Are You Being Called By Solomon & Solomon, PC?*

Are you being called by Solomon & Solomon, PC?* Here’s what you need to know.

Although it often seems like debt collectors will do anything, even threaten you with imprisonment or violence, to get your money, don’t capitulate to their threats. The reality is that federal law places strict limits on what collection agencies can and can’t do.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

While debt collectors are legally allowed to contact you about a debt, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits them from using deceptive or coercive means like the following:

• Using profane and obscene language
• Contacting you at work if you are not allowed to receive calls there
• Threatening legal action they are not eligible to take or have no intention of taking
• Calling you before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. your time
• Trying to collect an amount not authorized by law or by the original creditor agreement
• Discussing the debt with anyone except you, your spouse, or your attorney

Company Profile: Solomon & Solomon, PC

Solomon & Solomon, PC is a debt collection law office located in Albany, New York. It was established in 1966, has 140 employees, and is managed by its Vice President, Valerie Solomon. Records on file at the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website reveal that indebted consumers who believed they were being harassed by Solomon & Solomon, PC have actually taken the firm to court to resolve matters.

Alleged Violations against Solomon & Solomon, PC

Natasha Harmuth vs. Solomon & Solomon, PC et al*

According to PACER, Pennsylvania resident Natasha Harmuth incurred a debt to Verizon and satisfied it in full. On or about August 8, 2011, after being called by Solomon & Solomon, PC to collect the alleged debt, she faxed a copy of the Verizon account history to the firm showing the alleged debt was paid.

Nonetheless, on or about October 27, 2011, Ms. Harmuth received a collection letter from Solomon & Solomon, PC seeking $514.25 towards the alleged debt. Later that day she received a call from one of the firm’s collectors. When she said that the alleged debt was paid and that she would like to dispute the collection accordingly, the collector allegedly yelled loudly, telling her not to bother disputing the debt and to “just pay it”. When Ms. Harmuth again attempted to ask her how to resolve the issue, the collector allegedly again stated, “You can’t dispute it, it’s already in collections, just pay it” and hung up on her.

Feeling harassed by Solomon & Solomon, PC, Ms. Harmuth hired a consumer attorney and sued the firm for the following alleged FDCPA violations:

• Using harassing and oppressive means to collect a debt
• Using profane or obscene language
• Using unfair or unconscionable means to collect a debt

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone numbers for Solomon & Solomon, PC are:

• 1-518-456-7200
• 1-877-803-1942

If either number appears on your caller ID when the phone rings, it means that you are being called by Solomon & Solomon, PC. If they attempt to collect a debt that you have already paid and become verbally abusive when you file a dispute, hire a consumer attorney. If you opt to file a claim against Solomon & Solomon, PC and win your case, you could be awarded $1,000 per violation as well as attorney’s fees, court costs, and any actual damages. Even if an attorney is trying to collect a debt from you, they are not above the law.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 2:11-cv-06940-SD from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

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 Solomon & Solomon, PC or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.