Information and Resources

Are you receiving threatening phone calls from a debt collector? Are you unable to get a job because of a bad credit report? Has your license been suspended due to a civil debt default judgment? Tzedek DC may be able to help you with these issues. Please contact Tzedek DC if you are a District of Columbia resident facing a debt- or consumer-related legal matter and are seeking help.

Community Partner Toolkit

These files (each in both English and Spanish) serve as tools to help community members learn about the steps they can take to manage problems with debt, protect themselves against scams, and safeguard their credit.

• Credit (Digital); Credit (Printer-Friendly)

• Debt (Digital); Debt (Printer-Friendly)

• Scams (Digital); Scams (Printer-Friendly)

Student Loans

This webpage offers guidance on how best to prepare for entering repayment and provides an overview of the Biden-Harris Administration’s SAVE plan.

• Student Loans Repayment after the COVID-19 Payment Pause

Cryptocurrency

This explainer reviews frequently asked questions and common myths about cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

• Cryptocurrency FAQ & Myths

Advance Child Tax Credit

This one-pager from the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia provides information about the Advance Child Tax Credit.

• Child Tax Credit One-Pager

COVID-19

See these links for helpful COVID-19 frequently asked questions and resources on credit report protections for DC residents:

• Debt Collection Moratorium Alert

• Credit Report Protections for DC Residents (Español)

• COVID-19 Frauds and Scams (Español)

Driver’s License Reform

See these links for information on and links to a coalition letter and report on how DC’s “Clean Hands” law disqualifies tens of thousands of residents from renewing their driver’s licenses as punishment for as little as $101 of unpaid fines or fees to the DC Government, as well as a related FAQ:

• “Driving DC to Opportunity” Report and Coalition Letter

• Report FAQs and Media Coverage

Fraud

If you have experienced an instance of fraud or want to learn more about frauds and scams, these links provide useful information:

• Report Fraud Here

• COVID-19 Frauds and Scams (Español)

Debt-Related Legal Crises

If you are facing a debt-related legal crisis or know someone who is, these links provide useful information:

• National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) Know Your Rights Videos

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Resources for Economically Vulnerable Consumers

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Information

Credit

The following resources provide helpful information on credit report protections (including how to file a personal statement with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) and how to dispute errors on your report:

• Credit Report Protections for DC Residents (Español)

• Disputing Credit Report Errors

• Credit Report Access for People with Disabilities

Driver’s Licenses

If either your driver's license has been suspended OR you were denied renewal of your license because of unpaid debt we may be able to help:

• Know Your Rights

Tax Filing

For community members looking for help filing taxes, check out some of these resources:

• Free Tax Preparation Services in DC, MD, and VA