8668351915

I would absolutely LOVE to be a part of a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT against this so-called attorney. How she can even look at herself in a mirror and think for a split second that she is "doing justice a favor" by gracing the courtroom is BEYOND human comprehension. Along with clogging the court system, she is KNOWINGLY filing frivolous lawsuits, crosses her fingers that the defendant steps aside, judgement by default, money in her pocket! ka-ching. She is a bigger CROOK than anyone writing or reading these notes. YES!!! TOGETHER WE CAN! You can't buy your way to Heaven Erica.

Ruehermes:  Unfortunately, they will continue to call. They are ruthless, nasty and not exactly bright and can be easily confused when you recite the rules and regulations set by the Federal Trade Commission. If your experience was like mine, the caller's grammar was horrible! This clearly indicated to me that Brachfeld's staff is not well educated, if educated at all. They will call your employer, as they did mine saying they were trying to verify my employment for a loan that I had applied for. They lied. They will call your relatives, they did mine. They will call landlord, they did mine - AND a relative's landlord. They even contacted a neighbor asking about the personal properties I owned. Stand up for yourself and they will back down - I promise. Its only a gamble for them.  They (or their client) buys old debts (like Sears) for pennies on the dollar and hope to scare you out of your money. If they win its a few thousand in their pockets, if they lose its only a few dollars lost. DON'T SEND THEM A DIME, that will regenerate the old debt, thus making you responsible. They are counting on your fear. DO NOT GIVE THEM BANKING INFORMATION ELECTRONIC CHECKS), CREDIT/DEBIT CARD INFORMATION, OR SSN. You are reading this, right? Continue your research and learn how to defend yourself. You have rights. You can find "Answers" on line for the "Complaint" if they should decide to sue. Deny all allegations - the lawsuit will say you breached a contract with them. You didn't because they are third generation and don't have a contract with you. They cannot show the courts the contract they based the lawsuit on because they don't have one. It is fear, YOUR FEAR, that lets them win. Now, stand up for your rights. Few of us get into debt knowingly and hoping for failure - it just happens sometimes. Sadly, companies like Sears, will sell your charged-off accounts to these companies for a measley few dollars (a few dollars is better than nothing to Sears) but they won't let YOU settle for those same pennies. A good enough reason for me not to shop at Sears.

I received a letter with another doc attached stating they were going to sue me.

The document is not signed, stamped or anything but filled out with the amount I owe.  They say they represent American Express. They say to contact their legal assistant Waren Wheeler at 310-273-7867 to make payment arrangements.

I called Amex to see if I could settle or make arrangements directly with them as I've heard and read horror stories about these places and they referred me to NCO Financial, which is where my account is being held.  I have no idea why Amex tells me this yet I receive a letter from this Brachfeld, which states at the bottom of the letter, THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT disclaimer.  Lawyers are not collection agencies.

I'm thinking that at this point, they can go ahead and attempt to sue me.  I rather show up with an attorney representing me (I'm sure I can find one that will be willing to help me out for a minimal fee, at least I hope).  When I had the account they raised my interest rates and didn't want to lower them, they say I owe $6211.34 which is no where near what I owed when I had the account.  I owed under $5k at the time so most of that is interest of course.  My payments were ridiculous and I lost my company after I was in a car accident, I was hit by an illegal immigrant with no license and no insurance (accident was not my fault) and since I had the basics on my insurance (thanks to my lovely soon to be ex-husband trying to save some money) I got screwed out of any settlement at the time and am still dealing with pain from a torn rotator cuff and neck injury.  Although I had surgery (it was worse than giving birth naturally, I know, I have 3 kids) and physical therapy, I am not the same and I lost my own business that I actually owned (I had owned 2 at the time).  Of course this left with me with no income to pay and when I was still able to make payments they jacked up my interest rate to where I couldn't make payments anymore.  AND, my businesses were home based on the way to moving out and into a real facility.  I felt like I was on top of the world, my mom was even proud of me and that meant everything to me.

And now since my credit is so messed up, who wants to hire me?  So I decided to go back to school and earn my bachelors.  That is what I am currently doing.  Already a year into school.  I have 2 more years to go. I'd love to pay off my bills.  Last thing I ever wanted to become in life was a dead beat.  These letters that come in the mail with offers less then half of what I owe kill me.  I want to pay them, but I cannot.  I have nothing, absolutely nothing.

I went from earning $200k a year, to nothing.  I do not own a home, a car, or anything for that matter.  My soon to be ex could care less about the situation I have come into.  All he says is that I should have gone into the biz to begin with.

And since I was self employed, I did not have disability as I was just starting to see money coming into my business for the second year in a row finally after investing my life savings of $250k and my credit cards in which is why I owe to this day, into biz's I was running for 3 years at that point.  And it was home based, was published and received press releases in national magazines.  All my hard work down the drain all bc of someone's irresponsibility of not even having insurance or a drivers license.  He should never have been on the road and maybe today my life would be fine and I wouldn't owe these bills anymore.  Maybe today I wouldn't of had to go back to school and I'd be running out of a real store by now.  Maybe today I could be helping someone else by giving them a job.  Maybe today I'd have a savings for my kids to go to college, my oldest graduates high school in 2 more years and I have nothing for her.  Maybe just maybe I could've had my life as it was going for the first time in my life.

My children suffer bc of this.  I suffer bc of this.  

I was on anti-anxiety meds as this was killing me inside.  I thought I was having a heart attack in which turned out to be an anxiety attack.  I can't stand to live like this.  I want my life back.  

I wake up every day wondering if today will be different, if today I can finally pay a bill.  But to only go to bed looking back.

I recently found out I am pregnant thanks to my lovely ex to be.  Even after being on birth control.  So now I have something else to worry about.  Instead of enjoying this miracle, I am wondering how I am going to get by.  Yeah, I could get child support, but I need to be able to support my family without having to worry about someone helping in order to get by.  I don't want to be rich, I want to be comfortable, even if it means no vacations, no new car or no new dress.  As long as I can provide for my kids that's all that matters to me.  

So I am screwed for life.  What a lovely world we live in.

Sorry for the long rant on a place to complain about a particular collection agency, but I had to finally let it out somewhere somehow.

They will probably sue, they served me.  Erica never signed mine either, but it was for real. However, I fought back - their only  hope is to have you not answer the camplaint and not show up for court. They will sue you for breach of contract. If they are using this as the basis of the lawsuit, by all means, you should see it and the court should see it. But, you won't see it as it doesn't exist. Generally deny everything written in their complaint, they haven't showed you anything to confirm they figures they are asking for. They are playing with dirty hands and the judicial system does not want to see that. When it came time, my case was dismissed by the plaintiff. These people are bullies and have no bite to their bark. Good Luck. Erica gives all lawyers a bad name. You can find how to ANSWER the COMPLAINT online should they serve you.

I will join your class action.

I got a computer-generated call from this same number (that I believe to be Brachfeld & Assoc.), based on my Caller ID.
The computer-generated voice said it had a VERY IMPORTANT CALL for a Mr. XXXXX XXXXXX - if I was Mr. XXXXXX, press 1, if not, press 2.
I took option 3 - and hung up without pressing either number.

I received a  threatening call at my work, from Mike of Brachfield Law. He was very rude and as I advised him that I was at work, he cut me off and rudely stated, "quit telling me you are at work and just take down my number." Are you kidding,me?? Then he asked me to transfer him to payroll. I told him, I was not transferring him anywhere and if he wanted payroll to do it himself. I then hung up!

Send a return receipt request for debt validation!! They must respond with burden of proof within 30 days of receiving the letter. Most likely, they cannot prove the debt. If they continue to harrass you, sue them!  Brachfeld has an unbelievable number of lawsuits against her for violating Federal Law. From researching her on the Internet you will learn she DOES NOT PAY her own sanctions the courts have against her. Ironic... A Debt collector that doesn't even pay her own bills! Shame, shame, shame on Erica. PS - Speaking to any person regarding this personal matter (other than you) is in violation of Federal Law! Unfortunately, Erica and her goons feel they are above Federal Law. So, if they do talk to anyone in your payroll department... sock-it-to-them

Brachfeld and her dim "associates" are counting on individual ignorance and bully tactics to scare their victims. Send them nothing except a request for validation of the alleged debt. Chances are strong that it has past the statute of limitations. If they sue you, they are totally depending on winning by default (defendant ignores the suit and does not answer the complaint). If the suit continues, they will dismiss the case prior to trial because they cannot prove anything - that is why they ignore the validation letters. Contact FTC to get a template of a validation letter and send it immediatly!

never talk to them on the phone

never

never give your name out

ask for their name and company and contact info and mailing address

if they dont , hang up and file a report with

FTC and Donotcall.gov

report each call to DONOTCALL.GOV

and to the

CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE

VIA MAIL LETTER, write a letter and print out copies of this conversation to the CA attorney general office

I read everyones notes on the Brachfeld Law Group. I was wondering if there is a class action law suit against them, because I would also LOVE to join!

I got a call from them this morning.  Then I called back.  I told them that I was recording the call.  Then I told them to take my number of their call list, and they said they would.  

What is strange is that they never asked me about any debt.  If they truly had information that I owed them some debt, that would have been the time to bring it up.  But, they did not.  This tells me that they are probably calling random numbers hoping they can convince someone that they owe a debt and will give them money out of fear.  

What a scam.  Stand up to these guys and DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION.  If they feel you owe the debt let them tell you the infor you have so you can confirm or deny.

Yes, I get numerous pre-recorded messages from this company on my home answering machine.
I've also spoken with several people from this law firm to resolve a settlement. They are generally very civil, but not very bright.
They claim that they've sent me several emails confirming the settlement agreement yet I have not received a single email from them.
I told them I would NOT pay any settlement amount until I received a letter stipulating the terms of this agreement. They keep insisting that they've sent emails with this letter, but none have arrived.
And even when we agreed on a date that I would make those funds available, they tried to withdraw the money from the account 5 days prior to the agreed upon date. Then they claimed that the date was misunderstood. They've demonstrated on numerous occasions that their listening skills are sadly lacking. And they make up every excuse in the book about mistakes they've made.

So I guess I would also like to join the list too.

Keep getting telephone calls! The last time they call, 2 years ago, when I was unemployed they threatened to have me arrested! I paid them. I should not have since I found out from an attorney that in PA they cannot threaten suit and you cannot be arrested for failure to pay a debt. It is a civil matter and the cost for them to file civily in each an every case is huge. I have payment arrangements with all my other debtors, in writing, so I cannot imagine why they care calling. I am not answering them. If they have something to say, they can send me a letter! BTW..4 years is the statute in PA.

sure Im with you,

Actually "ec", it is not against the law to say the name of the person you are trying to contact & that you are attempting to collect a debt - it's not violating FDCPA - quite the opposite- it's what's called the "Foti Message" and was implemented & determined legal by a documented court case.  As long as it is not stated at a person's place of employment - it is 100% legal - check you're facts

There should be a class action lawsuite against this company.

DC, It may be legal for them to do that at home, but I had these guys call my place of business and leave the message on our HR person's voicemail telling them that they "need to speak to your attorney and only your attorney within 24 hours" and that "This call is an attempt to collect a debt!"

I know that this is 100% against the law. Not even my debt and now I have to deal with the fallout at work because of it!

The person was "Mr. Bell"

A man representing this company Brachfeld & Associates named Willie Adam called my home today, 10-6-10 being nasty and rude and threatening once I asked for an address of his company..Which he refused to give . I looked this number up and have the address so I will be sending multi letters to them today. This company is truly bottom feeders.