Lynn Ellen Coleman

I offer personal, compassionate assistance with debt and consumer law issues to persons in the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina.

• Collections Defense
• Student Loan Law
• General Civil

• Free Consultation
  I offer a free online or telephone consultation.
• Credit Cards Accepted
  Debit cad only for bankruptcy. Credit card (all major cards) for other areas.
• Contingent Fees
  For certain consumer law cases only.
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  I offer flat fees, contingency fees, and hourly fees depending upon the nature of the case.

North Carolina

Since 2000

Texas

1986-2000

St. Mary's University School of Law

J.D. | Law

1983 - 1986

Trinity University

B.S. | History, Political Science

1979 - 1982

North Carolina State Bar

Member

Current

National Association of Consumer Advocates

Member

2010 - Current

National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys

Member

2009 - Current

North Carolina Bar Association

Member

1999 - Current

Q. Unexpected bill increase for lawnmower purchase from Home Depot

May 13, 2025

A: I'm assuming this was made using a Home Depot credit card that they issued to you. In order to win your argument, you would have to prove that you received monthly billing statements that had no disclosure about the promotional rate. You would also have to prove you did not sign something at the store which disclosed the terms. Have you received a copy of what you signed at the store and have you looked over all of the billing statements carefully? Typically the billing statements contain disclosures, you may only have been paying attoention to the "minimum payment" and not the terms. If you received notices electronically, you would have been given actual statements electronically which had these disclosures. You need to pay off the account ASAP in order to avoid additional interest charges and go online and download all of the billing statements and review them carefully. Take the billing statements and the purchase agreement you signed to an attorney for a personal review. ... Read More

Q. Can I take someone to small claims court if they've filed for bankruptcy in NC?

May 9, 2025

A: Absolutely not. That would be a violation of the automatic stay. Chances are highly likely that your claim will be subject to the discharge injunction when the bankruptcy is closed, so you cannot sue them after the bankruptcy is over. Do not sue and do not contact the person demanding payment. If the Trustee has sent you a notice that says you may file a proof of claim, file the claim before the deadline. If this is a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and the notice you recieved says not to file claims at this time, this indicates that claims like yours will not be paid and you will never be able to ask this person to reimburse you or pay you anything. Consult a bankruptcy attorney for futher specific a ssistance. ... Read More

Q. Can I sue a private vehicle seller for not disclosing a salvage rebuilt title?

May 6, 2025

A: You can always sue. The question is, will you win and if so, how much. Even if you do win, will you ever be able to collect. I am doubtful that this is a case worth pursuing. If the title he signed over to you was a salvage rebuilt title, the fact that you acknowledged the sale was "as is" means that you will lose. In order to win, you have to prove a negligent or fraudulent misrepresentation or a willful disclosure. He DID disclose it had been in an accident and he did not attempt to hide the true nature of the title. You did not pay attention to the fact it was a salvage title. That means he didn't try to hide anything from you and he disclosed what needed to be disclosed.