Predatory Lending and Consumer Protection Unit

How We Help:

The Predatory Lending Unit focuses its advocacy efforts on:

  • Preserving and protecting equity for low- and moderate-income homeowners. The Clinic defends homeowners against foreclosure and commences complex litigation in Federal District Court, Bankruptcy Court, and Massachusetts Superior Court against subprime lenders, banking institutions, mortgage brokers, loan servicers, and foreclosure rescue scam artists.
  • Combating abuses in the consumer financial services industry. The Clinic also maintains a vibrant consumer law practice in which students defend against unlawful debt collection practices in state district court and represent consumers seeking a fresh start through petitions for bankruptcy.
  • Ensuring equal and fair access to credit markets.
  • Fighting back against for-profit colleges and related student debt. The Clinic works to combat predatory lending to low-income students by for-profit schools. For more information on legal help with student loan problems, please visit the Project on Predatory Student Lending page.

Apply for Assistance:

Prospective clients can apply for assistance from the Predatory Lending/Consumer Protection Unit by calling (617) 522-3003.

People seeking help with student loans from for-profit colleges may call the Project on Predatory Student Lending hotline (617) 390-2669 or fill out the online request for assistance. For more information, visit Project on Predatory Student Lending.

Team Overview:

Roger Bertling
Clinical Instructor in the Predatory Lending Clinic and Lecturer on Law
rbertlin[at]law.harvard.edu
(617) 390-2572

Toby Merrill
Clinical Instructor in the Predatory Lending Clinic and Lecturer on Law;       Director, Project on Predatory Student Lending; 
tomerrill[at]law.harvard.edu
(617)390-2576

Legal Disclaimer:

Please Note: This website is neither a solicitation nor an offer to represent you concerning any legal problem. The information conveyed on this website is not legal advice, and is not intended to and does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and the Legal Services Center or any attorney at LSC.  This website is does not constitute an agreement to represent you.  Please be  aware that unsolicited letters,  emails, and faxes do not create an attorney-client relationship, and you should not send any confidential information to LSC or any attorney at LSC unless and until you and LSC enter into a formal agreement establishing an attorney-client relationship.

Contact Information:

For information about the Predatory Lending Unit, please contact Roger Bertling, rbertlin[at]law.harvard.edu, (617) 390-2572.

For more information about the Project on Predatory Student Lending, contact Toby Merrill, tomerrill[at]law.harvard.edu, (617) 390-2576.