Practice Areas Overview

The Law Offices of Russell Van Beustring, P.C. offer legal assistance in the areas of bankruptcy, debt settlement, identity theft, and credit reporting litigation to clients throughout the Houston, Texas area and in Fort Bend, Katy, Sugarland, and Harris and Montgomery counties.  

Bankruptcy

We understand that when clients come to us they are often facing what they consider to be insurmountable debt and the endless harassment of bill collectors.  We work to assure clients that bankruptcy is not the end of the world, but rather a helpful tool to halt foreclosures and growing debt.  To learn more about bankruptcy, visit our bankruptcy law and faqs pages, or contact us to hear about your options and begin the bankruptcy process.

Debt Settlement

In certain cases, settling your debts with creditors may be a better alternative than bankruptcy.  As you fall further into debt, the chances increase that you will have to file for bankruptcy.  Once you do, creditors face the possibility that they may not be paid, making them more likely to settle for a one time payment of less than you actually owe.  Once a settlement has been agreed to and paid, your credit report will still show past delinquent payments, but it will also show that nothing more is owed.  You should discuss whether debt settlement is the best option for you with an experienced attorney. 

Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when a criminal uses another's personal information to take on that person's identity.  This can include misuse of another's Social Security number, or credit card and mail fraud.  According to one credit reporting agency, more than 27 million Americans have been victims of identity theft in the last five years.  If you believe you have been the victim of identity theft, contact our offices to discuss your options with a qualified attorney.

Credit Reporting

Misrepresenting a person's credit rating or giving false information to the Credit Reporting Bureau is illegal.  Making a false statement regarding someone's financial condition is called defamation, libel, or slander, all of which are grounds for a lawsuit.  When false statements are made, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) establishes steps for correcting your credit report.  Credit reporting agencies can be sued for failing to follow reasonable procedures to screen out false information and ensure reporting accuracy.  These procedures include:

• Investigating disputes
• Deleting inaccurate or unverified information
• Including consumer statements regarding disputes
• Providing past users corrected statements if requested

Under the FCRA, both the consumer reporting company and the business that sent the credit information, such as a bank or credit card company, are responsible for correcting fraudulent information.  In addition, a credit report can only be made available for certain legitimate business needs.  The Law Offices of Russell Van Beustring, P.C. is one of few law firms with experience in credit reporting litigation, and can help if you are facing credit reporting fraud. 

To find out how we can assist with your bankruptcy, debt settlement, credit reporting fraud, or identity theft case, contact The Law Offices of Russell Van Beustring, P.C. today for a free initial consultation.