Car Repossessions Law, Regulations, and Rights in Wisconsin

Is Your Car About to be Repossessed?

Free consultations are important to understand your rights about automotive repossessions in Wisconsin. We offer free online scheduling for appointments. . Attorney Nathan DeLadurantey has helped consumers all over Wisconsin. Here are some common topics that are helpful in understanding your repossession rights in Wisconsin.

Understanding your rights under Wisconsin law is critical if you are facing a repossession. Wisconsin repossession laws are designed to protect consumers. Your lender (and the repossession company) must follow the law. We regularly sue lenders and repossession companies for violating the law. Our clients have received their cars back as part of those lawsuits, along with all of their debt being forgiven. Knowing your rights is a free consult away.

Hard times happen and perhaps you've fallen behind on your vehicle payments. It doesn't matter if your vehicle has been taken yet (or not!), make sure your rights have been protected. Talking with a lawyer prior to your vehicle repossession will help educate you on the important rights and options you have as a Wisconsin consumer. A jury awarded over $300,000 for our clients because of a wrongful repossession. Attorney DeLadurantey has the experience to handle repossession cases all over Wisconsin.

Have an Argument with Repo Man?

Our office has handled cases with all of these situations, including the police handcuffing consumers so that the repossession could happen. Violence, arguments, and confrontation are not permitted under Wisconsin's strong consumer protection laws. Protect your rights to the car under Wisconsin's consumer protection laws and make sure your vehicle wasn't taken from you in an illegal way. Many people have watched reality television shows starring repo men – these shows are not how repossessions are legally allowed to work. If you had any interaction with the repossession agents, you may have important legal rights to enforce. Our office sued many different repossession companies as well, including AssetsBiz, Repo Inc., Bonafide Recovery, Location Services, and others. We are different than other law firms, and have taken illegal repossession cases all the way to trial. Our clients have received verdicts in excess of $300,000.

No Warning before the Repossession?

Wisconsin law requires certain pre-repossession letters and notices for most loans. Other laws require the lender possess the vehicle without dispute. People fall behind on payments for a number of reasons, so let's talk about your situation and what we can do to help. We'll talk about any letters you have received related to the repossession and if those letters follow the law. Your lender is required to follow the law and send you the proper notice before the repossession. If they fail to send the proper notice, you may have the ability to sue them. Knowing your rights (and duties) under the law are important; without them your lender may break the law without consequence.

We are often asked what lenders we have sued over the years. These lenders range from large companies (like Santander, Capital One, Credit Acceptance Corporation) to smaller regional lenders.

Here's what to expect during your free initial phone consult:

Calling a lawyer can be nerve-wracking. So here's a quick overview of what we'll discuss:

Your car purchase, amount of money you borrowed, and the loan;
Collection letters and calls that have occurred (if you have the letters, you can even text/email them over before/during our call!);
If your car has been taken, how and when that repossession occurred; and
If you have a case, how we can represent you. We take many cases on a contingency basis, meaning there is no retainer money for you to pay.

During our call we'll discuss the details about your situation in order to make sure your rights are protected. We are happy to answer any questions you may have, and explain your options. Online scheduling is available for your convenience.

How much does it cost to hire you?

So what happens if it turns out you have a case?
Do I have to pay you money to hire you?

These are common concerns with clients. We never charge for initial consultations – and most of our cases are handled on a contingency basis. What this means is that most of our clients do not have to pay a retainer (legal jargon for a deposit) to file a case. Many of the laws we use to protect consumer rights of Wisconsinites involve something called “fee shifting.” This means that our legal bills are “shifted” to the other side, allowing our office to represent you without a retainer deposit. It's one of the best parts of retaining a qualified consumer lawyer; they are able to represent consumers that have been abused by their lender/repo agent and shifting their bill to the wrongdoers.

How do I get started?

Give us a call right away; it's important we talk as soon as possible. The goal is to gather and preserve the evidence from the repossession.

If your vehicle was illegally repossessed, you may be eligible for a lawsuit. The law provides for awards ranging from a free car, to the lender/repossession agent paying you money. We have settled cases and gotten Wisconsinites thousands of dollars; including jury verdicts in excess of $300,000.

The sooner you call, the sooner we can help. Even if you're not sure if you have a case or just want to understand your rights, we would be happy to chat with you.We provide representation on repossession cases in Wisconsin, including Racine, Kenosha, Green Bay, Appleton, the Fox Valley, Milwaukee, West Allis, Waukesha, Walworth County, Dane County, Madison, La Crosse, Eau Claire, Superior, Ashland, and anywhere in-between. Let's jump on a call or video conference to discuss your situation.

Contact me today for a Free Consultation. We offer free online scheduling for appointments.