Consumer Law Attorney Minneapolis, MN

Our attorneys offer numerous consumer law services to clients in Minnesota. Our practice areas include:

Protections Against Unauthorized Financial Transactions

If someone has transferred money from your savings, checking, retirement, or other accounts without your permission, if you have incurred junk or undisclosed fees at an ATM, if someone has defrauded you by masquerading as a bank employee, or if someone has acquired your banking information by sending urgent texts to you to avoid purported outrageous charges, those all could constitute violations of the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA).  

Our attorneys can assist you with unauthorized financial transactions and claims under EFTA.  Zelle, PayPay, Venmo, and CashApp swindles are becoming more prevalent.  Your cell phone company, gym membership, or other consumer service company may continue electronic charges after you end your relationship with them, or they may charge you duplicate charges for the same service..  You may have your identity stolen without your knowledge, or you may be forced in a violent crime to withdraw funds from an ATM.  Someone may use your lost or stolen debit card to make purchases at Wal-Mart or online.  Or your or someone you love may have been swindled out of money by someone pretending to be a trusted partner dealing with secure information, like an bank, credit monitoring service, or a trusted service provider.

Credit Protection 

Your credit report is an essential piece of information you will need when applying for car or home loans and obtaining other lines of credit. You have the right to protect your credit information and obtain credit without discrimination. 

Our attorneys can help you secure your credit by assisting with the following:

• Credit reporting problems and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) claims – Sometimes, credit reporting errors occur, which can affect your credit score. For example, you could have information on our credit report that is not yours, or is a result of your identity being stolen.  Your credit information could get mixed up with someone who has a similar name or social security number. Or you could even be mistakenly reported as deceased. These errors can harm you in the form of denied credit, employment or housing.  At Christensen Law PLLC, we resolve credit errors and credit reporting disputes so they do not continue to hurt you.  The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) protects private information collected by consumer reporting agencies, medical information companies, and tenant screening services. The FCRA ensures the accuracy and privacy of your information. It also specifies legitimate and permissible reasons for accessing an individual’s credit, including for credit and insurance applications. If a reporting agency or entity seeking your credit information violated the FCRA, we can pursue an FCRA claim or lawsuit on your behalf. We may be able to recover monetary losses you suffered as a result of the violation.
• Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) claims – The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) protects credit applicants from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, or because an applicant receives public assistance. It also outlaws discrimination against an applicant for exercising their rights under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. If a creditor discriminates against you, our consumer law attorneys in Minnesota can help you seek compensation. 

Foreclosure Defense and Real Estate Disputes

Christensen Law PLLC has been a national leader in foreclosure defense since 2008 based on its work for Minnesota homeowners.  Our attorneys bring consumer law claims against banks, lenders, and mortgage servicers related to mortgage loan origination, servicing, or foreclosure in Minnesota and around the country.  We also have Minnesota real estate attorneys who practice law in non-consumer transactions and litigation. 

We also litigate Truth-in-Lending (TILA) and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) claims. These laws protects consumers in loan transactions that use their homes as collateral. Those laws include creating and providing disclosures before and during a transaction to provide mandated data as to the cost of credit.  They also provide guidelines and rules for managing escrow accounts.  They also prohibit unfair and predatory practices such as kickbacks and referral fees for lenders, real estate agents, and title companies.

Debt Collection Defense

Our Minnesota consumer law lawyers can help you navigate debt collection actions, including defending you in a debt collection lawsuit if necessary. We can protect your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits abusive and deceptive debt collection practices. 

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy can offer a path to relief for consumers burdened with unmanageable debt. Filing for bankruptcy is not a decision that should be made lightly, and our Minnesota bankruptcy lawyers can advise you on the type of bankruptcy that may be right for you. 

We can help you file for bankruptcy and resolve your debts as efficiently as possible. We focus on maximizing your debt relief and preserving your assets so you can make a fresh start. Additionally, we are one of only a few Minnesota law firms that handle consumer protection violations in the context of bankruptcies. 

Consumer Fraud 

Consumer fraud involves deceptive business practices designed to mislead consumers. Examples of consumer fraud include:

• Abusive sales practices
• Bait-and-switch sales tactics
• Counterfeiting goods or selling counterfeit goods
• Credit card fraud
• Credit repair scams
• False advertising
• Hidden fees, transactions, and subscriptions
• Identify theft
• Investment scams
• Real estate scams
• Telephone or email scams

If you were the victim of consumer fraud, our Minnesota lawyers can hold the perpetrators of the fraud accountable. We may also be able to recover compensation for financial losses you suffered due to fraudulent business practices or scams. 

Predatory Lending and Truth-in-Lending Act (TILA) claims

We can help if you have been the victim of predatory lending practices, such as the misrepresentation of the terms of a loan or the payment of excessive fees and charges. We can also help defend your rights under the Truth-in-Lending Act (TILA). TILA promotes transparency, fairness, and honesty in lending. 

Repossession Claims

Christensen Law PLLC pursues consumer claims for unlawful, abusive, or deceptive vehicle repossession activity.