Finding out if a CA is licensed to practice in your state

You may check the Arizona Department of Financial Institution website "http://azdfi.gov/Lists/Download/Download.htm" for the list of licensed collection agencies in Arizona.

So, I found TRS Recovery Services, Inc. on the list, but on my court summons it shows TRS Financial Corporation...would the name have to be the same?...or are they fine?

Also, how can I even find out if they are the same company?

Anyone know the answer to this?

Does your summon shows TRS Financial Corporation or TRS Financial Services? If it is TRS Financial services, then I'm sure that it is not the same company as TRS Recovery Services because both have their own websites with different contact details ("http://www.trsfinancialservices.com/" and "http://www.firstdata.com/trs/").
However, since you have already received the summon, file an answer to it first in order to avoid default judgment.

Since they are suing you, they are likely licensed, possibly under a corporate name. I could find no company named TRS Financial Corporation either.

Where does it say this company is located?
TRS Financial Services, Inc. is in Katy, TX.
TRS Recovery Services, Inc.is an affiliate of Telecheck, and its parent is First Data Corp, and is located in Greenwood Village, CO.
T R S Financial is in Afton (St. Louis), MO but I could find no more info than yellow pages listings, such as "http://local.yahoo.com/info-17682885-trs-financial-affton?csz=Affton%2C+MO+63123".

Stranger still is that I cannot find them in the Missouri database, either, though that site has very poor design for long searches. Most websites give you a Go To page number range of links, but this one you have to click "next 50" many, many, many times... There is no TRS Financial. When looking up T R S Financial and just the word Financial, it starts with the numbered names (like 1st Financial).
Missouri Sec. of State Business Registration lookup/search for any business name with "T financial" in the name.

At any rate, these people are hiding. Have you talked to them? Did you receive the original dunning letter? What other info about the company is mentioned in any of these sources?

Does your summon shows TRS Financial Corporation or TRS Financial Services?

The summons shows TRS Financial Corporation.


Where does it say this company is located?

On the summons where it shows the Plaintiff's name it only has TRS Financial Corporation - it does not include an address, just at the top left-hand corner of the summons it shows the attorney's address.


Have you talked to them?

No.


Did you receive the original dunning letter?

Probably, I will have to go through my files.


What other info about the company is mentioned in any of these sources?

Stapled onto the summons was a letter dated 10 days before they filed that looks like a collection's agency letter stating it's to collect a debt and what for...but it was a CA type looking letter...I don't have it here with me at work; will get more info on it when I get home and add it to this thread.

I did go in and answered my summons on Tuesday of this week. They only thing I affirmed was my address. I stated I could neither affirm nor deny the rest as I had no additional information.

Okay, so I have the original summons right here...pissed about one thing in particular at the moment...

They stapled a letter as the last page that looks like one of the typical debt collection letters you get in the mail. It is dated June 5th...they filed with the court June 12th...and I was served June 18th...it reads as follows:

Dear XXX XXX,
This letter serves as our notice to you concerning the debt mentioned. Unless, withing thirty (30) days, after receipt of this notice, you dispute the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, we will assume this debt is valid.

If you notify this office in writing within the thirty-day (30) period this debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, we will obtain verification of the debt and this office will mail a copy of the verification to you. Upon written request, within the thirty-day (30) period, we will provide you with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor.

The information in this letter pertains to your deals with this office as a debt collector. It does not affect your deals with the court, and in particular, it does not change the time in which you must answer the complaint and other legal pleading. The Summons is a command from the court, not from this office, and you must follow its instructions, even if you dispute the validity of the debt. The information in this letter does not affect my interaction with the court. As an attorney, I may file papers in the suit according to the court's rules and judge's instructions.


How can he mention the Summons if this letter is dated the 5th and the Summons was issued on the 12th by the court?

Does this seem ligit??

This was double posted, sorry. Removing from this post.

Yeah, that is the dunning letter. But that last paragraph does sound fishy. File a Motion for Discovery. Specify that you wish the plaintiff to prove that they are licensed, etc. See: Common Defenses to Creditor Lawsuits, even thought it is for New York and may differ slightly in some details, it is a very good and comprehensive site.
"http://www.nedap.org/hotline/defenses.html"
NOTE, especially "Defense 8: The Plaintiff Is Not A Licensed Debt Collector" and "Defense 9: The Complaint Does Not Contain A License Number" and even possibly "Defense 7: No Business Relationship with the Plaintiff (lack of standing)". Further down the page, there are a section of links called "More Information" which will give you further details about the civil court process. See Courts and Civil Procedure in Arizona. Phoenix doesn't seem to have a lot of info online, you may have to go to the courtroom for assistance but the New York page at least will let you know what you need to ask.

And yes, they can still sue you right away. Some collection attorneys will sue within 10 days after receiving an account. If you had sent them a Dispute (DV letter) and they responded with a suit, then it would be an FDCPA violation. They are suing you fast because they are confident that they will get their money quickly. Since they are not acting on the up and up, I'd venture that they will likely drop the case when they find out you are willing able to fight them all the way.

Please keep us updated.