Publications

A report by Texas Appleseed, Disability Rights Texas, the Earl Carl Institute and Children's Defense Fund–Texas. Read a related press release here: https://www.texasappleseed.org/sites/default/files/CollateralConsequences_TUES_Release.pdf

My Debt Collection Rights is a new toolkit by Texas Appleseed. It helps inform Texans of their rights, help people learn more about debt collection, and help Texans spot scams and other deceptive practices. The toolkit encompasses “guidebooks” covering four areas: tips to determine if a debt collection call is real or a scam, common scare tactics used by debt collectors, what to do if you’re sued by a debt collector, and what it means to be judgment proof. Other key resources include four informational videos, which feature actual experiences of two Texans, and a form Texans can use to respond to a lawsuit. Texas Appleseed has also collaborated with SMU’s Dedman School of Law and Fish & Richardson on a related tool that will be housed on My Debt Collection Rights. If a debt collector has filed a lawsuit in court, then Texans should be sure to "answer" by filing a written Answer with the court before the deadline. The new Answer Writer Tool asks a series of questions that are then used to create a custom Answer for that person, which can then be provided to the court.