Have You Been Served By Faber and Brand?

Faber and Brand LLC is a debt collection law firm based in Columbia, Missouri that sues consumers for medical debt, insurance subrogation claims, retail debt, and purchased charged-off accounts. This page covers what the firm is, what makes their practice distinct from standard collection firms, documented complaint patterns, how to respond to a lawsuit, and your resolution options.

Who Is Faber and Brand LLC?

Faber and Brand LLC is a creditors’ rights law firm founded in 1998 and headquartered at P.O. Box 10110, Columbia, Missouri 65205, with a physical presence serving Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois, and additional states. The firm is a member of the National Creditors Bar Association, ACA International, and the Receivables Management Association International (RMAI). Faber and Brand does not purchase debts; it is retained as legal counsel to sue consumers on behalf of healthcare providers, insurance carriers, regional banks, credit unions, and debt buyers. The firm’s subrogation practice — pursuing consumers directly on behalf of insurance companies that already paid out claims — sets it apart from standard collection firms and is a source of significant consumer confusion. Under Heintz v. Jenkins, 514 U.S. 291 (1995), attorneys who regularly collect consumer debts through litigation are “debt collectors” under the FDCPA and are bound by its full requirements.

What Makes Faber and Brand Different from Most Collection Firms

Two practice areas distinguish Faber and Brand from the national debt buyers and credit card collectors that dominate most consumer debt litigation.

Medical debt recovery. Hospitals, ambulance districts, physician groups, and regional medical centers hire Faber and Brand to file suit when patient billing goes unresolved. Medical bills do not function like credit card debt: there is no signed contract specifying an agreed interest rate or balance, itemization is often incomplete, and insurance payment disputes can leave a consumer facing a balance they did not expect. Faber and Brand files these cases at low dollar amounts. Consumer forum accounts document summonses for balances under $400, bypassing standard collection warnings entirely and proceeding straight to court.

Subrogation claims. When your auto insurer or health insurer pays a claim on your behalf and believes a third party — or, in some cases, you — is legally liable for those costs, the insurer hires Faber and Brand to recover that money through litigation. Many consumers who receive a Faber and Brand summons on a subrogation matter have no idea why an insurance company they may have never dealt with is suing them. The legal basis is the insurer’s right to “step into the shoes” of the party it paid, but the FDCPA still applies to the collection of these claims when the underlying obligation is a consumer debt.

Your Legal Rights Under the FDCPA

The FDCPA grants you four immediately enforceable rights against Faber and Brand, and authorizes up to $1,000 in statutory damages per violation plus attorney fees under 15 U.S.C. § 1692k.

Right to Debt Validation — 15 U.S.C. § 1692g

Within 30 days of the first written notice from Faber and Brand, send a written validation request by certified mail demanding verification of the debt, including the name and address of the original creditor. The firm must stop collection activity until it provides that verification. This right is especially important for medical debt and subrogation claims, where the itemization of the amount owed is frequently incomplete and the original creditor relationship is often unclear.

Right Against False or Misleading Statements — 15 U.S.C. § 1692e

Faber and Brand may not misrepresent the character, amount, or legal status of any debt. The exact deficiency that led to Blakeley v. Faber and Brand LLC — a collection notice stating both a total and a separately listed interest figure, leaving the consumer unable to determine the actual amount needed to satisfy the debt — is a textbook § 1692e violation. If any communication from Faber and Brand presents a balance in a way that leaves you genuinely uncertain what number would close the account, document it.

Right Against Harassment — 15 U.S.C. § 1692d

Faber and Brand may not engage in conduct whose natural consequence is to harass, oppress, or abuse. Demanding an electronic payment over the phone without first providing a written settlement agreement that specifies the balance and account closure terms can constitute oppressive conduct under this section. Document every call date, time, and the name of the representative.

Right to Stop Contact — 15 U.S.C. § 1692c

A written cease-communication request sent by certified mail requires Faber and Brand to stop contacting you. The firm retains the right to notify you of a specific legal action it intends to take. Ceasing contact does not stop a pending lawsuit or eliminate the debt, but it ends informal collection pressure.

Documented Consumer Complaints

Consumer complaints against Faber and Brand appear in the CFPB complaint database and on the BBB complaints page.

Ambiguous balance statements in collection notices (Blakeley v. Faber and Brand LLC, No. 5:17-cv-05172-TLB, W.D. Ark. 2017): A proposed federal class action filed in the Western District of Arkansas alleged that Faber and Brand sent a collection notice listing “Amount Due: $811.98, interest as of May 24, 2017: $6.27” without making clear whether the $6.27 was already included in the $811.98 or was owed in addition to it. The complaint alleged this ambiguity violated 15 U.S.C. § 1692e by leaving the consumer unable to determine the exact amount required to satisfy the debt, and that a class of similarly situated consumers received identically formatted notices. Source: classaction.org.

Wage garnishments initiated without prior notice to consumer: BBB complaints describe consumers discovering an active Faber and Brand judgment only after their employer processed a garnishment order. Complaints allege defective service of the original summons — process servers failing to deliver the court papers — allowing the firm to obtain a default judgment the consumer never had an opportunity to contest. This pattern mirrors complaints documented against other high-volume Midwest collection filers.

Garnishment on already-paid or settled balances: Consumer forum accounts and formal complaints reference instances where Faber and Brand initiated or continued garnishment on a debt the consumer had already satisfied through a prior payment or settlement cycle, attributing the error to record-keeping failures in the firm’s case management system.

To file your own complaint: CFPB online complaint form | FTC Report Fraud | Missouri Attorney General: ago.mo.gov.

If Faber and Brand Has Filed a Lawsuit Against You

A summons from Faber and Brand means a state court complaint is on file, and your response window started the day you were served.

Step 1: Do not assume a medical bill cannot become a lawsuit. Faber and Brand regularly files suit on medical balances under $500. The amount of the debt does not determine whether litigation is pursued. Treat every summons as urgent regardless of the dollar figure listed.

Step 2: Confirm the service date and your deadline. Missouri: 30 days from service to file an Answer. Arkansas: 30 days. Kansas: 21 days. Illinois: 30 days. The clock runs from the date on the affidavit of service, not from when you opened a letter.

Step 3: File a written Answer before the deadline. Filing an Answer stops an automatic default judgment and requires Faber and Brand to prove its case at a hearing. For medical debt, the firm must produce the original billing records and demonstrate the amount is accurate. For subrogation claims, it must document the insurer’s payment and the legal basis for your liability. These documentation chains frequently have gaps. A filed Answer forces the gaps into the open.

Step 4: Assert your defenses in writing. Viable defenses include expired statute of limitations, incorrect balance (particularly common in medical debt where insurance payments reduce the consumer’s actual obligation), mistaken identity, and incomplete chain of assignment for purchased debt. None of these defenses can be preserved by phone; they must appear in your written Answer.

Step 5: If a default judgment already exists, act immediately. Missouri courts permit a motion to set aside a default judgment under Missouri Rule of Civil Procedure 74.05(d) if the judgment was entered through a procedural defect such as improper service. The motion must be filed within one year of the judgment or within a reasonable time. An attorney can evaluate whether the service was defective and whether the motion is viable.

Call 877-700-5790 or request a free case review to evaluate your deadline and defenses before the window closes.

Payments, Settlements, and Resolution Options

Faber and Brand resolves cases through negotiated settlement, and the available discount depends on the debt type, case stage, and strength of any defenses raised.

1. Medical debt: dispute the amount first. Before negotiating on a medical bill, request an itemized statement from the original healthcare provider under your rights as a patient. Insurance adjustments, partial payments, and billing errors routinely reduce the actual consumer balance below what Faber and Brand has been instructed to collect. Verify the number before you negotiate against it.
2. Subrogation claims: demand the documentation. For subrogation cases, Faber and Brand must produce the original insurance claim payment records showing what was paid, to whom, and on what legal basis you are responsible. Demand this in writing. The documentation chain on subrogation cases is often incomplete, particularly when claims have been reassigned.
3. Lump-sum settlement. For purchased debt portfolios, Faber and Brand’s client acquired the account at a discount. Settlement below the stated balance is realistic, and your leverage increases after you file an Answer and force the firm to produce original account documentation. Obtain the agreed figure in a signed written settlement agreement before sending any payment.
4. Payment plan. Faber and Brand may accept structured payments, particularly after a judgment is in place. Confirm in writing whether interest continues to accrue during the plan and get the total payoff amount specified before agreeing to terms. Missouri post-judgment interest runs at 9% per year under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 408.040.
5. Medical debt and your credit report. Under the CFPB’s 2024 rule effective January 2025, medical debt cannot appear on consumer credit reports. If Faber and Brand or its client is reporting a medical collection to Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion, that reporting is now prohibited regardless of the balance. Document it and file a dispute immediately.
6. Critical note on all settlements: Never send a payment or authorize an electronic transaction without a signed written agreement specifying the exact amount, the payment schedule, and confirmation that the case will be dismissed or the judgment satisfied. Verbal agreements over the phone are unenforceable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Faber and Brand LLC a legitimate law firm?

Yes. Faber and Brand LLC has operated since 1998, is licensed in multiple states, and is a member of the National Creditors Bar Association and ACA International. The firm is not a scam. Legitimacy does not mean the amount claimed is accurate, the debt is within the statute of limitations, or the firm has complete documentation to prove its case at trial.

Why is Faber and Brand contacting me about a medical bill?

A hospital, ambulance service, physician group, or other healthcare provider has retained Faber and Brand to collect on an unpaid balance. Medical debt collection lawsuits follow the same legal process as credit card lawsuits: if you do not respond to a summons, the court enters a default judgment automatically. Do not assume a medical bill is too small to result in a lawsuit; the firm files on balances under $500.

What is a subrogation claim and why is Faber and Brand suing me for it?

Subrogation occurs when an insurance company pays a claim and then seeks to recover that payment from the party it believes is legally responsible. Faber and Brand represents insurance carriers in these cases. If your insurer paid a claim and the insurer or a debt buyer now believes you owe reimbursement, you may receive a Faber and Brand summons even though you never had a direct obligation to the firm’s client. Request full documentation of the underlying claim, the payment, and the legal basis for your liability before agreeing to anything.

How do I request debt validation from Faber and Brand?

Under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g, send a written validation request by certified mail, return receipt requested, within 30 days of the first written notice. For medical debt, also separately request an itemized billing statement from the original healthcare provider. For subrogation claims, request documentation of the original insurance payment. Keep all certified mail receipts.

What is the statute of limitations on a Faber and Brand lawsuit?

Missouri imposes a five-year statute of limitations on written contracts and open accounts under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120. Arkansas: five years. Kansas: five years. Illinois: five years on credit card debt under the Limitations on Actions Act. If the last payment or charge on the account predates the applicable window, raise the time-barred defense in your Answer. Making any payment on a potentially time-barred debt can restart the clock in some jurisdictions; consult an attorney before paying.

What happens if I ignore a Faber and Brand lawsuit?

The court enters a default judgment automatically. Faber and Brand can then garnish wages, levy bank accounts, and place judgment liens on real property under Missouri and applicable state law. Missouri allows garnishment of up to 10% of gross wages or 25% of disposable earnings under the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act, whichever is less. Call 877-700-5790 before your response deadline passes.

Can Faber and Brand report medical debt to the credit bureaus?

Under the CFPB’s 2024 rule effective January 2025, medical debt cannot appear on consumer credit reports. If a medical collection from Faber and Brand or its healthcare client appears on your Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion report, that tradeline violates current law. File a dispute with each bureau and file a CFPB complaint if the entry is not removed.

Where do I file a complaint against Faber and Brand?

File with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint, the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and the Missouri Attorney General at ago.mo.gov. An FDCPA violation also gives you a private right of action to sue for actual damages plus up to $1,000 in statutory damages and attorney fees under 15 U.S.C. § 1692k.

Should I pay Faber and Brand over the phone?

Do not provide bank account routing numbers, debit card numbers, or authorize any electronic payment over the phone without first receiving a signed written settlement agreement that specifies the exact amount, states the account will be closed or the case dismissed upon payment, and confirms how the account will be reported to credit bureaus. Verbal phone agreements are unenforceable and leave you without recourse if the firm applies your payment incorrectly.

For a broader overview of debt collection law firms and your federal rights, visit our collection attorneys resource page. You can also search our complete list of collection agencies in the United States to identify other firms that may be contacting you.