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07-02-2007, 11:59 AM

has anyone ever heard of or dealt with forster & garbus law firm in ny before?

Anthony Lemons · 07-02-2007, 01:33 PM

Are they listed on the web? If not, they are most likely a bogus company. If they are in buffalo New York, go to Bud Hibbs website, and he can tell you how to deal with these bottom feeders.

waterbug811 · 07-02-2007, 05:16 PM

http://www.fgny.com/lafchn1.htm

It is a sketchy looking website. They state they strive for a "complaint free environment." Sounds scary... :shock: They are in Farmingdale, NY.

There are a few entries on RipOffReport.

fedupinpa · 07-02-2007, 05:23 PM

Are they contacting you? If so, for what? Are they trying to collect a debt?

It amazes me how many law firms are actually in debt collection. Can you imagine going to school all that time and coming up to call people on the phone and collect debt. It is almost like targeting telemarketing to collect debt. Is this a sign that maybe some of them should not have went to law school in the first place. I would think that if I invested all that time, it would be a great disapointment to be collecting debt, right? or is there big bucks in it. Mine was only for $1000, for one and for $2800 for another, two different firms. Seems like the ambulance chasers would make more!?????????

07-03-2007, 12:31 PM

yes they are trying to collect a debt but they havent even gave me any proof that the debt is valid.

cajunbulldog · 07-03-2007, 05:56 PM

Send them a dv letter.Look in the third link in my signature at the bottom of my post.

10-31-2007, 04:10 PM

I recieved a package from them with bills form the original creditors but the amount is totally different from what theyare asking for. I have requested for them to show me how interests and fees are tacked on but they never showed it.They doubled the amount from original. Is there anyway i can get them to take off all those extra fees,interests and get a 40-60% off the original amount?

JCEMT · 10-31-2007, 06:52 PM

Sound like they may be trying to access interest that may not be legal. I would send them another letter requesting the information that they did not provide as they did not provide full validation of the debt. Also, did they provide you any documentation that they are able to legally collect? (i.e. a copy of the original contract)

Anthony Lemons · 11-01-2007, 11:28 AM

Do as Cajun stated; send them a Letter of Validation via certified mail.

Anthony Lemons · 11-01-2007, 11:30 AM

Attempt to Validate Debt.

Quote:

Under the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act, you are allowed to challenge the validity of a debt that a collection agency states you owe to them. Use this letter and the following form to make the agency verify that the debt is actually yours and owed by you. Keep a copy for your files and send the letter registered mail.

Your Name
123 Your Street Address
Your City, ST 01234

ABC Collections
123 NotOnYourLife Ave
Chicago, IL

Date:

Re: Acct # XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is being sent to you in response to a notice sent to me on September 30, 2002). Be advised that this is not a refusal to pay, but a notice sent pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 USC 1692g Sec. 809 (b) that your claim is disputed and validation is requested.

This is NOT a request for â€œverificationâ€ or proof of my mailing address, but a request for VALIDATION made pursuant to the above named Title and Section. I respectfully request that your offices provide me with competent evidence that I have any legal obligation to pay you.

Please provide me with the following:

What the money you say I owe is for;
Explain and show me how you calculated what you say I owe;
Provide me with copies of any papers that show I agreed to pay what you say I owe;
Provide a verification or copy of any judgment if applicable;
Identify the original creditor;
Prove the Statute of Limitations has not expired on this account
Show me that you are licensed to collect in my state
Provide me with your license numbers and Registered Agent

At this time I will also inform you that if your offices have reported invalidated information to any of the 3 major Credit Bureauâ€™s (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion) this action might constitute fraud under both Federal and State Laws. Due to this fact, if any negative mark is found on any of my credit reports by your company or the company that you represent I will not hesitate in bringing legal action against you for the following:

Violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act
Violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Defamation of Character
If your offices are able to provide the proper documentation as requested in the following Declaration, I will require at least 30 days to investigate this information and during such time all collection activity must cease and desist.

Also during this validation period, if any action is taken which could be considered detrimental to any of my credit reports, I will consult with my legal counsel for suit. This includes any listing any information to a credit reporting repository that could be inaccurate or invalidated or verifying an account as accurate when in fact there is no provided proof that it is.

If your offices fail to respond to this validation request within 30 days from the date of your receipt, all references to this account must be deleted and completely removed from my credit file and a copy of such deletion request shall be sent to me immediately.

I would also like to request, in writing, that no telephone contact be made by your offices to my home or to my place of employment. If your offices attempt telephone communication with me, including but not limited to computer generated calls and calls or correspondence sent to or with any third parties, it will be considered harassment and I will have no choice but to file suit. All future communications with me MUST be done in writing and sent to the address noted in this letter by USPS.

It would be advisable that you assure that your records are in order before I am forced to take legal action. This is an attempt to correct your records, any information obtained shall be used for that purpose.

Best Regards,

Your Signature
Your Name

12-05-2007, 02:44 PM

why whats the problem

12-05-2007, 07:21 PM

If it's a suit in NY, they are allowed to collect a simple 9% interest rate by statute. I hope that helps.

12-05-2007, 07:23 PM

Forster and Garbus Law firm is a legitimate 2 man operation run by 2 attorneys: Ronald Forster and Mark Alan Garbus who were admitted in NY in 1968 and 1969 respectively.

12-06-2007, 09:26 AM

Forster and Garbus Law firm is number 1 in new york for a reason, they are more fair then most...of course it is hard to have collectors call you and remind you that you are late with your bills but when you sign the contract with the credit card or bank loan etc. you made that promise to pay, you cant just ignore it when its in an attorneys office, the unfortunate thing is people think after 7 years the statute applies and who cares i already ruined my credit...if only people had a better understanding ....

cajunbulldog · 12-06-2007, 09:34 AM

Lawgirl first off sol is a defense to bar collection suits so it darn sure matters.Once sol is up,the debt is still valid but unenforceable by court action and once it reaches seven years from date of first major delinquency it is no longer reportable. So if you have some valid information to offer on topic,then go for it.

12-06-2007, 09:42 AM

you can call debt collectors bottom feeders and all that other nonsense, but what about the consolidaters who dont do their job and wait for their clients bank account to get frozen to finally call the collector, ...people have to pay them a fee every month to consolidate their debt but the customers dont know is half the offices dont accept it, but the consolidaters wont say that because if the debtor knew the truth there wouldnt be any more of these consolidaters and settlement companys , its ridiculous, the debtor has to pay them a fee to call the collector to help them settle , when the debtor can call and do it themselves, the consolidaters are the real bottom feeders if you ask me , i have heard one too many times about all these lawsuits against them