Referrals-Service Providers
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Bay Area Legal Aid
Service Area: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties.
Consumer issues: Debt collection lawsuits, scams, unfair credit reporting, student loans, bankruptcy, foreclosure prevention, and innocent spouse tax relief
*Note: By appointment only, so please review their calendar for availability to make an appointment if you need assistance.
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Legal Assistance to the Elderly
Service Area: San Francisco
Eligibility: Clients must be San Francisco residents, age 65 years old and over, or age 18 to 59 with a disability
Consumer issues: Problems with creditors and problems obtaining or retaining public benefits
*Note: LAE does NOT assist with bankruptcy, problems with state or federal taxes, or any problem involving criminal charges.
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La Raza Centro Legal
Service Area: San Francisco
Eligibility: Clients must be San Francisco residents, age 65 years old and over, or age 18 to 59 with a disability
Consumer issues: Debt collection lawsuits, harassment by collections agencies, identity theft.
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Open Door Legal
Service Area Eligibility: San Francisco Districts 5, 10, and 11 / Zip codes: 94107, 94124, 94134, 94112, 94132, 94117, 94115, 94122, 94102
Consumer issues: Personal injury, real property, predatory lending, contract fraud, identity theft, bankruptcy, debt collection, SSI / SSDI and other public benefits.
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AIDS Legal Referral Panel
Service Area: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Solano, and Sonoma counties
Eligibility: Clients must be residents of one of the above counties and living with HIV/AIDS
Consumer issues: Bankruptcy, credit, contracts, government benefits, medical malpractice, real estate, tax
*Note that their services are by appointment only, so please review their calendar for availability to make an appointment if you need assistance.
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Independent Living Resource Center
Service Area: San Francisco
Eligibility: Clients must be San Francisco residents, age 18 to 59 and living with a disability
Consumer issues: Debt collection, medical debt, administrative hearings on public benefits (SSI, SSDI, CAPI)San Francisco.
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Housing and Economic Rights Advocates
Service Area: California
Consumer Issues: Student Loans, Estate Planning, Debt Collection, Medical Debt, HOA Abuses, PACE or solar issues, Building Credit, Debt and credit support, including mortgage issues, with specialization for reentry, seniors, immigrants, LGBTQ, POC, veterans and servicemembers.
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Legal Access Alameda
Service Area: Alameda County
Consumer Issues: CLASP and Lawyers in the Library free legal consult clinics, Bankruptcy, Bay Area Legal Incubator Affordable Representation (including limited scope representation)
If you do not qualify for free legal services, or if you need a bankruptcy or to file a lawsuit in the Bay Area, California, call The Lawyer Referral and Information Service of:
The Bar Association of San Francisco (415) 989-1616, (9:00 AM -1:00PM and 1:30-5:00 PM)
The Alameda County Bar Association (510)302-2222 (ext. 4)
Referrals- Money Management
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Smart Money Coaching
*NOT a legal services provider*
Service Area: San Francisco
Consumer issues: Credit counseling, money management, drafting letters to creditors and student loan servicers, debt reduction plans, public benefits screening, opening a free bank account
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Sparkpoint Credit Counseling
*NOT a legal services provider*
Service Area: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Solano counties
Consumer issues: Credit counseling, money management, tax preparation, banking/financial products, public benefits screening and enrollment assistance, peer lending circle.
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Financial Counseling Association of America
*NOT a legal service provider*
Find a credit counselor near you. Because there are many private, bad actors, in the the debt management space looking to capitalize on confusion for these services, please note these important points:
A credit counselor is a non-profit
Advice is always free.
A debt management plan, where a credit counselor does some work for you, is charged at a flat, monthly, nominal rate based on your income. (Free for some low-income people)
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Operation Hope
Consumer Issues: Credit & money management, Homeownership, Small Business Development, Financial Disaster Recovery, Employee Financial Wellness, Youth
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American Consumer Credit Counseling (formerly Credit Counseling of SF)
Consumer Issues: Credit Counseling, Bankruptcy Counseling, Debt Management Program, Housing Services, Debt Consolidation
Referrals- Other Related Issues
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Employment
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Report Fraud
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Report ID Theft
Report a Problem
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CA Dept. of Financial Protection and Innovation
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CA Attorney General
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FBI- Internet Crime Complaint Center
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Oakland City Attorney
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San Francisco City Attorney
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U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau