LINEBARGER GOGGAN BLAIR SAMPSON LLP

2019-12-09

Glendale, CO

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Other debt

Debt is not yours
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-12-05

Pryse, KY

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Other debt

Debt is not yours
Complaint: I received a debt collection letter in the mail written on XX/XX/XXXX by Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP. This letter claimed that I owed {$42.00} for a parking ticket dated on XX/XX/XXXX. I never received a parking ticket on XX/XX/XXXX so I wrote back a dispute letter on XX/XX/XXXX stating that I never received a parking ticket on that date and that I wanted proper validation from Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP proving that the debt was truly mine ( USPS Certified Mail Return Receipt proves that Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP received my dispute letter on XX/XX/XXXX ). I did not receive a response letter from Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP until XX/XX/XXXX stating that XXXX XXXX XXXX Parking Violation Collection was the original creditor. They also sent me two pictures, one of a license plate number and one that was blurry and indistinguishable. They claim that this is a picture of my license plate and of my dash without a parking receipt. The license plate picture they sent me does not match the number of the documentation they sent me. The license plate does not belong to me nor has it ever belonged to me. Upon further investigation I found that the license plate photo they sent me belongs to XXXX XXXX XXXX with vin # XXXX. I have never owned this vehicle nor have I ever driven this vehicle thus it is impossible for this alleged ticket to belong to me. I sent back a letter on XX/XX/XXXX demanding that Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP cease and desist all collection activities and that if they fail to do so I will sue them for breaking the Fair Credit Reporting Act Laws.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-11-12

Newport News, VA

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Other debt

Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-11-08

Temperanceville, VA

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Other debt

Debt is not yours
Complaint: Hello CFPB Staff, I recently received a notice from a debt collection agency claiming to be collecting on an unpaid toll fee for the XXXX XXXX XXXX company. The notice cited that I owed the company - Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLC - {$80.00}. The notice references the license plate, XXXX, for a car I previously owned ( sold in XX/XX/2019 ). I never took an XXXX XXXX XXXX toll in the car referenced and never received any toll notices from the XXXX XXXX XXXX company for that car. I was unable to find any record on the company 's website. I reached out to them and have yet to receive a reply. I am concerned that this debt collection attempt is fraudulent because : ( 1 ) I never took an XXXX XXXX XXXX toll with the vehicle referenced, license plate # XXXX, MN. ( 2 ) I never received any notices from the XXXX XXXX XXXX company about any toll violations for that vehicle. ( 3 ) There's no record of the toll violation on the XXXX XXXX XXXX company 's website. ( 4 ) A cursory internet search of the debt collection agency gives me reason to suspect that the debt notice is possibly illegitimate. Pertinent Information : Account # : XXXX. Clint Code : XXXX. Online Payment Number : XXXX. License : XXXX, MN. Date of Notice Letter : XX/XX/2019. Debt Collection Agency : Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP. XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX. XXXX. Thank you.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-11-06

Brooklyn, NY

Took or threatened to take negative or legal action

Debt collection: Medical debt

Threatened to sue you for very old debt
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-10-25

Providence, RI

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Other debt

Debt is not yours
Complaint: On XX/XX/2019, I received a letter in the mail from the law firm of Linebarger, Goggan, Blair, & Sampson re : " Notice of Debt ''. The letter was dated XX/XX/2019, and written by XXXX XXXX, allegedly a partner at that firm. The notice states that the firm is a debt collector, and that I have an outstanding debt of {$51.00} for delinquent tolls and " associated fees ''. They did not threaten to file a lawsuit. The end of the letter quotes passages from the Thruway Authority regulations in order to scare the recipient of the letter into paying without further question of the validity. A website, XXXX, is given for payment. I also received a Client Code ( XXXX ), and an Online Payment Number ( XXXX ). This letter is a scam. I have driven in New York a few times, and always paid my tolls immediately through the valid site, which is NOT XXXX, but XXXX. I have not driven in the state for over a year. The website the letter sends the recipient to is simply the website of the law firm, NOT the New York Thruway system. The letter scams recipients into believing that they are delinquent on a toll. In each legitimate toll bill I have received before, the date, time, and often a picture of the car are included in the message. None of these is included here.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-10-16

Brooklyn, NY

False statements or representation

Debt collection: Other debt

Impersonated attorney, law enforcement, or government official
Complaint: I received 2 notices in the mail to pay a toll violation debt. I know it is fake because the license plate is obsolete, all violations have been paid, and I have an EZ PASS prepaid toll pass. The letterhead is in XXXX but the mailing address is XXXX Their website is designed only for payments and nothing else. When I searched for this violation on the XXXX state toll website, there were no matching records for this license plate, violation number, or reference number. I think this is a scam firm trying to collect fake debts from gullible people.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-10-11

Detroit, MI

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Other debt

Debt is not yours
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-10-09

Gages Lake, IL

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Medical debt

Debt is not yours
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-10-07

Santa Ysabel, CA

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Other debt

Debt was paid
Complaint: The XXXX Lanes - known as XXXX have repeatedly attempted to call me, sent me threatening letters and forced me to pay a fee for the XXXX account which I no longer have. They confirmed by email, and I had copies of the statement, showing that the " collection closed '' and that I have made and deactivated the account since XX/XX/2019 ( see copies enclosed ). Yet, I just now got a letter from their collection agency, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, stating that I owed {$80.00} as of XX/XX/2019 and that I need to make a payment within 30 days. Where does all of this ends? How can we allow these crooks to operate such way. Who regulates company like XXXX XXXX XXXX? How could collection agencies collect a " non-existing '' debt and threatened consumers? Are they using my information to intimidate and bullied me for other purposes?
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-10-01

Watkins, CO

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Other debt

Debt was paid
Complaint: In XX/XX/XXXX, my wife parked her car in a parking lot and for whatever reason, ( I think she forgot to have her parking tag displayed ), she received a parking ticket. In XX/XX/XXXX, she paid the fee. The car is registered in her name with the State of Colorado and always has been, back to XX/XX/XXXX. Now, in XX/XX/XXXX, firm " Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP '' ( 'the firm ' ) have started mailing me, husband, for collection of the fees that were already paid by wife. 1. Based on the fact that we already paid the fees, we don't intend to pay them again. 2. Based on the sketchy fact that 'the firm ' has contact me, husband, instead of the owner of the car, wife, indicates to me that this is a questionable collection process as well as a questionable fee. 3. Reputation wise, a search of 'the firm ' online reveals that they're collection processes are questionable, un-ethical, and not based on accurate un-paid fees. 4. Do I really believe that the parking lot wouldn't have contacted us in XX/XX/XXXX, or XX/XX/XXXX, or XX/XX/XXXX???? No. This seems like a law firm got ahold of old data and they're looking for suckers who will be intimidated and send money to this company. 5. Given how sketchy this collection firm is, there's no reason why I'd ever let them near my bank account information via me sending them a check, or me paying via a credit card at their website. They're an identity theft waiting to happen. 6. The paperwork sent to me has no mention of the CFPB as a notification of customer rights or recourse for action. If they want to avoid the CFPB, they're probably not reputable.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-09-24

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: I do not know

Debt is not yours
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-09-12

Arlington, TX

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Other debt

Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-09-09

NC

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Other debt

Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Complaint: On XX/XX/2019, a " Notice of Delinquent XXXX Account '' letter was sent to me by Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLC, claiming that I owe {$79.00} to the New York State XXXX XXXX. On XX/XX/2019, I sent a letter to the above named firm disputing the debt and requesting that they provide me with verification documents. I moved out of NY state in XX/XX/XXXX, so I have substantial reason to question the validity of the claim made. The firm did not reply to my request for verification. Instead, they send on XX/XX/2019, a " Second Notice ''. Both Federal and State ( NY ) law require that the collection activity stop once a request for verification has been submitted and remain in abeyance until such verification has been provided. This firm has violated those statutes and has not provided any such verification in reply to my request and is continuing the collection process.
Company Response: Company believes complaint is the result of an isolated error Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-08-28

Joliet, IL

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Other debt

Debt is not yours
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-08-14

Berthoud, CO

Communication tactics

Debt collection: I do not know

You told them to stop contacting you, but they keep trying
Complaint: I am being harassed by a collection agency named Linebarger Goggon Blair and Sampson. They have repeatedly called my home number even though I have informed them that they have the wrong number. They have called 5 times in the last two weeks and probably 20 times in the last 3 months. I have politely told them they have the wrong number, but they ignore me and demand my personal information. They ask for a person that doesn't live here and get rude when I tell them that no one by that name lives here. I am a XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX veteran living on a fixed income and the calls are triggering my XXXX. Luckily this morning I was able to jump on my bike for a ride to calm down. I thought there were laws about collection agency harassment.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-08-10

Sioux City, IA

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: I do not know

Debt is not yours
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-08-07

Greensboro, NC

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Other debt

Debt is not yours
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-08-05

Fairport, NY

Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly

Debt collection: Other debt

Talked to a third-party about your debt
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-08-02

CO

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: I do not know

Debt was already discharged in bankruptcy and is no longer owed
Complaint: call came from Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, lady asked for me by name, wanted me to giver her my address to verify, I refused unless she told me what it was regarding, she said she couldn't tell me unless I verified my address, I told them not to call me again. my caller ID shows they have call everyday the last month. I have a mortgage and no other debt.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-07-28

Foothill Ranch, CA

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Other debt

Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Complaint: I received a letter dated XX/XX/XXXX from Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson LLP ( hereinafter 'debt collectors ' ) and titled : 'DEMAND FOR PAYMENT ' regarding 3 alleged toll violations from XXXX. In response to this initial contact, on XX/XX/XXXX, I sent a written debt validation letter via facsimile and U.S. postal. The written response requested that Debt Collectors validate the debt in question ( see sample debt validation letter that I used as reference to my written request https : XXXX ). In short, within 30 days of the Debt Collectors contact ( viz. XX/XX/XXXX letter ), I responded with a written request to validate the debt in question, which I sent via fax to the number provided on the original DEMAND FOR PAYMENT letter and via U.S. Postal ( proof of service available for each method of delivery ). However, the Debt Collector did not send ANY proof of the debt or respond to any of the requests outlined in my written request to validate the debt in question. Instead, said Debt Collectors sent another DEMAND FOR PAYMENT LETTER dated XX/XX/XXXX. In short, because Debt Collectors did not send me any proof of the debt, their future collection efforts, as evidenced by the XX/XX/XXXX DEMAND FOR PAYMENT letter, violate my rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and to that end, I submit this complaint.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-07-22

Tarzana, CA

Took or threatened to take negative or legal action

Debt collection: I do not know

Seized or attempted to seize your property
Complaint: I reported this issue before to the same CFPB against the city of XXXX XXXX for fraudulent procedures their parking employees use to generate parking tickets as they did with 2 of my vehicles I don't longer own. Please refer to my Dispute letter I have against Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson it looks they are an Debt collector Attorney as they tried to collect a dispute charge I did it in the past.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-07-11

Honolulu, HI

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: I do not know

Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-07-09

Discovery Bay, CA

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: I do not know

Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Complaint: on the date of XX/XX/XXXX i received a debt from the XXXX XXXX county court created a debt to the defendant XXXX XXXX the defendant on XX/XX/XXXX attempted to have debt verification pursuant to statute 609 and USC 15 1692 ( g ) and this was on XX/XX/XXXX and made a second attempt to linebarger and did not properly this was created by judge XXXX XXXX XXXX and failed to verify the debt within 30 days this was sent through certified mail and would like to see disciplinary or removal of the derogatory debt from my name XXXX and was unverified and should be removed as the pursuant the above code
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2019-06-25

Niverville, NY

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Other debt

Debt was paid
Complaint: *On XX/XX/XXXX I received a collection notice from Linebarger Goggan Blair and Simpson LLP ( LGBS ) in an attempt to collect a debt on behalf of XXXX XXXX. The notice was dated XX/XX/XXXX and the account number on the notice is # XXXX. The debit is in the amount of {$46.00} ; *On XX/XX/XXXX I contacted LGBS by telephone to explain that the transponder was returned to XXXX XXXX XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX when I sold my vehicle ( and did not purchase a replacement vehicle so I had no need for a transponder ). I explained that the transponder was returned and did not owe any fees related to it. The individual I spoke with stated that I needed to dispute the debt in writing by sending a letter to LGBS which I did on XX/XX/XXXX ( letter uploaded ). In that letter I indicated I was disputing the claim as the transponder had already been returned and I requested a transaction history showing the charges that were assessed after the return of the transponder. *I was never provided with any information about the disputed debt by LGBS or XXXX XXXX however, I received an invoice from XXXX XXXX dated XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX I wrote yet another letter to LGBS ( also attached ) that I disputed the debt and I was again disputing the debt until I was provided with irrefutable documentation to support the collection claim ( which would not exist as I returned the transponder in XX/XX/XXXX ). In that letter I stated that if the matter was not resolved in accordance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act I would escalate this issue to a regulatory agency. Again, I never received a response to my letter disputing the debt for a second time. *Yesterday ( XX/XX/XXXX ) I received a SECOND NOTICE from LGBS regarding the debt. Ironically, the Notice states, " You have failed to respond to our correspondence and we are assuming this debit is valid ''. In actuality, I responded three times to dispute the debt ; a telephone call on XX/XX/XXXX followed by a letter date that same day as well as another letter dated XX/XX/XXXX. *I strongly believe that LGBS should be fined for non-compliance with the FDCPA due to their careless disregard of the Act and my rights under the Act. If they are doing this to me, they are obviously taking the same tactics with other consumers many of whom may not know their rights.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response