BBB Metro NY: New York City Consumer Resources

Dealing with Debt Issues and Collection Agencies

Visit newyork.bbb.org/debt for detailed tips on how to Take Control of Your Debt, including tips on how to deal with debt collectors and debt lawsuits.

The Legal Aid Society
legal-aid.org
Health Law Hotline (New York City): 212-577-3575
Health Law Hotline (Upstate): 888-500-2455
This nonprofit organization provides legal representation to low-income New Yorkers in three areas: Civil Problems, Criminal Problems, and Juvenile Rights. Its health law unit offers assistance with issues such as medical debt and access to care, but is available in limited locations. Call one of the hotlines to ask about assistance.

City Bar Justice Center – Legal Hotline
nycbar.org/for-the-public/free-legal-services
Legal Hotline: 212-626-7383
Low-income New Yorkers who cannot afford an attorney or who do not have access to legal representation may apply for legal assistance through the New York City Bar’s Justice Center. This program can also provide helpful information to individuals who are representing themselves.

New York City Department of Consumer Affairs and
New York City Office of Financial Empowerment
nyc.gov/consumers
3-1-1 o 212-NEW-YORK (outside NYC)
New York City’s Department of Consumer Affairs works to protect and enhance the economic lives of residents, to support thriving communities in the city. Its Office of Financial Empowerment offers free financial counseling to New York City residents at centers throughout the city, including assistance in Spanish at some locations. Call the 3-1-1 hotline to find such counseling, and also to get information about consumer-related laws that apply in New York City.

NYC Financial Justice Hotline
neweconomynyc.org
212-925-4929
This hotline is a program of New Economy Project, a nonprofit organization. Through the hotline, low-income New Yorkers and community groups can receive help in English and Spanish regarding financial justice issues, including abusive debt collection problems.

Notable Resources

Dozens of resources were consulted during the compilation of this document, but two in particular stood out as being particularly relevant to consumers living in New York City and New York State.

City Bar Justice Center. (2015). A Guide to Medical Debt: Your Rights and Options. New York: Cancer Advocacy Project of City Bar Justice Center. Retrieved from: http://www.citybarjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/images/stories/ publications/a-guide-to-medical-debt-your-rights-and-options.pdf.

Legal Aid Society. (2004). How to Prevent and Fix Medical Debt. New York: Health Law Unit of the Legal Aid society. Retrieved from: https://www.legal-aid.org/ media/131295/medical%20debt%20guide%20final% 202_5_10.pdf. (Ver este párrafo en español directamente a continuación.)

This article is not intended as, and may not be regarded, or relied upon, as legal advice. For legal help, please consult a qualified attorney (meaning a lawyer, and not a notary) in your state. The overview in this article is provided for general consumer education, and further resources are provided so that the reader may find additional sources of help. A reference to an organization in the Resource section of this article does not represent any kind of endorsement or accreditation, but is provided solely and exclusively for informational purposes. This article is not meant to be, and should not be viewed as, a comprehensive discussion about medical debt issues.

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