Someone from this number 1-716-725-6151 keeps calling my mom and my sister asking for me.  I finally called and some other guy other than the one who contacted my relatives threatening me with taking me to court for a loan that i paid off 2 yrs ago.  They say i owe $1200 and will settle for $600.  I've never gotten a loan from a Cash advance for $600.  The guy name is Anthony Cordeo form the Solomon and
Strauss law firm with doesn't exist.

Claims to be from a law firm.

yeah you're an imcompetent jack***..you must work for these guys...

You must be a voice for this company obviously..these guys at Soloman Strauss are a scam trying to extort money out of people. They've been calling me for months saying they've sent me letters in the mail since June 09. Never received any letters..and if they were any kind of law firm they would've sent me them certified mail, registered return card..which I never received any..

A few months back i recieved a phone call from the bogus law firm claiming i owed over $1700. on a old payday loan.  I do remember taking out a payday loan but never for anything near this amount.  I also know there are fees and whatnot that i do owe but all in all this loan was for $150.  at first i agreed to pay this $1700. out of fear,  The " law firm" sounded official and used tactics that put a little bit of a scare into me. After thinking about this for a few days on whether i would actually pay this insane amount I contacted my brother in law who is a real attorney and told him this crazy story.  I then had him call on 2 occasions pretending to be a debtor to see what kind of laws this so called firm was breaking.  After taking his advice he sent me to a lawyer buddy who deals with these type of cases.  My new lawyer has spoke to 1 guy that on seperate occasions has said he was an "attorney", a payment processor and a attorneys assistant.  Facts are that this place is not an attorneys office at all, they do not work with attorneys or never have.  My lawyer has this company breaking numerous laws on recording and we will be sueing them.  After doing some investigating on my own I have found out that the owner is named Jason Stroeline who lives in the Buffalo, New York area.  Facts are he owns many of these fictious companys and will break whatever law they have to to make him money.  If anyone has had the same experience with these jerks please leave your email on this site,  I can forward my lawyers number to you so he can recommend an attorney in whatever area you are in to take these lowlifes off the map and have them end up in jail where they belong.  Don not let these jerks scare you and over power you like they almost did to me.  Everything they are doing is illegal so stand up for yourself and dont become a victim.

100 Bryant Woods South Amherst, NY 14228
(716)881-5222 - (800)828-5000 - FAX: (716)883-5349 ----this is the closest location for the Better Business Bureau in the area on this New York collection/"law firm"

55 St. Paul Street
Rochester, NY 14604
800-828-5000 ------this is also a office branch that is located within hours of this "law firm"

Record all calls these morons make to you because they will stand up in a court of law if you choose to sue these arrogant idiots!!!!

Its apparent that this post is untrue. Most likely a post by someone from this "company" The reason I know this is that payday loans are NOT reported to any of the three credit bureaus because they are not even legal and do not have to be repayed!!!

The reason that you cannot not find this establishment with the BBB Is because they're not registered with the BBB. Now reggie let me ask you this, why would a company not want to register with the Better Business Bureau?  Well probably due to the fact that they donnot employ ethical and or legal practices. And to answer your first question. They are located in Buffalo ny, capital of collection agencies. I have made a career of nailing these types of "businesses" to the wall. They are just another collection agency with no supporting legal muscle trying to liquidate "payday loans" which you as a consumer have no legal obligation to repay. So the next time they call you reggie, inform them that you are recording the conversation. You would like debt validation sent to you and want them to cease and desist contacting you. (youll have to send this to them in writing that way when they contact you again you can sue them).

No they do not have attorneys working for them. This is just another collection agency llc posing as either a law firm or implying that they have attorneys working for them. If this were the case they would act in a much more professional and ethical manner.the difference is that an LLC is a hybrid business entity having certain characteristics of both a corporation and a partnership or sole proprietorship (depending on how many owners there are). An LLC, although a business entity, is a type of unincorporated association and is not a corporation. The reason that the vast majority of these collection agencies do posses a LLC is the belief that they will not be held legally responsible for breaking the fdcpa or violating other state/ federal laws with regards to consumers rights. It is important to understand that limited liability does not imply that owners are always fully protected from personal liabilities. Courts can and will pierce the corporate veil of corporations (or LLCs) when some type of fraud or misrepresentation is involved!!!!!!!!!! Also you CANNOT legally be pursued for "payday loans" In most states they are illegal to start with and in the few states that they are permitted they dont have a legal leg to stand on.  Their is no substantial proof of the particular consumer taking out this "predatory loan". ALL In ALL, this establishment is just another fraudulant and illegal collection agency not acting within the realm of the law. FYI consumers, every time the fdcpa is violated its a $1000 fine and possible lawsuit for you. Could be a lucritive venture to pursue this "company" and their "attorneys"

Where did the Solomon and strauss company say that they were from? We got a phone call from them to and I want to verify them but can't find anything on google or better business bureau

I just had very lengthy convesation with a mr. wells on the phone. This man is the most unprofessional person I have ever talked to. I have talked with a lot of lawyers running my business and I have never had a lawyer out right call me a dead beat. This matter is now in the Hands of the BBB, FTC, and the MI State Attourney Generals Office. The State of Michigan is investigating 51 cases of Known unprofesssional harrasment from this company. If you have a problem contact your States Attourney General and file a formal written complaint.

are they legit?

Most of the posts sound like they are employees trying to scam others into paying a non-existent debt.
Far too many "they were helpful" posts and bs about judgements - but no mention of actually being sued or any previous attempts to collect the debt.  

CHECK THEM OUT WITH THE NY ATTORNEY GENERAL  use this SPECIAL Link  www.NYDebtHelp.com


Demand they properly validate the debt
Demand they prove CHAIN OF TITLE


1) Never assume they have a VALID DEBT OR LEGAL RIGHT TO COLLECT
 
2) Debt collectors MUST FOLLOW your STATE laws regarding licensing.  Check your Secretary of State for licensing requirements for ANY collection agency that contacts you

Debt Collectors DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION!    
The INFORMED CONSUMER IS THE DEBT COLLECTORS WORST ENEMY!

THE CORRECT WAY TO HANDLE COLLECTION CALLS AND ILLEGAL TACTICS

READ DEALING WITH DEBT COLLECTORS, RECORDING CALLS AND STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS BY STATE

You can also post your questions here http://www.collectorsexposed.com/forum/   NEW URL!    

These links are to attorneys for those being scammed www.naca.net or http://www.consumerjustice.com/consumer/searchattorneys.aspx


Dealing with Debt Collectors
Http://www.budhibbs.com/First.htm    
    
Statute of Limitations by State ? always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/statute_of_limitations.htm

Recording calls from Debt Collectors - always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/record.htm


From Federal Trade Commission Website ? FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT
Debt Collection FAQs: A Guide for Consumers
If you?re behind in paying your bills, or a creditor?s records mistakenly make it appear that you are, a debt collector may be contacting you.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation?s consumer protection agency, enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect from you.
Under the FDCPA, a debt collector is someone who regularly collects debts owed to others. This includes collection agencies, lawyers who collect debts on a regular basis, and companies that buy delinquent debts and then try to collect them.
Here are some questions and answers about your rights under the Act.

What types of debts are covered?
The Act covers personal, family, and household debts, including money you owe on a personal credit card account, an auto loan, a medical bill, and your mortgage. The FDCPA doesn?t cover debts you incurred to run a business.

Can a debt collector contact me any time or any place?
No. A debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 in the morning or after 9 at night, unless you agree to it. And collectors may not contact you at work if they?re told (orally or in writing) that you?re not allowed to get calls there.

How can I stop a debt collector from contacting me?
If a collector contacts you about a debt, you may want to talk to them at least once to see if you can resolve the matter ? even if you don?t think you owe the debt, can?t repay it immediately, or think that the collector is contacting you by mistake. If you decide after contacting the debt collector that you don?t want the collector to contact you again, tell the collector ? in writing ? to stop contacting you. Here?s how to do that:
Make a copy of your letter. Send the original by certified mail, and pay for a ?return receipt? so you?ll be able to document what the collector received. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again, with two exceptions: a collector can contact you to tell you there will be no further contact or to let you know that they or the creditor intend to take a specific action, like filing a lawsuit. Sending such a letter to a debt collector you owe money to does not get rid of the debt, but it should stop the contact. The creditor or the debt collector still can sue you to collect the debt.

Can a debt collector contact anyone else about my debt?
If an attorney is representing you about the debt, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you don?t have an attorney, a collector may contact other people ? but only to find out your address, your home phone number, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting third parties more than once. Other than to obtain this location information about you, a debt collector generally is not permitted to discuss your debt with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your attorney.

What does the debt collector have to tell me about the debt?
Every collector must send you a written ?validation notice? telling you how much money you owe within five days after they first contact you. This notice also must include the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, and how to proceed if you don?t think you owe the money.

Can a debt collector keep contacting me if I don?t think I owe any money?
If you send the debt collector a letter stating that you don?t owe any or all of the money, or asking for verification of the debt, that collector must stop contacting you. You have to send that letter within 30 days after you receive the validation notice. But a collector can begin contacting you again if it sends you written verification of the debt, like a copy of a bill for the amount you owe.

What practices are off limits for debt collectors?
Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, they may not:
    use threats of violence or harm;
    publish a list of names of people who refuse to pay their debts (but they can give this information to the credit reporting companies);
    use obscene or profane language; or
    repeatedly use the phone to annoy someone.

False statements. Debt collectors may not lie when they are trying to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
    falsely claim that they are attorneys or government representatives;
    falsely claim that you have committed a crime;
    falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit reporting company;
    misrepresent the amount you owe;
    indicate that papers they send you are legal forms if they aren?t; or
    indicate that papers they send to you aren?t legal forms if they are.

Debt collectors also are prohibited from saying that:
    you will be arrested if you don?t pay your debt;
    they?ll seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages unless they are permitted by law to take the action and intend to do so; or
    legal action will be taken against you, if doing so would be illegal or if they don?t intend to take the action.

Debt collectors may not:
    give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit reporting company;
    send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency if it isn?t; or
    use a false company name.

Unfair practices. Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
    try to collect any interest, fee, or other charge on top of the amount you owe unless the contract that created your debt ? or your state law ? allows the charge;
    deposit a post-dated check early;
    take or threaten to take your property unless it can be done legally; or
    contact you by postcard.

Can I control which debts my payments apply to?
Yes. If a debt collector is trying to collect more than one debt from you, the collector must apply any payment you make to the debt you select. Equally important, a debt collector may not apply a payment to a debt you don?t think you owe.

Can a debt collector garnish my bank account or my wages?
If you don?t pay a debt, a creditor or its debt collector generally can sue you to collect. If they win, the court will enter a judgment against you. The judgment states the amount of money you owe, and allows the creditor or collector to get a garnishment order against you, directing a third party, like your bank, to turn over funds from your account to pay the debt.
Wage garnishment happens when your employer withholds part of your compensation to pay your debts. Your wages usually can be garnished only as the result of a court order. Don?t ignore a lawsuit summons. If you do, you lose the opportunity to fight a wage garnishment.

Can federal benefits be garnished?
Many federal benefits are exempt from garnishment, including:
    Social Security Benefits
    Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
    Veterans? Benefits
    Civil Service and Federal Retirement and Disability Benefits
    Service Members? Pay
    Military Annuities and Survivors? Benefits
    Student Assistance
    Railroad Retirement Benefits
    Merchant Seamen Wages
    Longshoremen?s and Harbor Workers? Death and Disability Benefits
    Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Benefits
    Compensation for Injury, Death, or Detention of Employees of U.S. Contractors Outside the U.S.
    Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Disaster Assistance
But federal benefits may be garnished under certain circumstances, including to pay delinquent taxes, alimony, child support, or student loans.

Do I have any recourse if I think a debt collector has violated the law?
You have the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. If you win, the judge can require the collector to pay you for any damages you can prove you suffered because of the illegal collection practices, like lost wages and medical bills. The judge can require the debt collector to pay you up to $1,000, even if you can?t prove that you suffered actual damages. You also can be reimbursed for your attorney?s fees and court costs. A group of people also may sue a debt collector as part of a class action lawsuit and recover money for damages up to $500,000, or one percent of the collector?s net worth, whichever amount is lower. Even if a debt collector violates the FDCPA in trying to collect a debt, the debt does not go away if you owe it.

What should I do if a debt collector sues me?
If a debt collector files a lawsuit against you to collect a debt, respond to the lawsuit, either personally or through your lawyer, by the date specified in the court papers to preserve your rights.

Where do I report a debt collector for an alleged violation?
Report any problems you have with a debt collector to your state Attorney General?s office (www.naag.org) and the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov). Many states have their own debt collection laws that are different from the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Your Attorney General?s office can help you determine your rights under your state?s law.

For More Information
To learn more about debt collection and other credit-related issues, visit www.ftc.gov/credit and MyMoney.gov, the U.S. government?s portal to financial education.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad
February 2009

File complaints with

Federal Trade Commission  https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en

Your State Attorney General
State Attorney General is every state they have offices

Link to all State Attorney General Websites www.naag.org

If you or they are located in NY ? use this SPECIAL Link  www.NYDebtHelp.com
This special website was created by NY AG Andrew Cuomo specifically for reporting illegal debt collection practices.  HE?S CRACKING DOWN AND SHUTTING THEM DOWN!
    
Also report your calls and contacts with debt collectors at http://www.budhibbs.com/index.html  If the company is listed under agencies ? report there. If not on the list YET, click on Watchlist! and add to the list.   You can also post here http://www.collectorsexposed.com/forum2/index.php?board=2.0

I am not convinced about this organization. They called me on 8/30, asked if this was me (which it is), then said they were checking on a reference for a Latrell Dove. I said I do not know a Mr. Dove. He asked if I was sure, I said yes. Then he asks is this Ma__ Br_____ (my name) with a, then rattles off my SSN !!! My Social Sec # !!!! I started questioning him and he hung up. I called back from my cell phone and they were still not forthcoming with information. I do not like the thought of randoms having my SSN. I reported them to my States Attorney General Identity Theft Department. I called them today and was told Mr. Dove is in Los Angeles and I was somehow listed as a contact, they even gave me Mr. Doves last known address. I hope they are on the up and up.

hahahaha serves you right!

I too recieved a call , regarding back taxes i owe.

[This post has been removed]

They are not a law firm, but they do have attorneys that represent them....they do file judgements against people. I can guarentee that....Wanna know how i know?....Cause I have a judgement again me for 2300 for a payday loan and the plantiff is solomon and strauss.I cant afford to pay the 510.00 that i owed now i gotta come up with 2300 to get rid of this court ordered judgement that they filed against me....my suggestion is to pay them before it goes too far.

they are prolly trying to collect a payday loan that you owe. They were really nice and easy to deal with.....call them back they will probably work something out and then the annoying phone calls will stop.

called them and payed my payday loan that i took out in sept. I didnt know who had it and seems their dialer called me yesterday. The dude was coolwith me. Im glad i finally found out what company had my loan. I called the original creditor and they claimed they sold it to someone. I got it taken off my credit report because i paid it. Im happy cause im going to buy a boat later this month and cant have any bad marks against my credit. Just glad it was resolved they were easy to work with.

These guys called my number, im not sure who they are.....sounded important, it prolly is one of my old bills. I am going to call them back and resolve it.....I dont understand why some people on here are complaining they were very polished and effient about locating me. I havent had a phone in years and they called my mother to reach me.

These perople were very professional and nice to deal with I had an old loan that i actually forgot about. I spoke to a MR. Collins who explained the sitaution and asked that i resolve it. He worked with me and set me up on a payment arrangement. I am very pleased to be getting this resolved. This company was very good to deal with and overall I was happy with the result.

these guys called my manager and told her i would be served a sobpena at work if she did not get in touch with me asap.  i called themand the guy was really rude talking about a return check I had for $100.00 two years ago I tried to explain that I was audit from IRS and all funds (bank acct. wages) were attached and i only had money for basic, he claimed to be a sherrif and said the police were on the way to pick me up. I called the county sherrif's office and the clerk of courts and they said they had nothing for me. they worked my nerves so bad I almost had a sezieure that day.  Who can I call to report their collection actions?

These people actually called my house in regards to an old account i had last year. At first I didnt want to pay the account but then the guy I spoke to a Mr. Matthews was really very nice, and explained it just need to be resolved. The account was on my credit report and now its going to be updated because I paid the account. I was really happy with the outcome. He has a job to do and I understood I forgot all about this account. Im glad its paid and I could actually work with a bill collector who wasnt an a***ole.

yeah, there nothing put a couple collectors sitting in a 10 x 10 room with holes in the walls, collecting on debt thats like 10yrs old and theyre nothing but liars!!! they work for no attorney, above a coffee shop, on a street filled with bars, as a matter of fact, U can find the owner of solomon and strauss in one of those bars pretty much anytime after 5pm

These people called me looking for my sister and said she was going to be served with papers from the sheriff if she didn't answer her phone. It was actuallt very harassing. She told me she was an attorney with this company. I asked questions but she said she could not give me much information. Needless to say I was very disturbed and worried about my sister. I called her immediately and she knew nothing about it. Very creepy. How do we stop this??

Not sure when this company called. But they called a family member looking for info on me. She did not give them any. However I called the number back and got voicemail ... awaiting a return call.

I received some stupid voicemail threatening me with a case number and I would be sued for some crap.  I called the County Courthouse where a good friend of mine works and she said there was no such case.

THESE PEOPLE ARE LIERS, don't talk to them or give them any information. THey are scam artist.

I have received several calls from number, they never leave a message.  Today I was home, saw the number on caller ID and picked up the phone.  The guy (that would not give me his name) said that they were looking for someone named Patricia, with a different last name from mine.  I told him that it was not me.  He said yes said the age that this person was and again I told him no.  I told him my age and birth date.  He told me that he thought I was a f____ing liar and just fibbing.  Well needless to say I got very angry and told him that I really did not care what he thought and hung up on him.  I then called him from my cell phone and asked for a supervisor or manager, the person that answered the phone said that he was a supervisor, so I asked for his name.  He said that his name was Chris and that we would take my number out of the database.  So I asked what number and he said the cell number and I told him that this was not the number I was calling about and then he just hung up on me.  I called again, same person answered the phone and told me that I was taking up their production time.  I told him that I did not care I wanted to speak to a manager.  He said that there was not one, so I asked for his full name and name of the company.  He said that the issue had been resolved, which made me more angry, since I had not said anything about it yet.  I waited a few minutes and called again, spoke to someone named David and just wanted them to know that I was contacting the better business bureau and had the recording from the answering machine and my cell phone.  He told me that it was illegal to do that and I said so is what you guys did under FDCPA laws is illegal.  Of course he hung up.

On Dec. 10, 2009 this number called my wife while I was at work.  Wanted contact info on my ex wife who I've been divorced from for almost 18 years, and we have no contact with whatsoever.  The guy very rude and threatening towards my wife telling her she was being recorded and it was a crime to interfere with a social security fraud investigation.  She did not have my ex's number handy, and the guy said maybe he should talk to me as I would have the information he needed, and implied that was because I was probably seeing my ex on the side.  This really upset her, and said she pretty much got into a shouting match with him on the phone at that point. She told me it seemed to her like this guy was just trying to bait her into loosing her temper, which she did.  She eventually found the number to contact my ex in the local phone book and gave it to him.  He thanked her and said he would remove our number from their database.  She asked if he still wanted to speak to me, and if she should have me call and talk to him.  He said no, that he now had the information he needed, and didn't need to speak to me.  She then informed him she would be telling me about all this anyway and hung up.  She then called me at work almost crying because she was so upset by the call, and gave me the number from our caller ID.  I called the number and asked why he was calling and harassing my wife over something my ex supposedly has done.  He denied everything my wife had told me about the rude and threatening nature of his language, and said there was no problem since she had given him the phone number he was looking for, and that he wouldn't be calling us again.  I then asked how he got my number?  He said it was provided to them by the social security administration, which I knew was a lie since my ex never lived at my address or has ever had our phone number.  When I informed him of that fact, he got real quiet for a few seconds.  After that he said again we would not be hearing from him again, mumbled something about taking another call, and hung up.  On arriving home from work she told me in greater detail of what was said during the call, and it enraged me to the point I called the number back in hopes of speaking to who ever this guy's boss is.  I got their voice mail (Solomon and Strauss), and left a message that I wanted to talk to this jerk's superior, but have yet to get a call back.  Not surprised.  If I knew who this guy was, and he was local, would look him up and ask him to step outside and "discuss" the matter man to man.  The whole thing was ridiculous and very upsetting to the both of us.