Referrals

Below is a list of referrals that SCAS regularly uses depending upon the situation.

Mediation/Arbitration

List of Approved Programs for Alternative Dispute Resolution Services

https://www.mass.gov/doc/district-court-list-of-approved-programs-for-alternative-dispute-resolution-services-2022-2024/download

Harvard Mediation Program (Default Referral)

(617) 495-1854

Cambridge Consumers' Council

Serves Cambridge residents or businesses
Works in cooperation with MA Attorney General to provide resources, support and education on consumer matters
(617) 349-6150
- Public Assistance Hotline - Monday 8:30am to 8:00pm, Tuesday-Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm, Friday 8:30am to 12:00pm

Community Dispute Settlement Center

Serves Charlestown, Waltham, Woburn & Cambridge.
Mediation services available in the evenings.
Sliding scale fee
(617) 876-5376

Home Improvement Contractor Arbitration

Run by Office of Consumer Affairs
Request must be received no more than 24 months after contract was signed
Sliding scale fee
(617) 973-8787

State-Run Lemon Law Arbitration

Run by Office of Consumer Affairs
Request must be made within 18 months of purchase
(617) 973-8787

American Arbitration Association

(800) 778-7879

Lawyer Referral Services

Boston Bar Lawyer Referral Service

(617) 742-0265

Mass Bar Lawyer Referral Service

(617) 654-0400
There is no cost to utilize LRS, but referrals are made to fee-charging attorneys, who may charge you no more than $25 for the initial half-hour consultation.

Worcester Lawyer Referral Service

(508) 752-1131
Lawyer referral service for Worcester County - (800) 622-9700

Volunteer Lawyers Project

Serves families and individuals in the Greater Boston Area from lower income households
Does not handle personal injury cases, criminal cases, or represent incarcerated people.
(617) 603-1700

GBLS (Greater Boston Legal Service)

Home to dozens of legal advocacy groups.
Primary SCAS referral - call switchboard, briefly explain situation, operator will transfer you to appropriate group.
(617) 371-1234 (switchboard)

Other Small Claims Referrals

MA Attorney General's Office Consumer Advocacy & Response Division (CARD)

(617) 727-8400 or
(888) 283-3737

This division of the Attorney General’s Office employs trained consumer specialists who can answer your questions assist you in resolving your dispute with a business.

If you would like CARD to assist you in resolving a dispute you are having with a business, you should fill out the Consumer Complaint Form.

To see if the business has a history of consumer complaints, you can search CARD's Database

Better Business Bureau

(508) 652-4800 or
(800) 4-BBB-811

Executive Office for Consumer Affairs & Business Regulations

Information about all types of MA laws with great tips on how to protect your legal rights.
Consumer hotline: (617) 973-8787
Toll-free consumer hotline: (888) 283-3757
Contact OCABR by E-Mail
Fax: (617) 973-8799

Harvard Legal Aid Bureau (at Harvard Law School)

Provide free civil legal services to low-income residents of Suffolk and Middlesex counties.
Primarily civil law
(617) 495-4408

Cambridge/Somerville Legal Services (at GBLS)

Serves low-income citizens, especially immigrants
Conflict resolution and legal aid
(617) 494-1800 or
(617) 603-2700

NOLO

Primary SCAS referral for clients with internet access.
Website with info on everything citizens need to know to handle their own legal problems (small claims and other)

General Legal Help

Legal Services Center (at Harvard Law School)

Deals with housing. Usually refer clients to LARC first.
(617) 522-3003

Western Mass Legal Service

Providing legal services to areas of Western Mass.
Housing family, disability, elderly government benefits
(413) 781-7814

Worcester Community Action Council

Deals with consumer issues and mediation for Worcester area.
(508) 754-1176

Northeast Legal Aid

Serves Merrimack Valley
Deals with family law, housing, income maintenance and elder law.
Lowell: (978) 458-1465
Andover/Lawrence: (978) 687-1177

Neighborhood Legal Services

Serves low-income residents of Essex County
Housing, family law, employment law, domestic violence, elder law
Website has list of lawyers for each MA county.
(781) 599-7730

De Novo

Legal Assistance, primarily for domestic violence issues, housing, disability benefits and immigration.
(617) 661-1010

Credit/Debt

Division of Banks

Call if problems with collection agencies.
(617) 956-1500 ext. 501
(800) 495-2265 ext. 501(in state only, toll-free)

Equifax

One of three major credit reporting companies.
2 others below -must call all 3 for credit reports
(800) 685-1111

Experian

2nd major credit reporting agency
(888) 397-3742

Trans Union

3rd major credit reporting agency
(800) 916-8800

Consumer Credit Counseling

Credit Counselors for debt, credit & housing
(617) 426-6644

Federal Trade Commission

Regulates all credit rating agencies
Will address consumer complaints
1-877-382-4357

US Bankruptcy Court

Boston: (617) 565-8950
Worcester: (508) 770-8900

Collections

Collections Information Online

Housing/Landlord-Tenant

Board of Health

Is in each town
Inspects tenants' presmises for habitability violations.
Website has phone numbers for each town's department and board

Fair Housing Hub

Housing discrimination
(617) 994-8300 or
(800) 827-5005

Tenant Advocacy Project (at Harvard Law School)

(617) 495-4394

Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership

(617) 859-0400

Inspectional Services Department (ISD)

Do homeinspections for suspected violations of the State Sanitary Code, including no heat. Can write up violations and summon landlord to court.
(617) 635-5322