Millions of Americans find themselves in debt and have a hard time paying it back. When this happens, major creditors often get representation to sue you for your debt or sell your debt to debt collection agencies and let the agency handle the court case. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was enacted in 1978 and is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.
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The FDCPA has strict guidelines for debt agencies, including how and when they are allowed to contact you. In many cases, collectors will abuse the privilege to contact you by harassing you, deceiving you, or using unfair practices such as garnishing your wages or freezing your bank accounts.
Forster, Garbus & Garbus, LLP is a law firm in New York and New Jersey founded in 1970 and incorporated in 2009. They file thousands of cases every year. Their offices are located in Commack, New York. With a staff of about 100 lawyers and debt collection agents, they represent many major creditors and debt buyers, including Discover Bank, Capital One Back, American Express Bank, and Midland Funding, LLC.
Laws Forster & Garbus is Accused of Breaking
Forster, Garbus & Garbus has been sued over 100 times in the last 20 years.** The firm isn’t accredited with the Better Business Bureau because there are too many complaints filed against them. Allegedly, Forster & Garbus***:
- Refuses to agree on payment plans
- Takes money from accounts without approval
- Harasses consumers
- Tries to collect debts that were already paid
- Tries to collect amounts much higher than the original debt
- Sues and demands repayments from the wrong person
- Sues past the statute of limitations
- Tries to secure a false default judgements
What to Do if Forster & Garbus is Trying to Collect a Debt from You
If you don’t want them to contact you, you have the right to submit your request in writing. Make sure to pay extra for a return receipt so you know exactly when the Forster and Garbus received the letter. After, document each and every time the firm calls you, especially if they call after 9:00 p.m. or before 8:00 p.m. The only exceptions are for the firm to let you know that they will stop contacting you or that they will take further action.
Don’t ever ignore court summons from a debt collector. If you don’t show up, the judge will default the case and make a ruling that could involve wage garnishment or a bank levy.
You should contact a lawyer as soon as possible to determine if Forster & Garbus has committed a violation under the FDCPA. You could be entitled to $1,000, plus damages and lawyers’ fees.
**According to Agruss Law Firm
***According to BBB complaints
Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Forster & Garbus or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.