Debt Collectors and Debt Buyers That Contact New Yorkers
Got a letter, call or lawsuit from a company you do not recognize? Most companies that contact New Yorkers about old debts are debt buyers, collection agencies or collection law firms. Find the company below to see who it is and what to do next. Tariq Law PC defends New Yorkers against these companies.
Got court papers?
Debt lawsuits in New York have short deadlines. Send us your papers and we can review them and explain your options.
18
Debt buyers
09
Collection law firms
04
Collection agencies
05
Banks that sue
14
Debt buyers
08
Collection law firms
04
Collection agencies
05
Banks that sue
Debt buyers
Debt buyers purchase old accounts, often for a small part of the balance, then collect or sue in their own name. If one of these companies sued you, it must be able to prove it owns your account.
18 companies
| Company | Who they are | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Debt BuyersMidland Funding, LLC / Midland Credit Management | Debt buyer owned by Encore Capital Group. Midland Credit Management services the accounts. | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersPortfolio Recovery Associates, LLC | Debt buyer owned by PRA Group | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersLVNV Funding, LLC | Debt buyer affiliated with Sherman Financial Group. Resurgent Capital Services services the accounts. | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersCavalry SPV / Cavalry Portfolio Services | Debt buyer. Cavalry Portfolio Services services accounts bought by Cavalry SPV entities. | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersAsset Acceptance, LLC | Debt buyer, now part of Encore Capital Group | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersCACH, LLC | Debt buyer formerly tied to SquareTwo Financial | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersCACV of Colorado | Debt buyer formerly tied to SquareTwo Financial | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersJefferson Capital Systems, LLC | Debt buyer | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersCrown Asset Management | Debt buyer | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersVelocity Investments, LLC | Debt buyer | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersUnifund CCR, LLC | Debt buyer | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersArrow Financial Services, LLC | Debt buyer | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersHarvest Credit Management, LLC | Debt buyer | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersRJM Acquisitions, LLC | Debt buyer | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersGlobal Acceptance Credit Co., L.P. | Debt buyer | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersLibra Equities, LLC | Debt buyer | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersNY Financial Services, LLC | Debt buyer | See what to do |
| Debt BuyersNational Collegiate Student Loan Trusts | Trusts that hold private student loans. Lawsuits are often handled through servicers and law firms. | See what to do |
Collection law firm
Collection law firms file and handle lawsuits for creditors and debt buyers. The law firm's name is often on the court papers, but the plaintiff is usually the debt buyer or bank.
09 law firms
| Law firm | Who they are | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Law FirmForster & Garbus, LLP | Collection law firm that files lawsuits for creditors and debt buyers | See what to do |
| Law FirmSelip & Stylianou, LLP (formerly Cohen & Slamowitz) | Collection law firm that files lawsuits for creditors and debt buyers | See what to do |
| Law FirmZwicker & Associates, P.C. | Collection law firm that files lawsuits for creditors and debt buyers | See what to do |
| Law FirmRubin & Rothman, LLC | Collection law firm that files lawsuits for creditors and debt buyers | See what to do |
| Law FirmTromberg, Morris & Poulin, PLLC | Collection law firm that files lawsuits for creditors and debt buyers | See what to do |
| Law FirmHouslanger & Associates | Collection law firm, often involved in enforcing judgments | See what to do |
| Law FirmKavulich & Associates, P.C. | Collection law firm | See what to do |
| Law FirmMalen & Associates | Collection law firm | See what to do |
| Law FirmMullooly, Jeffrey, Rooney & Flynn, LLP | Collection law firm | See what to do |
Collection agencies
Collection agencies call and write on behalf of the company that owns the debt. They usually do not own the account.
04 agencies
| Company | Who they are | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Collection AgenciesGotham Collection Services Corp. | Collection agency | See what to do |
| Collection AgenciesElite Recovery Services | Collection agency | See what to do |
| Collection AgenciesErin Services Co., LLC | Collection agency | See what to do |
| Collection AgenciesAccounts Retrievable System, LLC | Collection agency | See what to do |
Banks that sue in their own name
Collection law firms file and handle lawsuits for creditors and debt buyers. The law firm's name is often on the court papers, but the plaintiff is usually the debt buyer or bank.
05 Banks
Why business owners call Tariq Law PC
Tariq Law PC is a New York litigation firm focused on debt defense and consumer protection. We read the contract, we read the lawsuit, and we tell you plainly what your options look like — settle, fight, or both. No pressure and no promises we can't keep. Results depend on the facts of each case.
Behind on a business debt or already sued? Send us the paperwork and we'll take a look
Debt buyer, collection agency or law firm: what is the difference?
| Compare | Debt buyer | Collection agency | Collection law firm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owns your account? | Usually yes | Usually no | No |
| What they do | Buys old debts, then collects or sues | Calls and writes for the owner | Files and handles lawsuits |
| Name on court papers | Often the plaintiff | Rarely | Listed as the plaintiff's attorney |
| What to ask for | Proof it owns your account | Who it collects for | The contract and account records |
Got a letter or lawsuit from one of these companies? Do this first
01.
Check what you received. A letter, a call and court papers are not the same. Court papers have a deadline.
02.
Find your deadline. If you were sued in New York, you generally have 20 days to answer if the papers were handed to you in person, or 30 days if they were served another way.
03.
Do not ignore it. If you miss the deadline, the collector can get a default judgment and may then try to freeze your bank account or garnish your wages.
04.
Ask for proof. You can dispute the debt in writing and ask for validation. Under the FDCPA, a collector must send a validation notice within 5 days after first contacting you.
05.
Get a free case review. We can look at your papers and explain your options.
How do I check if I have been sued in New York?
Sometimes people learn about a lawsuit only after their bank account is frozen. You can search New York court records online:
Cases in NYC Civil Court and other local courts
case information across New York courts
e-filed cases, mostly in Supreme Court
Search by your name and county. If you find a case you did not know about, contact us right away.
New York rules that protect you from debt collectors
3-year limit
3-year limit. Under the Consumer Credit Fairness Act, most consumer credit lawsuits must be filed within 3 years, and a later payment does not restart that clock.
Proof up front
Proof up front. Creditors must attach the contract or account agreement to the complaint.
7 In 7
Call limits Under federal Regulation F, a collector is presumed to be harassing you if it calls more than 7 times within 7 days about a debt.
$1,000
Your right to sue. A collector that breaks the FDCPA may owe actual damages, up to $1,000 in statutory damages and attorney's fees.
Read more about a debt collection lawsuit, a frozen bank account, debt collector harassment or our FDCPA violations checklist. If the debt is not yours, see our identity theft page. If a collector keeps robocalling you, see robocalls and unwanted texts.
Frequently asked questions
Who is this debt collector and why are they contacting me?
Most companies that contact New Yorkers about old debts are debt buyers, collection agencies or collection law firms. Find the company in the list above to see what type it is, then check your letter for the original creditor and the amount claimed.
What is the difference between a debt buyer and a collection agency?
A debt buyer purchases old accounts, often for a small part of the balance, and then tries to collect them or sues in its own name. A collection agency collects on behalf of someone else. A collection law firm files and handles lawsuits for creditors and debt buyers.
A debt collector sued me in New York. How long do I have to respond?
Generally 20 days if the papers were handed to you in person, or 30 days if they were served another way. Some courts outside New York City have different deadlines. If you miss the deadline, the collector can ask for a default judgment.
Can a debt collector sue me for a debt that is more than 3 years old?
Under New York's Consumer Credit Fairness Act, most consumer credit lawsuits must be filed within 3 years, and a later payment does not restart that clock. If the debt is older, you may have a defense.
How can I check if a debt collector is legitimate?
Ask for a written validation notice, compare it with your own records, and check whether the company is licensed with the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection if you live in New York City. You can also search the CFPB complaint database.
What if the company that contacted me is not on this list?
Contact us anyway. We review letters, calls and lawsuits from collectors that are not listed here.
Tariq Law, PC. is located in the heart of New York City at 99 Park Avenue, footsteps from the iconic Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. We serve clients primarily in New York, New Jersey, and in federal courts across the United States.
In order to evaluate your particular circumstances, please reach out to us to schedule an individual case review. Using this site or communicating with an attorney does not establish an attorney-client relationship, which can only be established in writing and signed by the lawyer and the client.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This website is for informational purposes only.
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