Did you recently receive a call from 888-305-7775 stating you had debt you need to pay, but you have no clue who is calling. That is Stenger and Stenger. When contacted by a collection agency like Stenger and Stenger, it’s natural to feel a sense of denial or indifference. Both of these approaches are practical. Even small and old debts can haunt you for years, resulting in persistent calls from debt collectors and potential damage to your credit score. Should you pay them? Should you ignore them?
It’s best to address the debt quickly to avoid legal issues and further complications. Stenger and Stenger, like many other debt collection agencies, employ aggressive and unethical tactics to coerce you into paying the debt you owe.
They may instantly call you throughout the day and night and even attempt to reach you through email and social media to intimidate you into paying an alleged debt.
What are Stenger and Stenger?
Stenger and Stenger is a debt collection agency based in Pennsylvania, United States. They specialize in collecting debts on behalf of creditors, including credit card companies, medical providers, and other lenders.
It’s worth noting that debt collection agencies like Stenger and Stenger are subject to federal and state laws regulating their practices. The FDCPA prohibits debt collectors from harassing or abusive tactics while recovering debts.
It’s crucial for debt collectors to follow the guidelines set by the FDCPA and to validate debts before attempting to collect them.
Contact Details
Stenger and Stenger’s contact information is as follows:
Address:
Strenger & Strenger, P.C.
3604 N. Progress Ave
Suite 204
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone
(717) 657-9900
Stenger and Stenger History
Stenger and Stenger was founded in 2002 by Charles Strenger and his son, Craig Strenger. Before starting their agency, Charles Strenger had worked for other debt collection firms, including as a manager.
Since its founding, Stenger and Stenger has become one of central Pennsylvania’s largest debt collection agencies. The company serves clients across various industries, including credit card and utilities, and healthcare.
Despite numerous complaints, the company has taken steps to improve its operations and address consumer concerns, including implementing compliance training programs.
Stenger and Stenger Reviews
Stenger and Stenger have received a lot of negative feedback, so if you are frustrated with them, you are not alone. One customer highlights an issue they never knew existed. The customer allegedly made two payments, but Stenger and Stenger never processed the second payment.
Due to such occurrences, knowing your rights as a customer is essential so that you can protect yourself from aggressive debt collectors.
Reviews
Stenger and Stenger’s Google rating is similarly low at just 1.8 stars out of 5. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has received many consumer complaints about Stenger and Stenger’s debt collection tactics.
The FDCPA prohibits debt collectors from using harassing or abusive tactics, making false statements, or engaging in other unfair practices. If you believe Stenger and Stenger have violated your rights under the FDCPA or other laws, you may be able to take legal action.
BBB Reviews
Stenger and Stenger’s BBB profile rating is only 1,12 out of 5 stars. The BBB has received many consumer complaints regarding this agency’s inappropriate debt collection methods.
Stenger and Stenger have received 89 complaints on their BBB profile over the last three years. Over the past decade, the CFPB has received 157 complaints against them, accusing them of violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Other Reviews
Here are recent reviews for Stenger and Stenger.
Unfortunately, Stenger and Stenger have a poor track record, with a lot of complaints. These complaints range from inadequate communication to invalid validation requests to inaccurate reports.
However, consumers can avoid legal issues and complications by settling their debts on time. This will prevent receiving unnecessary calls from the company and avoid potential damage to their credit scores.
How To Stop Stenger and Stenger
Have you been inundated with calls and letters from Stenger and Stenger, leaving you at your wit’s end? Fear not, as we have a solution for you. Here’s how to put an end to Stenger and Stenger’s relentless debt collection activities.
1. Use The 11 Word Phrase
You can effectively halt any further communication from the debt collector by stating, “Please cease and desist all calls and contact me immediately.” Employing this phrase should prevent the debt collector from contacting you again. In the event that verbal communication proves futile, you can also send a demand letter with the phrase.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) requires debt collectors to respect your request to be left alone. When drafting your cease-and-desist letter, be sure to include your full name, contact information, social security number, and address. It is advisable to send the letter via certified mail, preferably with a return receipt, as this will serve as proof of receipt by the company.
After the debt collector receives your letter, they are prohibited from contacting you unless:
1. They are acknowledging receipt of your letter. In response to your letter, they may send a written communication indicating that they have received your request and will no longer contact you.
2. They are serving you with legal papers. If the debt collector files a lawsuit against you, they are allowed to contact you to inform you of this development.
2. Make Stenger and Stenger Validate the Debt
When contacted by Stenger and Stenger, it’s important to verify the debt before taking any action. Instead of rushing to repay the supposed debt, ask them to validate the debt. The debt collector should send you a debt validation letter containing important details such as:
- your name,
- the creditor’s name,
- the amount you owe, and
- instructions on how to dispute the debt.
If you haven’t received a debt validation letter, request one from Stenger and Stenger. Once you receive it, or if you’ve already received it and the debt seems unfamiliar, obtain your credit report from Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax. Your credit report will contain all of your credit history, allowing you to verify if the debt is genuine. If you find that the debt is not legitimate, contact the credit bureaus to correct the mistake.
How to Tell If It Is a Scam
Detecting a scam can be challenging, especially when scammers are impersonating a legitimate company like Stenger and Stenger. While such incidents are rare, they do occur, and it’s crucial to be aware of the warning signs. An authentic Stenger and Stenger agent will already have your personal information, so if they request it from you, it’s a red flag. Furthermore, if the agent can’t provide satisfactory answers to questions about the debt they are claiming you owe, it is likely a scam.
To avoid falling prey to a scammer, always ask for an employee ID number when contacted by an agent. If the agent can’t produce one, it is a clear indication of a scam. It’s also essential to protect your personal information and avoid sharing it with anyone who contacts you unexpectedly. Another effective way to avoid scammers is by requesting a debt validation letter from the agent.
Note: As per the new regulations, debt collectors must send a Notice of Debt within five days of the first contact. The notice should contain specific details, such as:
- the date of the last invoice or statement provided by the original creditor,
- the date of the last payment made by the debtor,
- the date on which the transaction became a debt, the charge-off date, and
- the judgment date (if applicable).
These dates can help establish whether the statute of limitations applies to the debt. If the notice is incomplete or fails to include any of these details, it is invalid, and the debt cannot be collected.
It’s crucial to understand these regulations, especially because many debt collectors who purchased debts before the new rules were enacted may not have access to all this information. Consequently, they may try to coerce you into admitting that you owe the debt or make you repay it. Therefore, it’s essential to scrutinize any notice of debt you receive to ensure that it complies with the law. If it doesn’t, write back to the agency and let them know that you will not engage in any further discussions until they send a Notice of Debt that complies with Regulation F.
3. Confirm the Statute of Limitations on the Debt
If you have an outstanding debt, it’s crucial to check whether the statute of limitations has expired. Every debt has a specific time limit during which a creditor or debt collector can legally pursue legal action against you to recover the debt. To determine whether your debt is time-barred, you need to verify the statute of limitations for your particular debt. Check the date of your debt and compare it to your state’s statute of limitations. By looking at the statute of limitations for each state, you can find out your state’s specific limitations.
The statute of limitations begins from the date when the creditor reported the debt as delinquent. However, acknowledging the debt or making a payment will restart the statute of limitations. While failing to pay will not remove the debt account from your credit history, the statute of limitations will remain in place until seven years pass. Therefore, if your debt is almost up for the statute of limitations, it may be wise to wait it out depending on your debt, the amount, and your financial situation.
4. Act
When facing debt collection from Stenger and Stenger, you have two options: pay the debt or dispute it.
Paying the Debt
Paying off the debt is your first option, but this is only advisable if the debt is yours, valid, and within the statute of limitations. If you have enough money, you can choose to pay the debt in full, but be sure to consult Stenger and Stenger to ensure that you’re sending your payments to the right place.
Alternatively, you can consider debt relief options like debt settlement, where a company can negotiate with the collecting company to accept a lump sum payment for less than the outstanding debt. However, be wary of scams, and only work with debt settlement companies that don’t make guarantees beforehand or charge fees before they’ve successfully settled your debt.
Another option is credit counseling, which can provide professional help managing your debt. Finally, you can file for bankruptcy to get your debts forgiven, but this should only be done after careful consideration of your current financial situation.
Disputing the Debt
If you believe that the debt is not yours, you should dispute it. You have 30 days to dispute the debt after being contacted by the company. After 30 days, the debt will be considered valid, and you’ll be held liable for it. When disputing the debt, send a debt validation letter following the template design for notices sent after the Regulation F implementation on November 20, 2021, to ensure that you have the best chance of having the debt invalidated.
Does Stenger and Stenger Sue for Unpaid Debt?
Stenger and Stenger is a debt collection company that is known for suing debtors who fail to pay their debts. It can be a stressful and confusing experience to have a debt collection agency file a lawsuit against you, but there are ways to beat them.
Firstly, it is important to note that Stenger and Stenger usually uses suing as a last resort. They will usually make an initial phone call to notify you of the debt and ask you to settle it. Often, they offer a discounted one-payment alternative if you pay the debt within a specific date. If you do not make your payment, they might call you several times after that, and they might even contact other people to get you to make your payment. They will also report you to credit agencies.
If all their attempts to collect the debt are unsuccessful, they will file a lawsuit against you. However, most debtors do not know that most of these companies may be able to sue them, but they are ill-equipped. These agencies have an attorney who represents them in court, but often these attorneys do not have enough knowledge or documentation on your case since they handle numerous suits. Debtors often make the mistake of feeling intimidated after being sued and fail to appear in court, which results in a default judgment being filed against them.
What You Can Do
If Stenger and Stenger has sued you, it is essential to ensure you appear in court. You should hire an attorney if you can afford one, but if you cannot, you can research how to defend yourself. Either way, ensure you appear in court. Your appearance will show good faith and prevent the company from getting a default judgment against you.
What You Can Avoid
It is crucial to understand that debt collection agencies like Stenger and Stenger get their way in court because their suits go uncontested. Failing to appear in court can result in the court awarding full judgment to the debt collector, which can mean wage garnishment, frozen bank accounts, or other extreme but lawful measures against you. The court judgment may be listed in your credit report, affecting your ability to qualify for credit and making the default public knowledge.
Understand Debt Collection
Ignoring your debt collector will not make the issue disappear. It is essential to get as much information as you need on debt collection, what to do, and what not to do. Understanding debt collection will help you handle the issue calmly and with certainty. If you have any questions on debt collection, you can call or email a debt advisor for help.
Stenger and Stenger is notorious for suing debtors who fail to pay their debts. However, you can beat them by ensuring you appear in court and hiring an attorney if possible. It is crucial to avoid failing to appear in court to prevent the court from awarding a default judgment against you. Understanding debt collection is essential to handle the issue calmly and with certainty.