We Built This Because We've Been There

Our Story

In 2019, I hit a rough patch. Lost my job during a company restructuring. Had about three months of savings. Thought I'd land something quickly. I didn't.

The credit card bills piled up. Then came the calls.

At first, it was just reminders. Polite enough. But when I fell 90 days behind, everything changed. The account got sold to a collection agency, and suddenly I was getting 5, 6, sometimes 8 calls a day.

They called my mom. They called my old job. They called at 6 AM and 10 PM. One guy told me I could be arrested for not paying a credit card bill.

I didn't know any of that was illegal. I thought debt collectors could do whatever they wanted. I was ashamed, scared, and completely in the dark about my rights.

The Turning Point

One night, after a particularly brutal call where the collector implied I was a deadbeat who would never amount to anything, I started Googling. Not "how to pay off debt" — I'd done that a hundred times. I searched "can debt collectors threaten you."

That's when I discovered the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Turns out, almost everything they'd done to me was illegal:

• ✗Calling before 8 AM and after 9 PM — illegal
• ✗Threatening arrest for a civil debt — illegal
• ✗Calling family members to discuss my debt — illegal
• ✗Threatening actions they couldn't legally take — illegal
• ✗Using abusive language — illegal

I found an attorney who specialized in FDCPA cases. She took my case on contingency — meaning I paid nothing upfront. Three months later, I received a settlement check for $3,200. The collector paid my attorney's fees on top of that.

The debt? Still there. But the harassment stopped immediately. And I had money to actually start paying it down on my terms.

Why We Built ConsumerShield

After my case settled, I couldn't stop thinking about how many people were going through the same thing I did. The shame. The fear. The constant anxiety every time the phone rang.

I started helping friends and family understand their rights. Then friends of friends. I kept hearing the same story: "I had no idea they couldn't do that."

ConsumerShield exists to change that equation.

We built free tools to help people identify violations. We wrote guides in plain English — not legal jargon. We created a network of attorneys who specialize in these cases and work on contingency, so fighting back doesn't cost you a dime.

Because here's the thing: you don't owe these people your dignity.You might owe money — that's between you and whoever you borrowed from. But the harassment? The threats? The lies? Those are crimes. And there are laws to protect you.

What We Believe

The Numbers

We're not the only ones going through this. Not even close.

What We're Not

Let's be clear about what ConsumerShield isn't:

• •We're not a law firm. We provide information and connect you with attorneys, but we don't give legal advice.
• •We're not debt counseling. We don't help you pay down debt or negotiate settlements. (There are good nonprofits for that.)
• •We're not magic. Not every situation qualifies for legal action. Our tool helps you figure out if yours does.

What we are: people who've been through it, helping others who are going through it now.

Ready to Fight Back?

If you're dealing with harassment from debt collectors, robocalls, or credit report errors — you're not alone, and you have options.

Our free violation checker takes 2 minutes. If you have a case, we'll connect you with an attorney who can help. No cost to you. Ever.