614-389-3316

Keep getting calls from a rude guy names Keith, says he with a law firm, but we found out it a 3rd party collection agency, very rude and unprofessional.  I think the name of the collection is "Broofield & Associates or Brachfield & Associates.

THE BRACHFELD & ASSOCIATES SCAM CONTINUES…

March 2009 – Bud Hibbs © Consumer Justice –Voice of the American Consumer

California debt collection attorney Erica Lynn Brachfeld-Shubin continues to represent to consumers that she is a Texas attorney, when she is not. Erica is still sending out letters asking for money under the name of:

Law Offices of Brachfeld & Associates
800 West Sam Houston Parkway South
Suite #200
Houston, TX, 77042

The State Bar of Texas has no listing for an attorney named Erica Brachfeld.

Erica Lynn Brachfeld-Shubin has been lying to and misrepresenting debts to consumers for what appears to be several years. A closer look into her background may reveal where she learned how to lie, mislead and apparently, taking is money that she is not entitled.

It seems that Erica’s father was an attorney until he got caught stealing money from a client. and was ordered by the Bar to take the professional responsibility exam -- and he took it, but he COULD NOT PASS, so they stripped him of his license until he passes.  I am not making this up; he could not pass the professional responsibility exam.  Now he runs his daughter's debt collection firm. Who better to teach collectors how to steal than a former thief.

California Bar Journal Discipline Summaries

Summaries from the California Bar Journal are based on discipline orders but are not the official records. Not all discipline actions have associated CBJ summaries. Copies of official attorney discipline records are available upon request.

September 15, 2002

MARTIN STEVEN BRACHFELD, 64,  #8154, of Westlake Village was suspended for three months, stayed, placed on one year of probation and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year. The order took effect Sept. 19, 2002.

Brachfeld's law firm obtained a judgment of $300,000 against a mortgage account holder on behalf of a bank. The bank agreed that if the account holder paid $1,000 a month, or if he paid $150,000, the bank would file a satisfaction of judgment.

Brachfeld collected the payments and gave the bank nearly $19,000 over a two-year period. However, without the bank's approval, he then agreed to settle the account for $32,000. Without informing the bank, he filed papers with the court to satisfy the judgment.

He stipulated that he did not keep his client informed of significant developments in its case.

In mitigation, Brachfeld has no prior record of discipline and he cooperated with the bar's investigation. Three months prior to the misconduct, he completed a year and a half of rehabilitation from a near fatal automobile accident, which left him in a coma for two weeks. He fractured his skull and broke his spine, pelvis and both legs. Brachfeld lived in a rehabilitation facility during his recovery.

A recent visitor to their office stated: “There is a large room crammed with cubicles -- about twenty all total.  At the end of the room is a white board on which a supervisor post the names and numbers (dollar totals) of the collectors who are performing best that day.  Therefore, the collectors are under pressure from each other -- and Erica and her Dad -- to really hammer the people they call.  It's utterly barbaric.”

Still with Collect America

It appears that Erica and Marty Brachfeld still hold a Collect America franchise (Aka/CACH/CACV) but will file lawsuits for almost anyone willing to write them a check, such as Arrow Financial. They face many lawsuits for allowing their employees to pose as attorneys, District Attorney’s, Attorney’s General and other law enforcement. In viewing all the garbage that comes out of this debt collection dumpster it appears to be just a matter of time until both Erica and her father start dealing with criminal charges, rather than civil one’s. They appear to be a crime wave that will surely end in possible jail times for their blatant disregard of the law and consumer rights.

Erica and her spouse live in Malibu where he is an architect. Having viewed his website I wondered if he was aware of the depth of illegal activities perpetrated by his wife and father-in-law. There is the potential that she too could lose her law license as well as face financial ruin from the mounting lawsuits filed against her organization. It is important that consumers report their illegal activities to the CA & TX State Bars as well as the Federal Trade Commission for possible actions. It is always in your best interest to tape Brachfeld collector calls (where legal) to aide in bring charges or lawsuits against those employees who break the law.

Erica & Marty Brachfeld has little or no idea of the events and circumstances contained in the lawsuits that they file. They are a paper mill that produces bogus documents as fast as can be printed. It is a known fact that hiring an attorney and fighting them will cost a fraction of what they will get in a lawsuit. Do NOT allow them to obtain a default judgment, respond to their suits, challenge every single claim they make. Record their collector’s calls, especially those posing as lawyers. Texas residents should file ethics complaints with the State Bar of Texas. It appears they are practicing law here without a license.

http://www.texasbar.com/Template.cfm?Section= ... &ContentID=3837

Scamming the American Consumer

There is no other way to describe Erica Lynn Brachfeld-Shubin and Martin S. Brachfeld (former disbarred and disgraced attorney) along with their bottom feeder, junk debt collection agencies; Brachfeld & Associates, Meridian Management and Minority Legal Management than a massive scam of the American Consumer. It is my opinion, based on the hundreds of emails I have received, court cases filed and negative information about these organizations that no one should be paying them anything. It may be in consumers’s best interest to make them prove every claim they make in court filings including the bogus affidavits filed with purchased debt claims. The lawyers they use usually have little or no knowledge of what they are actually filing and most may not want to get involved in protracted litigation. Everyone should be aware that Brachfeld is a junk debt collector/buyer with no knowledge of your accounts except what she reads off a computer screen after purchasing charged off debts. Desperate collectors base her entire operations on bogus filing, lies, and perjured documents and threats. No one should be paying on this fraud. Let us bring Erica and Marty Brachfeld to justice, hold them accountable for their actions. America is tired of being ripped-off by these con artists; Marty is proof that once a thief, always a thief. Erica is NOT a lawyer in Texas. C’mon America, stop paying, start suing and filing complaints with the state bars, the attorney general and FTC. Let’s get rid of this trash and put them in a cell where they belong.

http://www.budhibbs.com/collectorpages/brachfeld.htm

Kept getting a recording on my answering with a law firm called "the brachfeld Law Group, PC" but found out they are a collection agency.  They were asking for my brother, who had settled an account a year prior, I kept telling them that there was no such person living here.  He told me that he would call me everyday.  I kindly asked him to stop calling me that I was not going to pass the message on anymore.  He told me he would continue to call me.  I finally looked them up and sent a "Cease Letter" that the individual does not live at my address.  The calls stopped.

Lets really get them and not pay our bills oooo we already did that.

I received calls from Brachfeld Law Group starting in April of this year. About 3 weeks ago they treatened to take me to court and have my wages garnished in the amount of up to $10,000. Mind you the amount of the debt is $4500. They settled in the amount of close yo $5000. Here's where it gets interesting they wanted 3 monthly payments for $1660. I did authorize at the time and gave my banking info. I know stupid. But when they throwout law firms and garnishing wages it is intimidating. After thinking about it I decided screw them garnish my wages. So I have been attempting to call for the past 3 days and put on hold 3 times for over 30 minutes each call. Finally on the 4th attempt they sent me straight to voicemail. I left them a message to stop the payments. Called my bank and I'm putting a stop payment. I'm keeping my fingers crossed hoping this has a happy ending. This debt of mine is 15 years old. Any advice on what I could do next?

Some stop payments have an expiration date.  Check with your bank to see if this applies to you.  Whatever your bank tells you, make sure you get it in writing so you will have proof later.  I hope this helps and good luck with your matter.

To Dave  from June 19th

  Hi Dave-the company is Brachfield  Law Group. I returned a call to them only so they wouldn't call my HR Director. UI told the person I spoke to that  I just didn't have any money and had to get a second job to make a newly acquired car payment  (10yr old car.) He said "So you are going to just walk away from this! You are sooo sad, a SORRY individual!!!! " At that point I told him I was calling my lawyer and hung up. Got a manager to complain and she was as rude as the 1st guy was.  His notes said I yelled and hung up! Sure did -After he told me what a sorry and sad person  I was.

Someone called my home from Brachfeld law group,Asking to speak to me or my attorney.I don't have a attorney!! I acted like I was someone else to see if they would tell me what this was about....But they told me to tell patricia......which is me to call them at 16143893940.Is this a scam,cause I don't know why I would need my lawyer to contact them because I don't have one.I don't even know what I need a lawyer for.

Scott Evans calls to have me call back or forward it to my lawyer to call back. I looked up this number and there is no info. I looked up the name Brachfeld Law Group and got this site Sounds like the same garbage just different name and number

About three weeks ago I called Brachfeld Law Group and informed them that I was not the person to whom they were trying to reach.  The man then told me that he removed my number from their calling list.  Well, the calls continued and just today I returned one of their faithful calls.  This time I got the name of the representative, a Mr. Fuentes, who was short with and rude to me.  When I tried to inquire about their process of removing a number, he hung up on me.  And, I am nice! (Ha, I need to laugh to cool off from his rudeness.)  When I called back to speak with him, he told me that I was wasting his time and then he hung up again. I sure hope that they don't call me again.  Busters!

Got a call saying this firm plans to take funds from my bank account. The debt in question is years old and is not collectible. My only income is SSI Disability which is exempt. When I asked how to inform the company that my only income is exempt from attachment, all I got was none stop harrassment. My mother-in-law tried to ask the question as well but he just kept on talking without realising who he was talking at. We searched the internet for how to file a motion to quash locally and now have two fax numbers and two addresses to write to them. My paralegal attorney's office clerk advises monitoring all calls, getting an address, asking for a copy of the ORIGINAL debt [they won't have it] and putting everything in writing. Refuse to return calls without a business name and address. The number given me to call them is 866-834-3556. We plan to advise the bank that the funds in the account are exempt from attachment.

Don't pay them any more money.
Ask for a copy of the ORIGINAL record of debt from the creditor.
Check into suing them for harrassment and collection of a non collectible debt. You might get a $1,000 Judgement from them.

I have an account with “The Brachfield Law Group” they actually file a law suit several months ago. I contacted them and made an agreement; a down payment of $650.00 (around) in two payments, after that they wanted $288.00 (with some cents) every month. I clearly told them that I could not afford it at the time, I agreed to $100.00, at first it seems like they had no problem, but after I paid the down payment they set up automatic withdraws from my account for the amount of $288.00+ without letting me know about it. I found out once I got the first charge in my account and I had to pay overdraft fees for non-suffusion funds. I call them and this lady was so rude to me and told me that there was nothing that I or she could do about it!!!! That I should make sure that I have the funds available for the next month payment…..
Now, I did told her there was no way that could afford a payment that big and that since they just don’t care about our agreement that I was going to closed my bank account. It was then that her voice got littler softer.
For a few months there were no problems no issues in till I received a paper from the court where they filed my law suit (Santa Cruz County). The paper was a copy of the minute order saying that on 12/21/09 there were no appearances.  
I called them and once more this other lady was so rude and disrespectful. She said that I didn’t sign the stipulation that “was mail to me” (NEVER GOT ANYTHING) and that our agreement was going to be terminated. Can they do that? I have an email from them showing the amount of the monthly payments I /We had agreed. Also, the law suit was filed more than 600 miles from where I currently live. Is there a way I can transfer my case to my new location?? Any one please let me know…..
From what I read here I am not the only one who is having or had a bad experience with this people. HELP ANYONE!!!!! Thank you in advance!

STFU!

I don't know what state you are in but check the statute of limitations for your state. I'm not sure but I think Nebraska is the only one with a 15 year SOL on a written contract. They can always call and ask you to pay your bill but if it is out of statute they cannot even say anything about legal actions. Complain to your state AG usually the Bill Collector will lose that complaint, unable to prove he did not say it. In some states the consumer gets the FINE$$$$. Also 6 years ago I believe that Law Office was the Law Office of Charles Soffar doing business for Collect America

I thought they had to sue you in the county you reside in? Also I thought they could not cause you further indebtedness through their collection activity ie NSF fees on withdrawls you did not authorise. If you are going to pay a debt collector use an account that all you deposit is the amount of the payment. the person on the phone is not the one who handles the money or the postting those are the bookeepers not the debt collector. There's more to it than you know

I have a simular case as yours but it is my son.  What is a cease letter?  please give me more information.  Thank you.

To set the record straight, I never had a law office in California, nor ever
claimed to.  I do not know who Ms. Brachfield is.
I am a licensed TX attorney, and my law office affiliated with
CollectAmerica terminated that relationship in August 2004.  Further,
neither my collectors, nor I, used illegal tactics to collect debts.  I followed
the federal & state statutes and trained all my collectors to do the same.
I monitored my collectors to make sure they complied with the law.

Bud Hibbs has chosen to condemn me, but never contacted me to find out
that I always sought to comply with the law in a professional & honorable
manner in my collection efforts.  When my collectors fell short, they were
fired or severely reprimanded!!!!!

I have been continuously licensed to practice law for over 38 years in Texas.
I have never been disciplined by the State Bar of Texas for any unethical activity.
I continue to practice honorably, honestly, and carefully to continue that string.
You may confirm that by reviewing my profile at texasbar.com.

My Husband received a call at work that was directed to his HR dept.  BLG, PC was stating that they had a judgement in the amount of $1900 and change for a debt that is at least 9yrs old.  We never received any notice of a judgement, but all of a sudden we have this "Law Grp" threatening wage garnishments in the amount of $250 PER WEEK!!!!  They said they were willing to work out terms.  1. Either pay $250 every other week until paid off or send them $1200 within 2 weeks and they would consider the debt paid.  My Husband told them he would like to see if we could come up with the $1200.  He asked the guy to please email him the terms and he would see what he could afford.  NO EMAIL WAS EVER RECEIVED.  The next day my Husband contacted them to say he secured a loan for $1200 from family and wanted a letter of settlement drafted and sent to his email or faxed to his fax number. NO EMAIL OR FAX RECEIVED.  My Husband called and left yet ANOTHER voicemail.  Again, NO RESPONSE.  Three days later he received a letter in the mail demanding $1900 and change to settle the debt....WTH?????

After finding this website and many others complaining about this company, we have NO intentions on sending ANYTHING to them until they furnish a copy of the original debt and a copy of the judgement.

Any other advice or warnings I should abide by?

I keep geting calls from Bachfeld Law Group. They keep asking for a labrida Adams. I don't know her but when I got a new phone number I now am getting her collection calls! For 8 months Now!!!!! I have told them, This over and over! They promise to remove number from list but still I am getting calls! but NOW when I call and talk to them about the harrasement they tell me My phone number is not in their call logs or in their computor. THEY JUST CAN"T FIGURE IT OUT!!!??? I don't know labrina adams or am I responsible for paying this strangers debts.  I have just filed a LAW SUIT WITH DALLAS LAWYERS FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PAIN AND SUFFERING  THEY HAVE CAUSED ME! I AM DISABLED> THEIR HARRASEMENT IS CAUSING ME GREAT ANXIETY AND PHYSICAL PAIN WHICH I WILL NOT TOLERATE ANYMORE!  BRACHFELD LAW GROUP__ PLEASE CALL SOME MORE SO I CAN GET EVEN MORE EVIDENCE AGAINST YOUR SORRY [***]!!!!

SEE YOU IN COURT!!!