How to Deal with Glasser and Glasser Debt Collection

 Glasser and Glasser is a veteran law office that collects debts in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Washington D.C. They have been in business since 1931 and have about 123 employees. Besides acting as a debt collection agency they provide legal representation in diverse areas of practice including foreclosure, creditors bankruptcy, personal injury and wrongful death, antitrust, and other complex litigation.

Just like dealing with any debt collector, be prepared. Verify that you owe the debt, that the company does not harass you, and that you have the right tools to settle your debt.

What is Glasser and Glasser? Are they real or a scam?

Glasser and Glasser is not a scam. It is a real law firm that also acts as a debt collection agency. They act as agents for creditors and aggressively pursue collection and lawsuits.  They represent national and regional banks, credit unions, consumer finance companies, municipalities, and others.

Glasser and Glasser PLC also can be reached at (888) 533-0660 or through online forms. 

Do you owe Glasser and Glasser money?

Glasser and Glasser represent many original creditors.  You may see their name on your credit report as a credit inquiry, along with the name of the original creditor and debt buyer.

However, there are various reasons that you may not owe Glasser and Glasser, the original creditor or the debt buyer money. For example, the debt may not belong to you, the statute of limitations expired, or you already paid off the debt.

Step 1 - Validate your debt.

Validate a debt when Glasser and Glasser contact you to collect a debt. Once contacted, you have 30 days to validate the debt, so act quickly. It is recommended to send a registered letter. It is a good idea always to validate the debt.

According to the law, they must validate the debt. If you don’t receive proper validation, then send a notice of insufficient validations. If the collection agency cannot validate the debt, it has no legal basis to collect it.

>>Learn more: Follow the steps described in the Bills.com debt validation article to preserve your rights under the FDCPA.

Step 2 - Check to see if the Statute of Limitations (SOL) is valid.

State laws set the time that a creditor can sue you and collect on the debt. However, they are complicated and not easy for the layman to understand. Since Glasser and Glasser represent original creditors, in most states, once the SOL expires, it can still pursue a lawsuit. 

Even if you think that the SOL expired, the creditor may have a different opinion on the expiration date and pursue a lawsuit against you. It is always wise to respond to a lawsuit. In the case of an expired SOL, you must answer any summons and claim an affirmative defense.

In any case, Glasser and Glasser still has the right to contact and get you to pay or negotiate a settlement. 

>> Learn more: Learn more about states' laws regarding statute of limitations.

Stop Glasser and Glasser from debt collection harassment.

Debt collectors often are extremely aggressive in their collection tactics. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act strictly regulates glasser and Glasser.

Here are some of the actions that they are forbidden to do:

• Call at an unreasonable time such as before 8:00 AM or after 9:00 PM
• Use the Telephone to Annoy or Harass
• Seek Unjustifiable Amounts
• Contact a Consumer at Work
• Threaten Arrest
• Use Abusive or Threatening Language
• Contact a relative, friend, or colleague who doesn’t own the debt

If you believe that Glasser and Glasser violated your rights under the FDCPA, consult with a consumer rights attorney in your area. Discuss possibly filing a lawsuit against the collection agency; not only could a lawsuit result in the cancellation of your debt, but you could be awarded damages.

Learn how to negotiate your debt with Glasser and Glasser

Glasser and Glasser will contact you, hoping to receive full payment.  However, depending on your situation, they might be willing to negotiate. They may decide to pursue a lawsuit, leading to wage garnishes, bank levies, and liens on personal property.

Their collection page links to various options, including making an online payment, requesting a document, or making an offer to resolve an account. Besides making a one-time payment or a monthly payment plan, they offer the option to discuss the resolution of the full balance with a one-time payment of the debt. 

In some cases, it is wise to take a do-it-yourself approach. However, dealing with a collection agency, especially with aggressive lawyers, is stressful. It takes a significant amount of time and effort. It is helpful if you convince Glasser and Glasser that you are in a hardship. Here are three tips: Be calm, clear, and convincing. Be persistent. Send a debt negotiation letter.

Another approach is to use a professional debt negotiation company. Debt settlement companies rely on databases of past settlements, so their negotiators know what range original creditors and collection agencies have accepted for payments in the past. They can reach a negotiated settlement with your debt collection agency quickly.

Complaints and lawsuits about Glasser and Glasser

Like most collection agencies, Glasser and Glasser have complaints registered in the BBB and the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB has complaints about collecting a debt that the consumer didn’t owe, harassment and impersonating an attorney, law enforcement, or government official. The complaints themselves are not proof of illegal or improper activities, although a good source to learn about how consumers perceive the interactions and problems they have with the debt collection agencies.

Here is a couple of example of complaints:

False statements or representation - Attempted to collect wrong amount  My wages are being garnished, and the docket from the District Court of Maryland shows I am supposed to pay 10 % Interest from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX and I have been getting charge 10 % interest every month by Glasser and Glasser. I called them to correct this and they told me that the information on the docket from the District Court was incorrect.  I think they are overcharging me. They also have not been providing me with monthly statements. Therefore I really have no idea what theyre doing in the statements I do have extremely confusing".

Took or threatened to take negative or legal action - Threatened to sue you for very old debt "This Bill is over the NC debt collection-statute of limitations for three years and should not even be collected therefore. Glasser and Glasser needs to cease in collection and cancel the summary judgement. I do not have a job which is why I am behind on bills. I do not have a residence but live with a friend. I have no possessions".

Deal with a Glasser and Glasser lawsuit

Glasser and Glasser cannot make empty threats to sue you when making a collection call. However, they do have the right to start a lawsuit and pursue legal remedies such as a wage garnishment or bank levy.

If they file a lawsuit against you, consult with a lawyer in your state with consumer law experience. You must file an answer to their summons and complaint or risk losing the lawsuit by default. Ignoring a summons will not make it go away, so take action to respond to the lawsuit.

Can you remove Glasser and Glasser from your credit report?

Since Glasser and Glasser do not own debt, you shouldn't have a problem with them on your credit report. However, the original creditor or a third-party debt buyer may show up relating to an unfamiliar debt.

If the information is inaccurate, then you can have it removed. Most negative tradelines stay on your credit report for seven years from the delinquency date. Bankruptcies remain for ten years, and judgments can remain for even longer if the creditor renews them.

However, there are circumstances that you may see an inaccurate item from Glasser and Glasser or a company associated with it. In that case, it is possible to file a dispute with the Credit Reporting Agencies and have the negative items removed from your credit report.

>> Learn more: Learn how to dispute a credit report.