Resources for Consumers

NCLC has developed a number of guides, brochures, and fact sheets to help consumers understand their rights and make the best choices possible despite difficult financial circumstances. Resources for consumers are sorted below by issue.

How to Get Legal Assistance

While our resources do not permit us to respond to most individual consumer complaints, we do have some materials to help consumers get legal assistance.

Learn More

Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project

January 1, 2007

The National Consumer Law Center’s Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project is a related website for borrowers, their families, and advocates representing student loan borrowers.

Read More about: Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project
February 1, 2023
September 30, 2022

View Consumer Resources by Issue

Auto Finance & Sales

View All for Auto Finance & Sales
Motor Vehicle Repossessions

June 4, 2018

Auto Add-Ons Add Up: Tips for Consumers Considering Purchasing Auto Add-On Products

October 1, 2017

Consumer Reporting & Data Fairness

View All for Consumer Reporting & Data Fairness
Essentials About Credit Reporting

September 6, 2018

Consumer Concerns: Information for Advocates Representing Older Adults

December 17, 2014

Disputing Errors in a Credit Report

September 2, 2014

What You Should Know About Your Credit Report

October 25, 2011

Disasters & Pandemics

View All for Disasters & Pandemics
Free Chapter: Homeowner Rights During Natural Disasters

September 30, 2022

Debt & Bankruptcy

View All for Debt & Bankruptcy
New Process to Discharge Student Loans in Bankruptcy

March 7, 2023

NCLC Publishes 2023 Edition of Surviving Debt: Expert Advice for Getting Out of Financial Trouble

February 1, 2023

Consumer Advice: Dealing with Debt Collectors After New Reg. F

February 1, 2022

Consumer Advice: Dealing with Debt Collectors—Including the New Federal Rules

January 31, 2022

Guide to Reducing Hospital Bills for Lower-Income Patients

February 11, 2020

Deciding Whether to File Bankruptcy

September 18, 2018

Criminal Justice Debt: Consumer Debt Advice from NCLC

June 29, 2018

Wage Garnishment and Bank Account Seizures

June 18, 2018

Unpaid Taxes Owed to the IRS

June 11, 2018

High-Cost Credit

View All for High-Cost Credit
Consumer Alert: Deceptive Auto Repair Financing Practices

May 10, 2022

The Truth About Credit Reports & Credit Repair Companies

May 10, 2019

Don’t Let Deferred Interest Ruin Your Holidays

November 1, 2018

Your Credit Card Rights

August 9, 2016

Homeownership & Foreclosure

View All for Homeownership & Foreclosure
Are You a Reverse Mortgage Non-Borrowing Spouse? Tips to Help You Remain in Your Home

February 5, 2020

Defending a Home from Foreclosure

July 26, 2018

Current Options to Lower Mortgage Payments

July 19, 2018

What Every Homeowner Should Know About Mortgage Payments

July 9, 2018

A Reverse Mortgage Primer

May 24, 2018

Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications

View All for Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications
Utility Help in Massachusetts

September 20, 2022

Keeping the Heat and Lights on for Massachusetts Residents

January 1, 2013

Massachusetts Cold Relief Brochure

Robocalls & Fraud

View All for Robocalls & Fraud
Hanging Up on Robocall Scams

March 5, 2020

Hanging Up on Telemarketing Robocalls

March 5, 2020

Six Top Tips for Consumers to Stop Illegal Robocalls

May 23, 2018

Student Loans

View All for Student Loans
Student Loan Borrower Assistance: What Borrowers Need to Know About the New Time-Limited Fresh Start Initiative

March 21, 2023

Top 10 Ways the New Borrower Defense Rule Is Worse for Borrowers

September 22, 2019

Student Loan Repayment Rights

August 2, 2018

From the NCLC Digital Library

Surviving Debt

A leading resource for over 25 years, this fully updated, 50th NCLC Anniversary commemorative edition of Surviving Debt provides precise, practical, and hard-hitting advice from the nation’s consumer law experts on how to deal with crushing debt affecting millions of Americans.

Read Chapter One
cover image of Surviving Debt, which pictures an open door letting light into a dark room