Cohen McNeile & Pappas, PC CFPB Complaints

2000 Latest Complaints

Date Received	Timely Response	Product	Issue	State / Zip	Submitted Via	Tags
02/05/2020	Yes	Debt collection Credit card debt	False statements or representation Attempted to collect wrong amount	KS 66441	Web	Servicemember
The law firm of McNeilePappas PC, has been constantly harassing me regarding a debt that was involved in a fraud case that involved my wifes information as well as mine being compromised in XXXX. During XXXX, XXXX XXXX incurred a breach of their system and my wifes account was compromised. Someone in the XXXX New York area used a bank account that belonged to myself as well as my wife to intentionally commit fraudulent acts towards her account, or at the time only her account. What the individual did was used a stored bank payment account on file with XXXX XXXXXXXX to pay off my wifes card and immediately have a new card issued to be XXXX overnight to the address listed as being in XXXX, New York. My wife was able to catch the transaction right in the process due to an unfamiliar email issued by XXXX XXXX. The problem began when I learned that the same exact thing occurred to me. However, the circumstances were somewhat different. An account was opened using the payment information from the fraudulent activity on my wifes card because the bank account was a shared accout. An account was opened without my knowledge and I had no idea that the card existed until I began to receive notices from the law firm listed above as McNeilePappas PC. This group sent one letter and then moved forward to serve us with civil suit paperwork without even providing us the time required to respond to the initial documentation. I returned the answer through the courts and pled, not guilty. I further went on in the answer to detail a listing of requested supporting documentation to substatiate the allegation that this debt in fact belonged to me. What I received back from the firm was a tampered with document hidding vital information necessary to make a legitimate claim as to how they came to own this debt that they were alledging as being owed by me. Because of this fact alone this collector has violated 15 US Code SS 1692e-False or Misleading representations. The law firm of McNeilePappas PC, violated the FDCPA ( Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ) by intentionally sought to seek relief for which they intentially mislead me into believing belonged to me. By intentionally covering up the amount owed and paid for the alledged debt they say is owed by me, questions the fact of the true amount of the debt. I do not owe this debt again because it was as the result of a previous fraudulent act committed against my wife on a shared banking account that was compromised. Furthermore, McNeilePappas PC, illegally moved forward on a debt that they did not validate as belonging to me, which it does not. Additionally, the firm never threatened to take legal action they just jumped the gun and pushed forward with unverifiable information.
04/26/2016	Yes	Debt collection Credit card	Improper contact or sharing of info Talked to a third party about my debt	MO 63137	Web	Servicemember
In XXXX XXXX we were served with court documents indicating that XXXX XXXX and their counsel XXXX, XXXX and XXXX filed suit against us in a debt that we allegedly owed XXXX XXXX. On XXXX XXXX, XXXX, we contacted XXXX XXXX under our XXXX XXXX service to ask for advice regarding this case. We can not afford legal counsel but through our XXXX XXXX membership an attorney was able to offer limited help. XXXX XXXX sent a letter to Cohen, McNeile and Pappas on our behalf asking for verification of the alleged debt. The letter stated that neither the XXXX XXXX Attorney nor XXXX XXXX would be entering an appearance on our behalf and that we have no money for representation in court proceedings thus all communication should be sent directly to us. On XXXX XXXX, Cohen, McNeile and Pappas, counsel for XXXX XXXX erroneously sent validation documents to XXXX XXXX. XXXX Judge forwarded the exact documents to us. Upon review of the documents it was discovered that counsel for XXXX XXXX provided XXXX XXXX Statements of debt owed by XXXX different individuals, neither of these consumers are related to myself or my husband. On XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX sent a letter to Cohen, McNeile and Pappas, counsel for XXXX XXXX, making counsel aware of the error Cohen, McNeile and Pappas made and their privacy breach. Counsel did not respond to this letter and when we appeared in court on XXXX XXXX, XXXX my husband and requested a dismissal of this lawsuit due to Cohen, McNeile and Pappas ' mishandling of this case ; in sending documents to the incorrect party, and the privacy breach in providing XXXX Statements ( validation ) for XXXX individuals that are not related to the case filed against us by XXXX XXXX. Counsel has responded with conflicting arguments that XXXX XXXX and our debt management company sent the wrong documents to us and that the breach was not their fault. It is impossible that our debt management company made the error due to the date we received the documents. Cohen, McNeile and Pappas represents XXXX in this case as well as many others, giving them access to XXXX 's Consumer information. XXXX XXXX does not represent XXXX XXXX in any way and has no relationship with either consumer who 's private information was divulged. It is also still unknown where the validation documentation of our debt was sent initially.
06/17/2016	Yes	Debt collection Credit card	Taking/threatening an illegal action Attempted to/Collected exempt funds	KS 66213	Web	Servicemember
I am writing on behalf of my sister. She is a permanently XXXX veteran and has n't owed a credit card since XXXX, and the highest limit on her card at the time was {$500.00}. She received a letter from XXXX XXXX on XXXX XXXX. I recognized the number on the letterhead from our phone logs, all we knew until this letter was that it was an autodialer that would play classical music for 15 seconds or more on our voicemail 2 to 3 times a day. The letter claims that she has a XXXX XXXX balance of over {$5000.00} ( no information from which bank they are representing nor dates pertaining to when this card was opened/closed/etc., that they are willing to settle for an undisclosed amount via check, cash or money order by XXXX/XXXX/XXXX or else the full amount is going to be withdrawn from her bank account. First problem is her funds are exempt, her only income is social security and VA compensation. Second problem is that as far as we know we have not gotten a subpoena to go to court, so if there is a default judgment against her account, we were not given an opportunity to come to court to protest the debt, if this debt even exists. Third, 10 days to respond, pay up or else does n't sound like a legal statement for any law office to mail out to anyone. My sister does not have a lot of money and not physically or mentally able to deal with this. Any withdrawals by this firm without giving us any time to validate or dispute the debt, would be devastating.
09/22/2021	Yes	Debt collection Credit card debt	False statements or representation Told you not to respond to a lawsuit they filed against you	CO 80911	Web
I went onto the court docket to confirm a court appearance for a unrelated speeding ticket when I became aware that this Law Firm had filed a lawsuit. When I obtained a copy of the Return of Service, it said I had been personally served with the documents on a date and time that was not true. I was at work during this time and my home security videos dont show anyone attempting service. I contacted the Law Firm and XXXX XXXX XXXX to inform them that I had never been personally served and explained that the process server had lied on the Return of Service. A couple of weeks later, this Law Firm then filed an Amended Return of Service with the same incorrect date and time of service only changing the signing date so that it could meet the 14 days before hearing requirement. Again, I was never personally served. Under Colorado Simplified Procedure, service must be made 14 days before the hearing date and service must be done in person. I contacted the Law Firm and XXXX XXXX XXXX again explaining that I had not been served and that this was the second time they provided false information under perjury. Now I wonder how many default judgments has this Law Firm obtained by lying about service and people have no clue a lawsuit even exists. I have been professional with both companies and requested that this false information be corrected. To date, there has not been a resolution.
04/10/2021	Yes	Debt collection Credit card debt	Written notification about debt Didn't receive notice of right to dispute	KS 66062	Web	Servicemember
I just had a debt collector take {$1300.00} out of my account without ever contacting me. This is for a collection that they took money out before about 7 months ago. After they took the first bit out without contacting me, my bank gave me their contact info to get more information on why they took everything in my account. They said they tried and tried to contact me, but never left me a voicemail. Since then I have picked my phone up for every call or if I didnt I always call back, even if they dont leave me a voicemail just in case this happens again. Also I have no idea why they took out {$1300.00} if they told me I owe {$1200.00}. So they took even more then what they said they were supposed to. Also after the first time I asked them if I could set up payments so I could resolve the issue they told me they would call me back to set up payments. After talking to them on the phone today they told me they dont do payments, but I found their website and found that they do. The guy I talked to was constantly lying to me. They will not provide a receipt or any other documentation when I have asked for it. I have contacted them multiple times about this issue over the span of 7 months and he has denied this.
03/15/2020	Yes	Debt collection Credit card debt	Attempts to collect debt not owed Debt was result of identity theft	MO 64133	Web
Debt collector McNeils Pappas PC I received a letter to appear in court XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX oclock. I showed up and at the end the judge asked why I was there and I showed him the letter debt collector, Judge told me I didnt need to be there because they didnt file it right, And they never showed up .They are saying I owe {$14000.00} on a date to XXXX XXXX XXXX . This is where I bank they hold the note to my house. XXXX I made a report with the federal trade commission FTC # XXXX and police report. I dispute it with my bank XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX but they would not do anything. I had other fraudulent charges that Ive been taking care of. But this is the one thats going to collections and threatens to sue.
10/03/2018	Yes	Debt collection Credit card debt	Attempts to collect debt not owed Debt was already discharged in bankruptcy and is no longer owed	MO 63135	Web
I received a garnishment against my social security XXXX from my banking institution, I applied for exempt from the debt due to the only income I have is from social security XXXX and the time frame to collect on the debt is pass the statue of limitation. The attorney initially denied the exempt. I went to court and the judge ruled in my favor that the debt was no longer collectable due to the statue of limitation and also allowed me the exempt on the debt due to my income only being from social security XXXX. The attorney refused to take the garnishment off of my bank account, which is causing me to accruing fees due to the fraudulent attempt of collecting.
12/20/2017	Yes	Debt collection I do not know	Attempts to collect debt not owed Debt was result of identity theft	MO 657XX	Web
I received a collection letter from a law firm representing XXXX XXXX. They claim I owe {$14000.00}. They demanded that I pay on the debt. The letter was addressed to me by a former name that changed 17 years ago, not my current name. I was divorced in XXXX of XXXX. I have a credit card with XXXX, but in my current name. I believe my identity was stolen and used to make charges on this account that I know nothing of. XXXX had no correspondence with me prior to this letter. The letter did n't even let me know an account number. The law firm is now taking me to court to make me pay these fraudulent charges.
08/05/2016	Yes	Debt collection Credit card	Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed Debt was paid	KS 672XX	Web
I have paid all the amount i have received a document saying my debt was cleared they did a wage garnishment again on my bank
07/25/2016	Yes	Debt collection Auto	Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed Debt was paid	MO 63042	Phone

07/08/2016	Yes	Debt collection Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)	Taking/threatening an illegal action Sued w/o proper notification of suit	KS 66109	Referral

01/07/2016	Yes	Debt collection Credit card	Disclosure verification of debt Not given enough info to verify debt	KS 66762	Postal mail	Older American

01/01/2015	Yes	Debt collection Credit card	Disclosure verification of debt Not given enough info to verify debt	MO 65712	Web

10/08/2014	Yes	Debt collection Credit card	Taking/threatening an illegal action Attempted to/Collected exempt funds	MO 64082	Web

05/16/2014	Yes	Debt collection I do not know	Taking/threatening an illegal action Sued w/o proper notification of suit	KS 66212	Web

04/24/2014	Yes	Debt collection Credit card	Improper contact or sharing of info Talked to a third party about my debt	KS 67220	Web	Older American

12/07/2013	Yes	Debt collection Credit card	Taking/threatening an illegal action Seized/Attempted to seize property	KS 66061	Web