Consumer Protection Department Opens at Kraft & Associates

I am pleased to announce that our firm has added a Consumer Protection Department to better serve the needs of our clients. In these troubling financial times, all of us have to be careful with our money. That means we can't afford to be taken advantage of by credit card or mortgage companies that don't follow the letter of the law.

The Consumer Protection Department will be managed by attorney Kathleen Munden. Ms. Munden graduated from Baylor University School of Law in 1996, and managed her own law firm in Fort Worth for ten years. The focus of her practice was consumer law, including consumer bankruptcy, creditor harassment, credit reporting violations, and mortgage dispute cases.
 
Ms. Munden is experienced in representing clients under both Federal and Texas consumer protection laws, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. A particular area of her focus has been the increasing number of disputes between consumers and their mortgage companies, where the homeowner’s payments may not have been credited properly, escrow is inaccurately calculated, or unjust foreclosure actions are filed.
 
Due to the current difficult economic climate, many consumers are finding that bankruptcy protection is their best option to preserve their assets and assure their family’s financial stability. In 2008, over one million bankruptcy cases were filed by individuals in the United States, and there has been a 37% increase in filings during the first two months of 2009. Ms. Munden has filed over 700 consumer bankruptcy cases in the Northern District and Eastern District of Texas, and has successfully represented her clients in disputes with creditors within those bankruptcy cases.
 
Many consumer disputes with creditors can also be solved without filing for bankruptcy protection, and it is often possible to work out a favorable debt repayment plan with creditors and avoid bankruptcy. Also, consumers can be protected from creditor harassment, attempts to collect debts that the consumers do not owe, and inaccurate credit reporting practices, all without the need to file bankruptcy.
 
It is also possible that if a creditor has violated either Federal or Texas debt collection laws, a consumer may be entitled to recover damages and attorney’s fees from the creditor for that violation. Ms. Munden has successfully recovered thousands of dollars in such damages for her clients in the past, and looks forward to providing assistance to the clients of Kraft & Associates in such cases.
 
Since consumer cases can take many forms, the options for dealing with them depend upon each client’s special circumstances. If a client has suffered an unexpected life event, such as a job loss, illness, disability, or divorce, they may fall behind on their debt payments and need help getting back on their feet and protecting their family’s property. It is important that a person in such circumstances speak with an experienced, knowledgeable attorney who can fully explain and discuss the options available for that client’s individual circumstances.
 
I invite you to call and visit with Ms. Munden if you feel Kraft & Associates can be of assistance to you or anyone you know with regard to any consumer issues. If your situation requires a consultation, Ms. Munden will be happy to arrange to meet with you, answer any questions you have, and determine what options you may want to pursue to assure your family’s financial stability.