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Sued by Stenger and Stenger PC? How to Settle

Patrick Austin, J.D. | August 12, 2024

Patrick Austin
Attorney from George Mason
Patrick Austin, JD

Patrick Austin is a licensed attorney with a background in data privacy and information security law. Patrick received his law degree at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief for the National Security Law Journal.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Fact-checked by George Simons, JD/MBA

George Simons
Co-Founder of SoloSuit
George Simons, JD/MBA

George Simons is the co-founder and CEO of SoloSuit. He has helped Americans protect over $1 billion from predatory debt lawsuits. George graduated from BYU Law school in 2020 with a JD/MBA. In his spare time, George likes to cook, because he likes to eat.

Summary: Stenger and Stenger is a debt collection law firm that wants to work with you to resolve disputes and help you settle your debts. If you've been sued, be sure to respond with a written Answer to prevent default judgment and buy yourself to negotiate debt settlement with Stenger and Stenger attorneys.

Got a call from Stenger and Stenger? You're not alone. They’re persistent, like that friend who won’t stop sending cat memes. But don’t worry, settling your debt is easier than dodging those messages!

If you've been sued by Stenger law firm, keep reading to learn how to respond and settle the debt.

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What is Stenger and Stenger and how does it work?

Stenger and Stenger is a debt collection law firm that operates out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Stenger and Stenger provides debt collection and legal services on behalf of clients in various states, including Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Some consumers claim the firm uses questionable tactics and is overly aggressive in attempting to collect on delinquent accounts. Consumers have also complained about Stenger and Stenger engaging in collection practices that may be in violation of the FDCPA (learn more below).

Who does Stenger law collect for?

Stenger and Stenger law firm represents many debt collectors and creditors in debt collection cases, such as:

  • Absolute Resolution Investments
  • CACH, LLC
  • Capital One
  • Citibank
  • Credit Corp Solutions
  • LVNV Funding
  • Midland Credit Management
  • Resurgent Receivables
  • WebBank

Note that this is not an exhaustive list; Stenger and Stenger collects for other collection agencies and creditors.

Contact Stenger and Stenger law firm

To work out a payment plan, call the Stenger and Stenger phone number or the following contact information:

  • Phone: 616-940-1190 or 888-305-7775
  • Address: 2618 East Paris, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546
  • Email: info@stengerlaw.com

Below is a photo of the Stenger and Stenger law office in Grand Rapids, MI:

Negotiate a debt settlement with Stenger and Stenger

Debt settlement is a common resolution option for debt lawsuits. So, if unanticipated life challenges have lead to debt problems and you're being sued by Stenger & Stenger, you should consider making an offer to settle the debt outside of court. You may need to pay a lump sum if you want to save money on the settlement. If you can't afford a lump sum payment, then you can set up a monthly payment plan.

You can begin negotiating a debt settlement with Stenger and Stenger at any stage of the lawsuit process. Stenger and Stenger will likely work with you to settle for a percentage of the debt. Here are some negotaition tips from a lawyer:

  • Be honest about your debt situation. Tell Stenger and Stenger about your current debt obligations, including other debts owed. Paint a picture of your current financial situation so that they understand that settlement would be a win-win scenario. If needed, present documentation to prove that your offer to settle was made in good faith and that you are serious about resolving the matter. If Stenger and Stenger is representing your creditor in the case, there is a good chance they already have acces to some of your current financial information already, so lying about your income won't help you settle.
  • Don't make empty threats of bankruptcy. If you're actually considering bankruptcy, it's important to communicate this to Stenger and Stenger, because most creditors and collectors would rather accept a debt settlement than lose all the money when it is discharged in bankruptcy. However, don't threaten bankruptcy unless you're really thinking about filing.
  • Make a realistic offer. Your initial offer should be low enough to give you room for negotiating but big enough to show your serious intentions of settling. For example, you might consider starting with an offer of 40%-60% of the deb amount. Most importantly, be sure that you only offer what you can actually afford to pay.
  • Keep a record of your communications with Stenger and Stenger. You might consider recording your phone calls with the lawyers or writing down the key points of each conversation you have with Stenger and Stenger. Once you come to an agreement, be sure to get it in writing, review and sign it, and file it into the court case to get the case dismissed.

Don't love the idea of negotiating with debt lawyers? Use SoloSettle to make a debt settlement offer and negotiate with Stenger and Stenger digitally.

Watch this video to learn more about how to negotiate debt settlement with Stenger and Stenger:

Pay Stenger and Stenger

If you’ve settled your debt, you can pay Stenger and Stenger on the company’s online payment portal. In order to log in to the portal, you’ll need the following information:

  • Your Stenger and Stenger file number
  • The last 4 digits of your SSN

Paying your debt to Stenger and Stenger is typically the best option for debt resolution. It will Improve your credit score, stop collection calls, and help you be a good citizen by meeting societal obligations to pay debts owed.

If you are having issues with the Stenger and Stenger login, call 877-382-2216. You may have to work out the payment over the phone, but be sure to request a receipt and keep record of all your payments should you need proof in the future.

Respond to a debt lawsuit against Stenger and Stenger

You can save yourself a lot of time, money, and stress when you represent yourself in court instead of finding an attorney to do it for you. SoloSuit can help you prepare your legal documents for court and win.

Follow these three steps to respond to a debt lawsuit against Stenger and Stenger:

  1. Answer each claim listed in the Complaint.
  2. Assert your affirmative defenses.
  3. File the Answer with the court, and send a copy to Stenger and Stenger.

Now, let's break down each of these steps a little further. Don't like reading? Check out this video instead:

1. Answer each claim listed in the Complaint

Your Answer document should focus primarily on responding to the specific claims, or allegations, listed in the Complaint document that you received. In response to each allegation, you can admit, deny, or deny due to lack of knowledge. Let's explain.

  • When you admit a claim, it's like saying “This is true.” When you admit a claim, there is no contest. Admitting all the claims in your Answer would probably lead to a judgment against you.
  • When you deny a claim, it's like saying “Prove it.” Keep in mind that this isn't the same as saying “This is not true.” Denying a claim is simply refusing to admit it as truth before a court of law.
  • When you deny a claim due to lack of knowledge, it's like saying “I don't know.” This is a perfectly fine response to use if you aren't sure about the allegations being made against you.

Most attorneys recommend denying as many claims as possible, because this will force PFW to do more work to prove their side of the case. If they don't have the proper documentation for proof, their case won't stand.

Draft an Answer to your debt lawsuit in 15 minutes with SoloSuit.

2. Assert your affirmative defenses

The plaintiff in a collections lawsuit is always the creditor or debt buyer, or in this case, Stenger and Stenger. Because of this, they hold the burden of proof, which means they must establish the right to collect the debt they owe. Specifically, the plaintiff must provide admissible evidence that the lawsuit is true. This is somewhat difficult, but if you do not show up, or respond to the summons and complaint then they will win automatically.

Here are some examples of affirmative defenses you might raise in a debt lawsuit:

  • Stenger and Stenger failed to state the basis of the lawsuit: With this affirmative defense, you are stating that the debt collector did not cite a law that was violated meaning there is not a legal reason to sue you.
  • The debt is time-barred: This means that the statute of limitations has passed. The statute of limitations governs how long you can legally be sued for debt. This may range anywhere from two to 20 years, but on average is anywhere from four to six.
  • Plaintiff lacks legal standing: If Stenger and Stenger has failed to provide legal evidence that they own and can legally collect your debt, they lack legal standing. This typically occurs when the debt collector cannot prove they purchased or were assigned the debt.

SoloSuit can help you assert your affirmative defenses in the right way.

3. File the Answer in court, and send a copy to Stenger and Stenger

After you've drafted your Answer, you should file it within the court's deadline. The deadline to respond to a debt lawsuit is anywhere from 14-35 days, depending on which state you live in. Make a copy of the Answer and send it, via USPS certified mail, to the attorneys at Stenger law.

SoloSuit can help you file an Answer in all 50 states.

Read Stenger and Stenger reviews online

Stenger and Stenger is a real debt collection law firm that has been in business for nearly 30 years. Stenger and Stenger is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with a B rating. On its BBB profile, Stenger and Stenger has a customer rating of 1 out of 5 stars, and its Google rating is similar with just 1.8 stars. Check out some real Stenger and Stenger reviews below:

Both the BBB and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) have reported several consumer complaints against Stenger and Stenger.

To learn more about consumer experience with Stenger and Stenger, search the firm on the CFPB's database. Many of these comments mention concerns about Stenger and Stenger using debt collection tactics that are in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Knowing your rights under the FDCPA can help you protect yourself from aggressive debt collectors like Stenger and Stenger.

The FDCPA protects your rights from collectors like Stenger and Stenger

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act states several rules and guidelines that control how debt collectors can legally treat you. Sometimes debt collectors go over the line because they only receive payment when they collect debts. Some restrictions on these shady companies include:

  • Debt collectors cannot contact you at work.
  • Debt collectors cannot use bad language and threats when they talk to you or send you letters.
  • Debt collectors are not allowed to threaten you with lawsuits.
  • Debt collectors cannot call you at home before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
  • Debt collectors cannot discuss your debt with anyone except for you, your spouse, and your lawyer.

Don't let debt collectors threaten you. Respond with SoloSuit.

What to do if Stenger and Stenger debt collection sues you

Here’s a quick summary of actions to take if the Stenger and Stenger law firm files a lawsuit against you to recover debts:

  • Note all phone calls that happen before 8 am and after 9 pm. Also, write down if the company calls you at work or uses bad language and threats.
  • Respond to the lawsuit with a written Answer. In your Answer, denying the claims will force Stenger and Stenger to collect evidence that the debt is valid and that you actually owe it.
  • In your Answer, you should also raise at least one affirmative defense, such as a violation of the statute of limitations. Also, demand that Stenger and Stenger prove you owe them the money they allege in their communications.
  • File the Answer before your state’s deadline to respond to a debt lawsuit.
  • After you’ve filed an Answer, reach out to Stenger and Stenger to discuss debt settlement. If you come to an agreement, get it in writing and send over your payment.

The strategies and defenses described above may be effective in prevailing against Stenger and Stenger in court. Also, remember to file a counterclaim if you can prove they violated the FDCPA. They may owe you compensatory damages if they fail to follow the law.

Overall, remember that being sued by a debt collector isn’t the end of the world. There are actions you can take to defend yourself in court and protect your rights.

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