Hunt & Henriques is a debt collection law firm that represents creditors and debt purchasers. This firm is not afraid to take legal action over even small account balances and has racked up a number of consumer complaints about their tactics and business ethics. No one wants to be contacted by a debt collector, but the fact that Hunt & Henriques is a law firm can make the experience even more dreadful. What options do you have?
Let The Fullman Firm go to work for you. We negotiate effective debt settlements that save our clients time, money, and stress. We also help protect our clients’ rights when debt collectors cross the line. Whether you have received threatening letters from Hunt & Henriques or a lawsuit has been filed, we can help.
What You Should Know About Hunt & Henriques
Although Hunt & Henriques is a law firm, most of its employees are not attorneys. The company usually does not purchase debts but represents those who are trying to collect on them (creditors and debt buyers). While most of its workers are not lawyers, Hunt & Henriques is nonetheless a law firm. That means in addition to standard debt collection practices (e.g. letters and phone calls), Hunt & Henriques also sues debtors to get what they want. The firm is located in San Jose, California, but has a statewide reach.
The firm has been accused of a number of questionable business practices such as failing to negotiate in good faith, being rude to debtors, withholding information from debtors, and more.
Your Rights As A Debtor
Even though Hunt & Henriques is a law firm, it must follow state and federal debt collection laws. One of the most important laws to know about is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). This federal law makes it illegal to engage in unfair, deceptive, and abusive collection practices. It also affords a number of rights to debtors and permits lawsuits for violations.
Anyone who attempts to collect a debt from you must obey this law. The FDCPA prohibits debt collectors, including Hunt & Henriques, from the following:
- Yelling at debtors over the phone
- Using obscene or profane language with debtors
- Threatening or intimidating debtors (e.g. threatening to have a debtor arrested for not paying)
- Calling debtors at unreasonable hours of the day or night
- Impersonating law enforcement officers or government agents
- Failing to identify themselves as debt collectors
- Telling the debtor’s friends, neighbors, and co-workers about the debt
- Attempting to collect a disputed debt
- Refusing to provide certain information about the debt to the debtor
You have the right to verify basic information about the debt you allegedly owe, including the identity of the original creditor and the balance. Our firm can assist if Hunt & Henriques has violated your rights under debt collection laws.
What To Do If You Are Sued
You may receive phone calls and letters from Hunt & Henriques at first, but there’s a good chance the firm (or someone associated with it) will eventually sue you. It’s not a good idea to attempt to negotiate with Hunt & Henriques by yourself. Having legal representation is key so you don’t unintentionally admit something that can be used against you. Some debt collectors also use dishonest tricks when discussing potential settlements with debtors (see below).
If you are sued, you will be served with a summons and complaint. These documents will identify you, state how much you supposedly owe, and instruct you to answer the complaint within 30 days. Don’t ignore the lawsuit in hopes it will go away. Failure to answer it could allow Hunt & Henriques to obtain a default judgment, which makes it even easier for them to collect money from you. Let an experienced attorney help you respond to the lawsuit.
Also, if you try to dodge service of the complaint and summons, Hunt & Henriques has a number of alternative ways to effectuate service upon you. It’s best to deal with the matter as soon as possible with the help of an experienced debt settlement attorney.
What Hunt & Henriques Can Do With A Judgment
If Hunt & Henriques obtains a judgment against you, whether by default because you didn’t answer the complaint or after a trial, the company has several tools it can use to make good on the judgment. These include property liens, wage garnishment, or seizing money from your bank account. The good news is that even if a judgment has been entered against you, debt settlement can save you money.
The Debt Settlement Option
Our firm has settled thousands of client debts with aggressive collectors like Hunt & Henriques. Most debt settlements involve negotiation of a lump sum payment or payment plan that is substantially less than the full amount owed. In exchange for this negotiated payment, the debt collector agrees to never try to collect the rest.
As mentioned above, however, this is a process best left to an experienced attorney. When debtors try to negotiate their own settlements, they often come with complicated strings attached. Worse, in some instances, a collector may refuse to honor the deal. Let’s say you negotiate over the phone and a collector promises to “accept” less than you owe. You make the payment and the collector takes the money. Then, a few weeks or months later, you receive a demand for the rest of the balance. Since the negotiation happened over the phone, you have no proof of the deal you worked out and are stuck owing more.
Let Us Handle Your Hunt & Henriques Debt Problem Today
When we negotiate debt settlements, we do so in a way that actually settles your account once and for all. We’re aware of common debt collection tricks and we know what it takes to work out a settlement that saves you time, money, and headaches. Call The Fullman Firm to get started today.
