Forster & Garbus, LLP

Sued? Find Relief With a New York Debt Defense Lawyer.

Forster & Garbus is a high volume consumer debt collection law firm located at 60 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, Commack NY. The named partners of the firm are Ronald Forster and Marc Garbus. Mr. Forster is a past president of the Consumer Credit Association. He has lectured on collections for the New York State Bar Association and has authored a chapter dealing with collection for the New York State Bar Association. Mr. Garbus has also lectured on collection and on the FDCPA for the New York State Bar Association and Nassau Academy of Law. Additionally, he was the past president on the Commercial Lawyer’s Conference.

The firm represents banks, lenders, and third party-debt buyers including, Discover Bank, Capital One Bank, Citibank, American Express Bank. The attorneys at Forster & Garbus assist the original creditors and debt buyers with the defaulted credit card debt through the New York court system. This firm also represents creditors with respect to collecting on defaulted private student loan debt including Sallie Mae, Navient, and National Collegiate Fund.

Zombie Debt Lawuits From Forster & Garbus, LLP

Forster & Garbus, LLP are behind many of the debt lawsuits filed every year against consumers in New York City and throughout the state. At the time of this writing, the Better Business Bureau report lists that Forster & Garbus has had twenty-five complaints filed against it in the last three years, eight of which were closed in the last twelve months. This firm is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

Reports to the Bureau allege that Forster & Garbus attempted to collect debts that consumers have already paid. Additionally, consumers have alleged in their complaints that they have been charged five times the original debt owed and that the company is unwilling to negotiate payment plans. Forster & Garbus is also affiliated with Professional Credit Services, Inc. which is owned by the same principals as the firm but operates independently.

At Lebedin Kofman LLP, we defend clients against lawsuits and collection actions on the part of Forster & Garbus, LLP. If you have received a phone call or letter from Forster & Garbus, are being sued by them or are otherwise having trouble with this debt collection law firm, we want to hear from you. Contact us at any time 24/7 for a free case evaluation so that we can listen to your story, review your circumstances and determine whether or not you have grounds for legal action.

Your Options for Debt Defense

Depending on the nature of the situation, we may be able to help you fight a debt lawsuit filed against you by Forster & Garbus, LLP. For example, we might find that they lack sufficient information to prove that you owe the debt in question, or there might be faults in the paperwork being used as evidence in the case.

Alternatively, we might be able to represent you in a lawsuit under a state or federal consumer protection law such as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), such as if you have been a victim of debt collector abuse or harassment at the hands of Forster & Garbus, LLP. 

The fact is that they have frequently been fought in court by debtors who weren't willing to put up with the unfair and unlawful treatment they had received from Forster & Garbus, LLP, with notable examples including:

• In 2012 Forster & Garbus, LLP was accused of continuing to contact a debtor after receiving a request for validation of the debt, which constituted a violation of the FDCPA
• In 2011 Forster & Garbus, LLP lost a lawsuit on the grounds that they had failed to make a reasonable effort to ensure that they were suing the right person, in a case where they were discovered to be pursuing legal action to recover payment on a debt from a woman who was not the actual debtor
• In 2009, Forster & Garbus, LLP was sued under the FDCPA for failure to properly serve the defendant in a debt lawsuit, for suing on a debt that was past the statute of limitations, and for attempting to secure a default judgment despite learning that the defendant was now represented by legal counsel
• Nicholson v. Forster & Garbus: This case was decided on June 19, 2014 in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The court held that the summary judgment dismissal of a debtor’s class action complaint, which alleged violations of the Fair Debt Practice Act, was proper because the statements made by the collectors were not actually false, misleading, or deceptive under the least-sophisticated consumer test. Nicholson v. Forster & Garbus LLP, 570 F. App'x 40 (2d Cir. 2014)
• Eun Joo Lee v. Forster & Garbus: This case was decided on March 1, 2013 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The court held that Forster & Garbus was in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act of 1977 because it gravely mislead the consumer as to who her debt was owed. Eun Joo Lee v. Forster & Garbus LLP, 926 F. Supp. 2d 482 (E.D.N.Y. 2013)

Case Results

Below are recent settlements we were able to negotiate for our clients.

• Reduced the balance from more than $22,800 down to a $9,660 lump sum payment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $44,600 down to a $18,420 lump sum payment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $23,900 down to a $12,000 lump sum payment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $7,500 down to a $3,800 lump sum payment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $5,000 down to a $2,600 lump sum payment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $46,000 down to a $12,000 lump sum payment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $53,000 down to a $21,000 lump sum payment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $13,000 down to a $3,500,000 lump sum payment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $18,000 down to a $8,000 lump sum payment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $3,000 down to a $2,000 lump sum payment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $20,000 down to a $13,000 lump sum payment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $38,000 down to a $22,500 lump sum payment and stopped wage garnishment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $53,000 down to a $21,000 lump sum payment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $57,000 down to a $25,000 lump sum payment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $17,000 down to a $7,320 lump sum payment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $7,000 down to a $4,000 lump sum payment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $10,000 down to a $4,206 lump sum payment.
• Reduced the balance from more than $20,000 down to a $8,500 lump sum payment.

Forster & Garbus, LLP frequently sues consumers for payment of bad debts, and in some cases the lawsuit is without good basis. Other times, they are found to be engaging in harassing and abusive behaviors. Fortunately, you can take a stand to defend your legal rights, and we are here to help. 

Call us now at (888) 605-2705 or contact us online for a free initial consultation.