Are You Being Called By Gurstel Law Firm?* Here’s What You Need to Know

Has a recent job loss or unexpected emergency expense left you struggling financially? It’s a difficult situation that can become intolerable when collection agencies begin to harass you. Some agencies threaten lawsuits, use disrespectful language, and call your neighbors to pressure you into paying. If this happens to you, understand that such conduct is illegal and you should contact a consumer lawyer right away.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates the professional conduct of third-party debt collectors and prohibits actions that are deceptive, unfair, or unconscionable. If the collection agency assigned to your case is bullying you with tactics like those listed below, they can be fined and even lose their license.

• Trying to collect after you have formally disputed a debt
• Threatening action they are not in a position to legally take
• Misrepresenting how much you owe
• Using rude or threatening language
• Contacting you after you have formally requested that all communications cease
• Refusing to provide proof that you owe a debt and that they are authorized to collect it

Company Profile: Gurstel Law Firm

If you have been called by Gurstel Law Firm and want to learn more about them, refer to the details below.

Gurstel Law Firm, which also does business as Gurstel Chargo P.A., is a debt collection firm in Golden Valley, Minnesota. It has branch offices in Arizona, Iowa, California, Nebraska, Utah, and Wisconsin. The firm opened for business in 1997, has several employees spread across the different branches, and is managed by CEO Todd Gurstel. Records available through the PACER website suggest that consumers who believed they were being harassed by Gurstel Law Firm chose a courtroom setting to resolve the matter.

Alleged Violations Against Gurstel Law Firm

According to PACER, on or around April 2, 2017, Gurstel Law Firm began trying to collect a credit card debt from an Arizona consumer. The consumer reviewed the paperwork and confirmed that the debt belonged to someone else with a similar name, a fact he verified with the original creditor. Despite the fact that the debt was not his, Gurstel Law Firm insisted that it was and filed a lawsuit against him.

• Feeling harassed by Gurstel Law Firm, the consumer hired a consumer attorney and filed an FDCPA lawsuit against the firm for:
• Using harassing and abusive means to collect a debt
• Attempting to collect a debt owed by another consumer
• Using false, deceptive, and misleading means to collect a debt
• Misrepresenting the character, amount, or legal status of the debt

The matter was later settled.

Hire a Consumer Lawyer

The phone numbers for Gurstel Law Firm are:

• 1-877-344-4002
• 1-612-664-8200

If either of them shows up on your caller ID, it’s a heads-up that Gurstel Law Firm is trying to contact you about a debt. If they sue you to collect someone else’s debt, hire a consumer lawyer who will protect your rights and file a claim against Gurstel Law Firm for compensation. The firm could be ordered to pay you $1000 per FDCPA violation, which is an expensive reminder that consumers always have rights.

Additional Resources:

• Has a Debt Collector Tried to Collect a Debt You Already Paid?
• How to Stop a Debt Collector from Calling You Repeatedly

*Disclaimer

The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be constructed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Gurstel Law Firm or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.

Case taken from PACER (pacer.gov). File number is Case 2:18-cv-00953-DGC from the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.