Question:
Dear Steve,
$20k in credit card debt, trying to do a “debt validation”
Is Coast Processing legit? They claim to use attorneys from Litigation Practice Group.
Staci
Answer:
Dear Staci,
These kinds of questions are tough to answer because “legit” means something different to just about everyone.
What we have here are two different issues.
The first is if a debt validation approach is appropriate for your situation. Debt validation can be a reasonable path to follow if you do not believe you either ran up the debt and/or never had a relationship with the creditor.
Alternatively, you could attempt to ask the creditor to confirm you owe the debt and hope they can’t produce the documentation requested.
In some cases, the creditor might stop there. In other cases they may elect to move more rapidly towards suing you or selling the debt to a new debt buyer.
If you do determine that a debt validation approach is the most logical one for you given your current situation and future financial goals then we have to look at the company you are thinking of using.
I would recommend that anyone considering using such a company should read the following free guides.
- The Ultimate Consumer Guide to Checking Out a Debt Relief Company Before You Sign On the Line
- 10 Must Do Steps to Find the Best Credit Counseling or Debt Settlement Company for You
- How to Check Out a Business or Company to Avoid Getting Scammed or Ripped Off
Actually those links above are just good commonsense guides to evaluate any company you might want to create a business relationship with. Not just a debt relief company.
The Coast Processing website does mention debt validation. A testimonial says:
What their website does not seem to mention is what the success rate of their services is. For example, what percentage have all their debt erased, get sued, eliminate part of their debt, etc.
Coast Processing says they are located at 31878 Del Obispo St #118, San Juan Capistrano, CA. – Source
That actually happens to be the address for a UPS Store that they may be using for a maildrop. – Source
A search of the California registered business portal could not locate a corporation or limited liability company under the name Coast Processing.
The BBB says the operations director of the company is Azin Vahanian. They say the company has been in business since 7-12-2018. – Source
Regarding Litigation Processing Group
To be legally represented by an attorney the lawyer would need to be licensed to practice law in the state you live in. I don’t know what state you reside in.
But before you do anything I’d suggest getting connected with the lawyer in your state that will be handling your case and discuss your specific circumstances with them.
One question to ask your attorney is why debt validation is better for you since as they say it can take 18-24 months. – Source
Legally eliminating your debt in bankruptcy takes about 90 days for most people and costs less than $2,000 typically. Litigation Practice Group says they also specialize in bankruptcy so your attorney from your state would be a good person to discuss this with.
According to the State of California, the Litigation Practice Group was formed on 2-22-2019 and the Chief Executive Officer is Daniel March and John Tompson is an additional director. – Source
The company says it is located at 100 Spectrum Center Drive, Suite 900, Irvine, CA 92618.
That happens to also be a possible virtual office space. – Source
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Staci !
Be wary! Be very wary when it comes to debt consolidation companies. Follow Steve’s good advice because debt consolidation companies can be useful but also very “un-useful” and even counterproductive and harmful to your overall financial situation. Now, these companies can obviously be very useful if they actually reduce your debt with a particular creditor, and do it relatively quickly. However, be very wary about their typical instructions to stop paying all your bills and pay them (their fees) first and upfront BEFORE they start negotiating with your creditors. The problem with this approach is that failing to pay your bills as a strategy will worsen your credit score and increase your debt overall as well as your personal stress over the situation. Then, most problematically, if one of your creditors decides to move the claim against you more aggressively with a lawsuit, the debt consolidation company will typically abandon you. This is especially true if the debt consolidation company you are using is not in the state where you are located because this will usually mean they have no local, licensed lawyers on staff who can help you defend against the suing creditor. I quickly read your question and not sure If your overall debt is $20,000 or if there is one debt for $20,000. If there is one debt for $20,000, you’ll surely get sued by a collection law firm in your state. So, what to do? If you are working with a debt consolidation company get them to deal with this $20,000 debt very fast, and before the creditor gets frustrated with no progress in getting this debt reduced and decides to sue you. Remember that the debt settlement companies cannot stop the lawsuit, if the creditor decides to sue. So, you have to urge, direct or demand that the debt consolidation company deal with this creditor first and fast because $20,000 is enough to get any and every collection lawyer to go after you with a real, live and scary lawsuit and not just the usual annoying collection calls and letters. If the debt settlement company cannot or will not deal with this larger creditor very quickly, very aggressively and very early, you need to abandon them, demand your money back, and, then, retain a local (licensed in your state) debt defense lawyer to deal with this creditor before the lawsuit starts. In other words, abandon the slow-moving debt settlement company fast and retain a real, locally licensed lawyer as soon as you can to deal with the creditor so you don’t get sued. And, then, if the creditor does sue you, your locally based debt defense lawyer can handle that as well rather than abandon you like the thee typical out-of-state debt consolidation will do once you get sued. My basic 2 cents. Jerome G. Lee, Jr., Esq. (Debt Defense lawyer based in New York City)
Great advice. I should probably add one of the triggers for some creditors is when they get a Power of Attorney form or a cease and desist communications letter it can drive the account to legal action almost on the spot. There is no one rule that covers all creditors. This is why working with any production line approach company versus a company that develops a plan based on the creditor mix and the ability to save is an important factor.
Question asked.
Answered.