Law Offices of Harold Scherr

That seems really unfair. I don't blame you in your choice to go to court. If the SOL has run out and you claim it then there should be nothing else left to say. I have a feeling that I may have to end up going to court on an old Discover card account so I will keep in mind that mediation may not be such a good idea.

eleroo...it's my opinion that mediation is a waste of time. Mediators are not judges. Mediation boils down to three things...pay the debt, accept a judgment or fight it in court. Especially collection attorneys know that most people really don't want to go to court and prolong the issue, thinking they have to get an attorney they can't afford and other things. Problem is, you are forced into mediation by summons. If you don't go, you'll simply get a quick default judgment against you for not showing up. If anything happens with the Discover Card and you get a summons, RESPOND in writing to the summons, regardless of whether or not it says no response is needed. Sometimes you can change the course of things if you have valid arguments. I had a problem with Discover years ago when they were part of the Sears Financial Network. I don't know if they still are because Citibank now handles Sears accounts. Back then, Sears was relentless on collections. The worst. Even back then they maintained their ridiculous credit card interest rates and still do. For that reason, I would never again want a Sears credit card or any of their credit products. Fortunately, I never got sued because the debt went way past the statutes in my state. When that happened, they basically gave up and I never heard from them again and it has long fallen off my credit reports.

I went to mediation in Pinellas County Florida. I had a certified letter to the original creditor saying that I wanted to settle way before the summons. They never responded. The lawyer said that Bray and Lunsford called 20 times and I did not return calls according to there phone log. They call and hang up on your anwering system but it shows on their log as a completed call. I had no problem paying what I owed but did not think it right that I should pay court costs and attorney fees which were more than the debt. It was pay or go to court and get a judgement. It was better to pay than get a judgement. Even if the judgement was smaller than the payment it is still a judgement which would be on my record for years. It is a railroad system.

Thanks Guest for the advice. I know the Sears saga well. They were actually my first credit card. I remember when they and Discover were affiliated. Anyway, I defaulted (about 3 days late if I remember correctly) on my Sears payment and it ended up costing me a fortune!!! Looking back, that was my first lesson in credit card rip-offs. I was only about 18 and had no idea how much 3 days would cost me. (I found out real quick. :-) :-) )

Frogpatch, I have been getting calls from
408-387-6586 pretty regularly. You don't happen to remember the number of the collection agency that called and kept hanging up do you? Callers from the 408 number above keep doing the same thing. They also call about twice an hour on some days and just yesterday both my cell phone and work phone were ringing at the same time with someone calling from the 408 number. I googled it and found a site where about 10 other people had logged complaints about the same number.

I think it was ridiculous also that you had to pay the fees. Especially when you had documentation stating you attempted to settle.

Please send me address and phone number for Harold Scherr law office ASAP!!I need to contact them!!

I too have had run in with the SCHERR LAW FIRM........they threatened to call my neighbors and everything.....I simply said that I want to pay but FIRST tell me what it is you are asking payment for....when they said the credit card and amount , I said that amount is way HIGH....THE WOMAN PROCEEDED to become beligerent and threatening even after I said I was willing to pay just get me a lowered settlement amount...is there any law against calling neighbors and bothering you at home on a Saturday when their website says they are closed on Saturdays?

I too have had run in with the SCHERR LAW FIRM........they threatened to call my neighbors and everything.....I simply said that I want to pay but FIRST tell me what it is you are asking payment for....when they said the credit card and amount , I said that amount is way HIGH....THE WOMAN PROCEEDED to become beligerent and threatening even after I said I was willing to pay just get me a lowered settlement amount...is there any law against calling neighbors and bothering you at home on a Saturday when their website says they are closed on Saturdays?

I am being totally bothered by these people at Scherr..........they were beligerent..........and all I asked was what was the debt they were referring to..........they told me the credit card and the amount and ALL I SAID was that is a high number.........I will gladly pay if you can get the credit card to come to a settlement number minus all the fees and whatever they decided to put on top of principle........they became downright beligerent and hung up.........NOW HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO PAY PEOPLE WHO WON'T EVEN LISTEN TO ME..........I SAID I WOULD PAY BUT THEY WANTED PAYMENT AT THIS MOMENT AND THREATENED TO CALL MY NEIGHBORS....I AM SURE THAT IS QUITE ILLEGAL.........THESE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO RUIN MY CREDIT EVEN AFTER I SAID I WOULD PAY JUST GET ME A REASONABLE SETTLEMENT NUMBER

I am being totally bothered by these people at Scherr..........they were beligerent..........and all I asked was what was the debt they were referring to..........they told me the credit card and the amount and ALL I SAID was that is a high number.........I will gladly pay if you can get the credit card to come to a settlement number minus all the fees and whatever they decided to put on top of principle........they became downright beligerent and hung up.........NOW HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO PAY PEOPLE WHO WON'T EVEN LISTEN TO ME..........I SAID I WOULD PAY BUT THEY WANTED PAYMENT AT THIS MOMENT AND THREATENED TO CALL MY NEIGHBORS....I AM SURE THAT IS QUITE ILLEGAL.........THESE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO RUIN MY CREDIT EVEN AFTER I SAID I WOULD PAY JUST GET ME A REASONABLE SETTLEMENT NUMBER

You need to send them a debt validation letter, include a limited C&D letter advising them to contact you by US mail only.

I too had a run in with Scherr law. Funny people, lazy rude and do not know how to add numbers. I too went to mediation,( with MR. Scherr himself) went to court and lost. AND THEY STILL SETTleted for a lot less than they ever orginal wanted!! DO NOT PAY THEM ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The longer it goes on, the less amount of of money they will except. RECORD EVERY PHONE CALL WITH THEM. If they discuss your or try to attempt to collect the debt from anyone but yourself it is ILLEGAL. If they tell you they are going to send a police officer to your house it is ILLEGAL! RECORD, them-- contact a lawyer and then meet MR. Scherr in mediation on your behalf! You will win!

I work for the Scherr Law Firm and I want to apologize for anything inappropriate and illegal said to anyone. There are many bad apples in the collection business and they make everyone else look bad.

First and foremost, respond to the summons you receive even if it is a small claims matter that doesn't require an answer, it is in your best interest to answer it.

Secondly, keep in mind that all collection matters are done over the phone. Do not expect anyone to send you a letter responding to your issues; they will call.

Third, sending a cease and desist is not such a great idea. Not only will you stop receiving documentation pertaining to your case, but you will make the collector who is handling your case angry. This is a two way street. It requires both parties to communicate in order to resolve. The same goes to debt validation. Unless you honestly believe this is a case of identity fraud, it is wrong to request validation. You are wasting everybodys time and money. Every cent spent trying to sue you is added onto your balance. And the more time you spend ignoring and stalling on this is going to increase your balance.

Sign a stipulation for a reasonable amount. It stops any and all interest from being applied to your account unless defaulted on and ALL CALLS STOP.

sorry guest three,but don't go shoveling that garbage about not validating and not getting anything in writing.that is a crock and you know it.also let's say you call me and like everyone else i get threatened.i will if i have an address will send a DV and C&D letters faster than your head can spin.after you receive those letters anything that's considered collection activity including filing a lawsuit will be breaking the law.bottom line your a TROLL.i didn't delete your stupidity because i wanted to shoot it down.now SHOVE OFF!!!

Paul Mergel.

The problem is that you are uneducated about what you're talking about.

It is your right to send a cease and desist letter faster than my head can spin but it is also my client's right to sue you faster than you can lick the stamp for that envelope.

No one in the collection business is going to do two things:
1. Call someone after there is a cease and desist.
2. Call someone when there is an attorney representing them.

And filing suit and serving a summons is in no way a violation of your cease and desist. What you don't seem to understand is that there is a difference between not contacting someone and not collecting on a valid and owed debt. You think your letter means we have to stop any collection activity - you are wrong.

As for the threats you feel you're getting, that is something you would need to take up with the person you feel threatened by. You seem to have trouble differentiating between uneducated beliefs and facts, so keep in mind that if a collector at this law firm is telling you that you will be sued - they are not threatening you, they are telling you that YOU WILL BE SUED. And they will push for a judgment. And put a title lien on your property. And garnish your wages if necessary and you fit the criteria.

I never said not to get anything in writing. Get everything in writing. They are more than happy to draft settlement and paid documentation for you.

And as for validation, YOU KNOW and I KNOW that it is a stall tactic and nothing more.

Stop acting like a baby and take responsibility for your actions.

so put a lien on property, better have the judgement first and next understand that no money is received until the property is sold, want to wait 20 years? the collection aagency bought a bad debt, how dumb is that? what you think they paid, 10 cents on the dollar? if not, they paid too much, so cease and desist is correct and it is illegal to cal neighbors, relatives other than for a location verification, read my lips, next there is a SOL for each state and needs to be followed, don't try to bamboozle those who owe the money and fell on hard times...there will be more after the inaugural , you really think that poor unemployed people can pay? let the Treasury dept float some money the poor people's direction to make things work. and most of all the collection agencies arent too bright buying bad debt.

guest4 is as big a moron as guest3.if that's possible.

you all should have thought about that before you took credit cards out. everyone falls on hard times, its up to you to come through them. i am so sick of everyone crying about the economy no jobs, etc. look harder and accept less. it is not illegal to call neighbors.

own up to your responsibilities and pay your bill. you charged it up.

You, as an employee for a "law firm" should know better than anyone that federal and state laws take precidence over your wanting to ignore people's request for validation. No matter how you cut it verbal abuse on the phone in regards to collecting a debt is against federal law you are not immune. If you were half as smart as you like to believe you are then you would seek employment for someone who actually cares that there are laws and cares that some people simply can't pay. You should also look up the definition of professionalism. Making comments like you did and admitting to work there doesn't do anything but confirm the practices of your firm as being rude and obnoxious and probably illegal.

no not probably amazed.definitely.

LET THEM TAKE YOU TO COURT!!!! TELL THE JUDGE YOU WILL SIGN A STIPULATION AT 50-100 PER MONTH AT 0% INTEREST AND THAT WILL FORGO A JUDGMENT AS LONG AS YOU PAY ON TIME...BUT BEWARE IF YOU ARE EVEN 1 DAY LATE THEY WILL ADD THE INTEREST TO THE ACCOUNT.

Anonymous #15, sometimes validation really is that -- VALIDATION. Sometimes collectors come after old debt which has been settled years in the past. Many collection agencies are just incompetent morons. If you can't validate the debt then it's clear to me that the debt is invalid.

Anonymous #19, it is DEFINITELY illegal to discuss debt with anyone other than the owner of the debt. You may contact third parties, but only to find out how to get in contact with the debtor, and only once. If your on the phone with the person and threatening to call neighbors then that is a violation of FEDERAL law.

guest5 knows their stuff people.

Wow... wage garnishment is generally a last resort and is reserved for Student loans and child support... don't try to scare us with this extreme circumstance!!! And it is illegal to call back if I terminate the call, which the Scherr people do. I was a debt collector, so I am educated on this matter...

It is illegal to call neighbors... and if you are tired of people being upset about the economy and no jobs, it's probably because you didn't lose yours like the rest of us. If you are so "responsible" what the hell are you doing wasting your time on this site with the rest of us slackers... shouldn't you be at work??

My daughter has been receiving calls from Scherr Law for 3-4 months. She lives in California and we live in Ohio. It is always a canned message and no one is on the other end. When I call I get another canned message. We have no idea who we owe or what but continue to receive the same taped messages. I went on live and found there was no way to contact them by computer either. Interestingly there are several Scherrlaw.com and they are all different people in different states. Are they for real? My daughter belonged to Gold's Gym and we have had several run-ins about money she owes when in fact Urban Active states she is paid in full. They want more info since they think it is a scam and I am wondering if this law office is legit.

[QUOTE=Anonymous;491845]Wow... wage garnishment is generally a last resort and is reserved for Student loans and child support... don't try to scare us with this extreme circumstance!!![/QUOTE]


Dead wrong, I'm afraid. Garnishment can be used to enforce a civil judgement for almost any kind of debt. The kicker is that there must be a judgement in place first.

For some types of debt, student loans, child support, military out-of-service pay, and some other government debts, they don't need a judgement. They can proceed with an administrative garnishment without court action.

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I ma not an attorney, once you are contacted by an attorney they have 5 days to send you a letter for stating they will have this validated for you you then have 30 days to repsond to that letter.google sample dispute letters.if has been arbitrated were those procedures fallowed-did you recive notice from claimant as well as arbitrator.Can the claimant proof he purchased the account. file a notice of hearing your self and meet them in court-most people do not they win by default-they should not be allowed to sit at theri office and collect thousands of dollars for free-make them meet you in court

I had a debt with this firm, and it was a valid debt that I had accumulated. They sent a summons for me to appear in court. I called them, and they set up a payment plan that I could afford. They immediately stopped adding interest to the debt. Several months in, my husband lost his job, and I couldn't make the payments. Once we got back on track and were both employed, I was able to resume the payments. The interest had resumed since I had skipped payments, but once I called them, they stopped the interest again. I now have one partial payment remaining, and this debt will be clear. I have never had anyone from there be rude to me. While some of the people here may have valid complaints, it sounds like some are trying to avoid paying a valid debt. If the debt is not valid, by all means fight it. But if it is a valid debt, call them and work something out. You'll feel so much better knowing you took care of the debt...and it will also help your credit score.

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I have known people who fight a valid debt to try to get it reduced or not have to pay it at all. I'm sure you'd agree that there are people out there that do this. I was trying to say that if that's what anyone on this board is doing, they would be better served by paying their debts; perhaps I didn't clarify enough. However, I did NOT try to identify who was or wasn't doing that. I only know what they say in their posts, just as you do; we're only hearing their side of the story. I just think if someone has a VALID debt, trying to fight it can really backfire on them.

I am not trying to take shots at anyone. I have a lot of credit card debt that we got way behind on when we went to only one income. As a result, our credit rating is bad right now. We are working to rebuild it by paying off our debts, not hiding from them. I have one payment remaining with the Scherr law firm, and it will be such a relief to have the debt taken care of. I just think if anyone is trying to hide from their debt, it would be better for them to face it now instead of delaying the inevitable.

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STAY AWAY FROM THIS FIRM. They are not here to help the consumer. My parents are up in age (70's) and they had a balace of $8,000 on their credit card. They received a letter staying they would accept a full payment of $3200 and the account would be paid and their record would should paid as agree. For almost 3 years they were making shedule payments on their limited income and took advantage to pay the $3200. On their credit record it DOES NOT show paid as agree it shows COLLECTIONS...and this year when they filed for their income tax they normally get $400...this year they got $45...why because they paid off the $3200 and this law firm showed it as earn income. What can 2 senior citizen aged over 70 do with $45 dollars...can't buy 1 medication that's for sure...not even the light bill...so maybe the law firm would like their $45 as well.People call the creditors...tell them your situation and if they are willing to help and arrange payments...don't use Harold Sheer...aside from sticking it to the elderly...their so call collectors are rude...they threaten people...by telling my mother if she doesn't pay they are going to call the police to get her "arrested"...I would have love to see that...I should forward all my mother's medical bills...sicne that call she's been popping pills just to face the outside world...the phone rings and she cries...Harold Sheer "destroyed" my mother...thank you Harold Sheer...at least you and your people are sleeping well at night...

their so call collectors are rude...they threaten people...by telling my mother if she doesn't pay they are going to call the police to get her "arrested"...

This is a FDCPA violation. You can sue them for this. Contact a consumer lawyer.

Listen you're so dumb , maybe you should've taken care of this the 7 months the original creditor gave you in the beginning before it was sold to a third party. You had asked for this, you had the opportunity to settle before and you knew what was coming if you don't pay your credit card so you asked for this. You borrowed the money, now do the right thing and pay it back!! You're stealing money....and should be put in jail for grand larceny.

#40 you are rude and dumb yourself. First off you should read the post before you start barking like a little annoying yappy dog. Or CAN you read? They were MAKING payments for those months!! Oh and they should be put in jail for threatening a little old lady that if she did not pay the debt she would be arrested, THAT is illegal...oh and FYI you loser, not paying a debt is NOT grand larceny.

#38 what sounds like what happened is that since the settlement was not the total amount of the debt, the remainder got counted as income..that is standard practice unfortunately. You can fight what is reported on the credit reports as it should state 'settled' or 'settled for less than full amount' and should be closed and have a zero balance, ESPECIALLY since the IRS offset the remainder...the debt is gone now.

Oh and just because I have to have my say....I agree with both Paul and anonymous. We always advocate asking for validation. The sad fact is that these bottomfeeder debt collectors make it bad for the lawful ones. Remember, these statutes were enacted because the industry is rife with unethical collectors who make it a routine day to collect illegally. Unfortunately some of the really bad ones will attempt to collect on debt they don't even rightly own! I know I am not the only one who has had two collection agencies both telling me I owe them for the SAME debt! And the crazy thing, neither one could validate the debt at all...not even a single statement-nothing.

We always say that if the validation comes through and is proper (and no, we don't advocate that long laundry list debt validation letter-that letter is a menace) then you should set up payment arrangements! We do however advocate not sacrificing your life (home, utilities, food). Unfortunately some companies refuse to accept any kind of reasonable payment arrangement and force the issue to be sued because all they care about is the money....and even then the judge will set up a payment arrangement, sometimes lower than what the debtor originally offered!!!

One thing people need to remember when they are screaming about 'pay your bills' is that these debt purchaser companies knowingly buy these old debt, some of them outside the SOL.....they also buy them for pennies on the dollar....and it really chaps my hide when these primate losers come on this forum and scream about you stealing from the poor little debt purchasers.....nobody stole anything from them. They bought old (sometimes out of SOL) debt KNOWING these people defaulted and then not only do they try to get the whole amount of the debt (that they paid pennies on the dollar for) and then try to tack on collection fees and whatnot.