Aldridge Pite Haan APH Collections Complaints? Calling, Harassing You?

Is Aldridge Pite Haan legit? Are they a scam?

Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP or APH is a law firm based in Georgia that specializes in real estate and property management law, including third-party debt and asset collection. Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including threatening to take actions that cannot legally be taken and attempting to collect debts not owed. If you have been contacted by Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP, make sure you understand your rights before taking action.

According to its website, Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP “is a multi-state law firm…and a full-service provider of legal services to depository and non-depository financial institutions.” Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP “is dedicated to providing best-in-class representation across all of its practice areas through its unwavering subscription to” partnership, integrity, and innovation.”

As a law office, Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP is uniquely positioned to pursue legal action against potential debtors, including law suits in court, obtaining interest bearing judgments against debtors, and pursuing wage garnishments based on those judgments. Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP’s multi-state presence allows it to pursue legal judgments against debtors in numerous states, including Illinois, Tennessee, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Oregon, Washington, North Carolina, and others.

Who does Aldridge Pite Haan collect for?

Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP represents national and regional banks, automobile financing lenders, hospitals, medical service providers, debt buyers, and other lenders and financial institutions.

As a third-party debt collection agency, Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP is required to adhere to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a federal law that protects consumers from abusive debt collection tactics. Nevertheless, consumers have filed complaints accusing Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP of violating the FDCPA. Those accusations have included claims that the debt collection agency has threatened to sue consumers without actually intending to do so and talking to third parties about consumers’ debts. It’s imperative that you know your rights under the law before speaking with Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP debt collectors.

Reviews: How many complaints have been filed against Aldridge Pite Haan?

Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), though the BBB currently lists a “B-” rating for Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP. The BBB currently lists 34 complaints against Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP in the past three years, 23 of which have been resolved in the last 12 months. 26 of these complaints alleged problems with billing and collections practices, while the remaining eight complaints alleged problems with services provided by Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP. Since November 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has received 153 complaints against Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP. 94 of these complaints contained allegations related to Aldridge Pite Haan, LLP’s debt collection practices, while 55 complaints contained allegations related to mortgage collections. In addition, Justia, one of the largest online legal databases in the United States, lists at least 10 federal cases of civil litigation involving APH

Aldridge Pite Haan harassing you?

If you’ve been contacted by APH you have the right to sue them in federal court if the debt collection agency has violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Signs that you may be on solid legal footing are:

• The debt collection agency called you several times in a single week
• A debt collector calls you before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.
• You’ve told the debt collection agency that you can’t receive calls at work, but they call anyway
• The debt collection agency is threatening to sue you
• A debt collector has disclosed information about your debt to family members, coworkers, or friends
• The debt collection agency is asking you to pay collection fees
• A debt collector swears at you or calls you names

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was put into law in order to protect consumers like you, but there’s a catch. While the government sues debt collection agencies that egregiously violate the law, it doesn’t sue agencies on behalf of individual consumers. Instead, the FDCPA has what’s called a fee-shifting provision. This means that, if you sue and win, then the debt collection agency has to pay your court costs and attorney fees. Fee-shifting levels the playing field so that you can assert your rights.

Are you asking yourself…

Why is Aldridge Pite Haan calling me?

Aldridge Pite Haan could be calling for a number of reasons, all of them related to debt collection:

• They could be collecting a debt on behalf of a creditor. For example, your dentist may have hired the agency to collect on a past due dental bill.
• They may be calling about a debt incurred by someone you don’t know. For example, it could be a wrong number call or your phone number could have been previously owned by the person who actually owes the debt.
• They could be calling to ask the whereabouts of someone you know. For example, they may believe that a family member of yours owes a debt and they’re trying to get a hold of his or her phone number or find out where he/she works.
• They may be trying to get you to make a small payment on a time-barred debt in order to restart the clock on the statute of limitations. For example, they could have purchased a very old bundle of uncollected cell phone bills that are legally unenforceable; convincing a consumer to pay even a dollar makes the debt current again.

If you’ve been contacted by APH it’s important to know your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. If they’ve violated your rights, you can take the agency to court and sue for statutory damages of up to $1,000 – along with court costs and attorney fees.

Can Aldridge Pite Haan sue me?

Yes. Aldridge Pite Haan can sue you if you owe the debt, however, threatening to sue or serve you with papers if they don’t intend to do so is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Additionally, after receiving the first collection notice, you have 30 days to dispute the debt. If you dispute the debt, then APH is required by the FDCPA to prove that you do, in fact, owe the money. A debt collection agency isn’t allowed to sue you if, for example, the debt is past the statute of limitations or if you do not legally owe the debt. It’s a good idea to speak with a fair debt attorney if you’ve been served with a summons or legal complaint.

Can Aldridge Pite Haan garnish my wages?

Yes. However, Aldridge Pite Haan cannot threaten you to garnish your wages and garnishment can only only occur if APH files a lawsuit and obtains a judgment against you. It’s common for consumers to ignore notice of a lawsuit; if you don’t appear in court, the judge may automatically rule against you. Debt collection agencies have been known to avoid serving consumers with notice to increase the odds of obtaining a judgment. This is called “sewer service” or “gutter service.” The bottom line? If wage garnishment takes you by surprise, talk to a consumer attorney who can fight for your rights.

Can Aldridge Pite Haan report my debt to the Credit Bureaus?

Yes. Aldridge Pite Haan can report debts in collection to the three major credit reporting agencies – Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Once a debt is reported to the credit bureaus, it will appear on your credit report and will impact your credit score.

Can Aldridge Pite Haan put a lien on my house or property?

Yes. However, as with wage garnishment, a property lien can only arise out of a court judgment against you. If APH files a lawsuit against you and the judge rules in their favor, then the debt collection agency has a right to collect that money. One way of doing that is by putting a lien on your house or property. That’s why it’s imperative to respond to legal papers and to have an attorney by your side who will fight on your behalf.

Can Aldridge Pite Haan arrest me?

No. Aldridge Pite Haan – or any other debt collection agency like APH for that matter – has no authority whatsoever to arrest you. In fact, threatening you with arrest or jail is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. While so-called “debtors prisons” are illegal, only non-payment of things like traffic tickets can lead a judge to issue a bench warrant, which in turn can lead to arrest.

Can I sue Aldridge Pite Haan?

Yes. You absolutely have the right to sue Aldridge Pite Haan if you believe APH violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The FDCPA says that debt collection agencies that violate the law must pay consumers up to $1,000 in statutory damages, as well as court costs and attorney fees. That’s why engaging a fair debt attorney to represent you in an FDCPA lawsuit typically doesn’t cost you anything out of pocket. The attorney that agrees to take on your case knows that the debt collection agency will be forced to pay their fees.

Ready to fight for your rights?

If Aldridge Pite Haan – or any other debt collection agency – is calling you to the point of harassment, using abusive or profane language, or violating the FDCPA in some other way, it’s time to fight back. Under the law, you may be entitled to up to $1,000. At Lemberg Law, we won’t charge you a dime out of pocket, and we only get paid when you win. Call us today for a free, no-obligation, case evaluation. We’ll get the justice that you deserve.