Referrals

New York City Bar Legal Referral Service

• The New York City Bar Legal Referral Service provides referrals to qualified lawyers and resources. You can call for a free 30 minute initial consultation and discuss your legal question with an attorney referral counselor, who will offer you a referral. The information shared will be confidential to the extent that is possible under the law.

• 212-626-7373

• https://www.nycbar.org/get-legal-help/

New York State Bar Lawyer Referral Service

• The New York State Bar Lawyer Referral Service provides referrals to qualified lawyers. You can call for a $35 half hour consultation with a New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) counselor. This counselor will refer you to a lawyer in your area or to another service provider that serves your area.

• 1-800-342-3661

• https://www.nyconnects.ny.gov/services/lawyer-referral-service-3666

Attorney General’s office - The Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection

• The Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection under the Attorney General’s office mediates complaints from individual consumers in addition to prosecuting businesses and individuals who engage in illegal, deceptive, fraudulent, or misleading trade practices.

• 1-800-771-7755

• https://ag.ny.gov/bureau/consumer-frauds-bureau

• Information on how to file a consumer complaint and links to forms

  • Contact your county bar association if you need a lawyer

  • General Consumer Complaint Form: https://formsnym.ag.ny.gov/OAGOnlineSubmissionForm/faces/OAGCFCHome;jsessionid=iCRpeGLLuc4nN_2Nq6aWJ8QSW7WaXbWhgs4wtjOtiHjHRMPLL93x!-2084096823

  • Rent Security Complaint Form: https://formsnym.ag.ny.gov/OAGOnlineSubmissionForm/faces/OAGRSHome

Better Business Bureau

• The Better Business Bureau serves New York City, Long Island, and the Mid-Hudson region, and it processes consumer complaints and reviews, among others.

• Phone: (212) 533-6200

  • Fax: (212) 477-4912

• https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-serving-metropolitan-new-york

  • File a complaint: https://www.bbb.org/file-a-complaint

NOLO

• For clients with internet access, NOLO is the primary SCAS referral. It’s a website that contains information on everything citizens need to know to handle their own legal issues, whether it’s small claims or others

• https://www.nolo.com/

New York City Bar Free Legal Services

• Free hotline aimed to provide low-income New Yorkers with legal information, advice and referrals if they can’t afford a private attorney or don’t have access to legal representation. The Hotline can provide aid with civil legal issues (ex. matrimonial and family law, housing law, domestic violence, bankruptcy, and debt collection and benefits).

• 212-626-7383

  • Hours: 9AM to 5PM on Mondays to Thursdays and 9AM to 1PM on Fridays

  • OR fill out online intake form: https://cbjcoi.legalserver.org/modules/matter/extern_intake.php?pid=125&h=84ee0d

• https://www.nycbar.org/for-the-public/free-legal-services

New York Legal Assistance Group

• Provides free legal services to people in need of an attorney in fields like Consumer Protection

• 212-613-5000

• https://nylag.org/

Equifax

• Equifax provides access to credit reports.

• 1 888 378-4329

Experian

• Experian is another major credit reporting service.

• 1 (888) 397-3742

• https://www.experian.com/

TransUnion

• TransUnion is a major credit reporting service.

• 1 (800) 916-8800

• https://www.transunion.com/

Clearpoint Counseling Services

• Clearpoint offers free budget and credit counseling.

• 1 (800) 750-2227

• https://www.clearpoint.org/credit-debt/

Federal Trade Commission

• The Federal Trade Commission is a bipartisan federal agency that protects consumers and competition by preventing anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices through law enforcement, advocacy, and education without unduly burdening legitimate business activity.

• 1 (877) 382 4357

• https://www.ftc.gov/

US Bankruptcy Court

• The bankruptcy court oversees bankruptcy cases filed in the counties of Bronx, Dutchess, New York, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, and Westchester, with concurrent jurisdiction over Greene and Ulster. The court maintains the records for all bankruptcy cases.

• 1 (212) 805-0136

• https://www.nysb.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations/

New York State Unified Court System

• Lists tools you can use to collect money or property from the Debtor if you have won a judgment.

• 1-800-268-7869

• https://www.nycourts.gov/courthelp/AfterCourt/collectionBasics.shtml

NYC Department of Health

• You can file a non-emergency complaint through the NYC Department of Health. The Department receives rodent complaints and indoor air quality complaints

• Contact through the specific links above to file a specific complaint.

• https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/about/contact-doh.page

Fair Housing

• Describes the rights of tenants and the responsibilities of landlords in preventing housing discrimination. If you believe you have experienced housing discrimination you should file a claim with the New York State Division of Human Rights

• Fair Housing Hotline: 1 (844)-862-8703

• https://www1.nyc.gov/site/fairhousing/index.page

NY Department of Buildings Inspection Services

• You can request an inspection from the NY Department of Buildings if you believe that a building is not in a safe condition. You can request an inspection through DOB NOW: Inspections

• (212) 566-5000

• https://www1.nyc.gov/site/buildings/industry/inspections-violations.page

Division of Corporations

• The objective of the Division of Corporations is to examine, file, and maintain numerous documents that are vital to businesses and corporations. These consist of everything from filing biennial statements to reserving names to incorporation to terminating existence. See the site for specific services provided to different types of businesses depending on their status as foreign or domestic, non-profits, etc.

• (518) 473-2492

• https://dos.ny.gov/existing-corporations-and-businesses

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

• The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration aims to keep commercial motor vehicle injuries and fatalities from happening. Services provided by the administration include the issuance of commercial drivers’ licenses, provision of data regarding motor carrier safety, research and development to promote the safety of motor carrier operations and commercial motor vehicles and drivers, and provision of financial support of motor safety programs.

• Most concerns: 1-800-832-5660, specific issues: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/contact-us

• https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

U.S. Department of Transportation

• The U.S. Department of Transportation assists with anything related to travel, mobility, and the general attributes of the transportation system.

• 1 (202) 366-4000

• https://www.transportation.gov/

Department of Public Service

• The Department of Public Service provides services to protect and assist utilities customers in disputes with utilities including rate cases (everything from low-income programs to retail competition).

• 1-800-342-337

• https://www3.dps.ny.gov/W/PSCWeb.nsf/All/5EFBF7F3F195F44985257687006F3954?OpenDocument

New York ACLU

• The ACLU is committed to protecting the basic human rights of every individual in the United States as delineated by the Constitution.

• (212) 607-3300

• https://www.aclu.org/affiliate/new-york

Public Defenders in NY

• Public defenders provide legal representation to those who cannot afford their own lawyers.

• Visit the website to find your specific county’s telephone number information

• https://www.nysda.org/page/PDLinks

Lawyershop

• Lawyershop provides you with access to a network of attorneys to help you with any possible concerns you might have in the realms of personal injury law, family law, and criminal law.

• Contact form: https://www.lawyershop.com/contact

• https://www.lawyershop.com/

Resource for Family Issues

• The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance offers several programs and resources for working families.

• https://otda.ny.gov/workingfamilies/

Resource for Homelessness

• These are several resources for those who have lost or are in danger of losing their housing.

• https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/facing-eviction.page#:~:text=The%20Family%20Homelessness%20%26%20Eviction%20Prevention,of%20health%20or%20safety%20issues