When it comes to this firm, don't deal with them. ONLY deal with the originating creditor. If you do a simple google on them, you will see a history of law suits. From my research it looks like they have been sued for illegal FCRA and FDCPA violations.
The firm is not a law law but a legal professional assocation. That's just the first of how they misrepresent themselves.
I learned about this firm with a fraudulent charge with DiscoverCard. I went through the whole ID theft situation and received a letter from the originating creditor confirming the bill did not belong to me (low and behold they had the wrong person) and that they instructed the CRA's to delete the tradeline.
The account was deleted, but then re-appeared as a recent charge off. Of course I complained and learned the agency is what they call a junk debt buyer. They purchase old debts for pennies on the dollar from creditors who have charged off the debt as uncollectible.
The firm has sent papers that appear to be court summons phishing for personal information. The problem with this is that the firm is using an official document illegally. They take the actual forms that are filed with the court and send this to folks to solicit personal information. Where it becomes fraudulent representation is when they do not file the paperwork with the courts and they do not get a judge to approve the "discovery" of personal information.
With a quick search on-line I have seen reports of people harassed daily by phone.
Aside from the standard violations of the FDCPA such as threatening jail time, loss of job, in person harassment, etc., my current issue I am trying to resolve is their ongoing falisification of information to the CRA's. According to Discovercard the firm is reporting to the CRA's under DiscoverCards name and alleging the charge off (which is from 1999) is a current charge off most recently 11/30/07.
Everyone I talk to asks why I don't initiate a law suit if my rights are being violated. The reality of it is, to have a lawyer represent me in court I have to pay an upfront fee of several thousand dollars. Since I have my documentation in place, the trade line is disregarded in credit related inquiries. So it is a thorn I have to deal with and I just keep giving enough people my story and keep filing complaints with the FTC in hopes that the FTC will start bringing action against the firm and enforcing credit laws already in place.
If you honestly owe the money, you need to pay it - but work directly with the originating creditor and before you pay anything in so far as a reduced settlement as payment in full, get it in writing. If this firm is in the mix, you will need paperwork to prove your allegations in case they do try to sue, garnish wages, or attach property on any or all of the remaining balance.
