Identity theft is a terrible problem to have: it can ruin your credit, and you can even get sued over debts that aren’t yours. If you’re a victim of identity theft, it’s obvious to you what happened: you know that you didn’t buy gold bullion in Oregon, rent an apartment in Miami, or open a credit card account in Nevada. It can be tempting to believe that the truth will be obvious to everyone else. After all, it wasn’t you, so why would anyone think it was? Frankly, this is not how most identity theft cases transpire.
But, if you defend yourself in a debt collection case about a fraudulent credit card, you might be shocked: no one believes you, and you have to be ready to fight. Here is why you shouldn’t go to court without a lawyer:
- The Other Side Will Have A Lawyer
Debt buyers and banks will always have a lawyer who will probably be familiar with court procedures and appear in front of the court daily. You will get things wrong, and you will be nervous. And it will probably be the first time the judge has seen you in their life.
- You Don’t Know the Law
In fact, it’s impossible for you to know all the relevant laws, let alone argue about what those laws mean.
- The Court Might Not Be Familiar With the Law
The law is so vast that even judges do not know all of the law. You cannot rely on the judge to know the laws that are helpful to your case. 80% of the cases District Court judges see have no defense at all, let alone a defense of identity theft.
- Prevention is Easier Than Finding a Cure
In law, like in medicine, it’s easier to stop bad things from happening than fix them once they’ve happened. If you go to court without a lawyer and lose, the only way to fix it is to file an appeal. There is only a short time to do that; it costs money in court fees and has more procedures you must follow. It will probably be harder and more expensive to get a lawyer for the appeal of an identity theft case than to get a lawyer to fight the case from the beginning.
Identity Theft Cases – Don’t Go It Alone
From the get-go, it is much better to have an attorney on your side in these identity theft cases. Often, though not always, debt collectors faced by a determined attorney and an ID theft defense will dismiss the case rather than forcing it to trial. And to date, I haven’t lost an identity theft trial.
If you need an experienced identity theft lawyer, please reach out. Don’t go into the fight alone; it’s an impossible task no victim should have to attempt.