for an initial consultation, but they have to pay their bills somehow, so you either pay them later or somebody else pays them more to cover the costs of consulting with you.

Read more
Answered on 7/24/05, 2:45 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Credit, Debt and Collections Law questions and answers in Massachusetts