Nationwide Debt Defense Specialist

If you find yourself being harassed by debt collectors or debt buyers - for an old debt you cannot pay off or for a debt you do not owe – you should get help from a lawyer who has worked on both sides of debt collection. With Mr. Vlahakis' years of experience in representing debt collectors and debt buyers, he has intimate knowledge of the debt collection industry and how to obtain quick results for consumers who are being harassed by illegal debt collection practices. For example, shortly after Mr. Vlahakis left the defense side, he created new law by suing one of the largest debt buyers in the United States where the debt buyer (Midland Credit Management, Inc.) was engaging in collection techniques that were prohibited by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Despite losing the first round of litigation at the district court level, Mr. Vlahakis appealed the district court's decision to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The Seventh Circuit reversed the district court and held that the debt collector violated Section 1692f(8) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. See, Preston v. Midland Credit Mgmt., Inc. 948 F.3d 772 (7th Cir. 2020). Thereafter, the debt buyer changed its practices to comply with the law.

Vlahakis Law Group specializes in prosecuting FDCPA violations in federal court and in defending collection lawsuits in state court where he identifies potential violations of the FDCPA. Depending on the circumstances, the identification of potential FDCPA violations may help reduce the amount(s) that you may owe to creditors or debt buyers.