Suttell & Hammer P.S. is a debt collection law firm headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, that files civil lawsuits against consumers on behalf of major creditors, including Discover Bank, Bank of America, and Chase, as well as debt buyers such as Midland Credit Management. This page covers the firm’s FDCPA obligations, your rights as a consumer, and your options, whether you have received a collection letter, a phone call, or a court summons.
Who Is Suttell & Hammer P.S.?
Suttell & Hammer P.S. is a creditors’-rights law firm incorporated in Washington state, founded on January 1, 1986, and currently operating out of Kirkland, Washington, with approximately 75 employees, including attorneys and collections staff.
The firm does not purchase debts; it is retained by original creditors and debt buyers to file civil collection lawsuits across Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Massachusetts, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington. Its primary clients include Discover Bank, Bank of America, Chase, Midland Credit Management, and CACH, LLC.
Under Heintz v. Jenkins, 514 U.S. 291 (1995), attorneys who regularly pursue litigation to collect consumer debts qualify as debt collectors under the FDCPA, and Suttell & Hammer P.S. meets that standard. Business management listed on the BBB profile includes Karen Hammer (President), Isaac Hammer (Vice President), Jeannie Conrad (Controller), and Robert Jindra (Attorney).
Firm Details
| Address | Kirkland, WA 98033 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box C-90006, Bellevue, WA 98009 |
| Primary Phone | (425) 455-8220 |
| Toll-Free | (888) 788-8355 |
| Established | 1986 (40 years in business) |
| Primary Function | Creditors’ rights litigation and consumer debt collection |
| FDCPA Status | Debt collector under 15 U.S.C. 1692a(6) and Heintz v. Jenkins, 514 U.S. 291 (1995) |
| BBB Status | BBB Accredited since August 8, 2019; A rating |
| Official Website | suttellandhammer.com |
Office Hours
| Monday – Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Pacific Time) |
| Saturday – Sunday | Closed |
Hours confirmed via BBB profile. Before contacting Suttell & Hammer directly, call Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC at 877-700-5790 to understand your rights first.
Your Legal Rights Under the FDCPA
The FDCPA grants you five enforceable rights the moment Suttell & Hammer P.S. contacts you, and violations of any one of them expose the firm to statutory damages of up to $1,000 per action plus your actual damages and attorney’s fees under 15 U.S.C. 1692k.
Right to Debt Verification (15 U.S.C. 1692g)
Within five days of first contacting you, Suttell & Hammer must send a written notice identifying the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor, and a statement that you have 30 days to dispute the debt in writing. If you send a written dispute within those 30 days, the firm must cease all collection activity, including any lawsuit it has already filed, until it verifies the debt.
In Armstrong v. Suttell & Hammer P.S., Case No. 2:19-cv-00092 (E.D. Wash. 2019), plaintiffs alleged the firm filed over 250 automated lawsuits on behalf of a debt buyer without identifying the name of the original creditor in the complaint, a direct violation of the verification disclosure requirements that flow from Section 1692g.
Prohibition on False or Misleading Representations (15 U.S.C. 1692e)
Section 1692e prohibits Suttell & Hammer from making any false, deceptive, or misleading representation in connection with collecting a debt. Under 15 U.S.C. 1692e(10), the prohibition extends to any false representation or deceptive means.
In Ochoa v. Suttell, Hammer and White, P.C., Case No. 5:18-cv-02688 (C.D. Cal. 2018), the plaintiff alleged the firm sent a dunning letter stating that unless payment was made within five days, a lawsuit would be filed, a threat the complaint characterized as deceptive and misleading, where the firm could not or did not actually intend to file suit on that timeline.
Prohibition on Harassment and Abuse (15 U.S.C. 1692d)
Section 1692d prohibits Suttell & Hammer from engaging in any conduct whose natural consequence is to harass, oppress, or abuse you. This includes repeated phone calls intended to annoy, obscene language, and threats of violence.
Documented complaints on the Suttell & Hammer BBB complaints page describe phone hold times exceeding three hours and continued collection activity after written settlement agreements were already signed.
Restriction on Communication (15 U.S.C. 1692c)
Under 15 U.S.C. 1692c(c), once you send a written cease-communication letter, Suttell & Hammer may contact you only to confirm that collection efforts are ending or to notify you of a specific legal action it actually intends to take. If the firm continues calling or writing after receiving your written cease notice, each communication is a separate FDCPA violation.
Protection When Represented by an Attorney (15 U.S.C. 1692c(a)(2))
Once Suttell & Hammer know you are represented by an attorney, it must direct all communications to that attorney and may no longer contact you directly. Consumer complaints filed with the BBB describe instances where the firm’s representatives continued to communicate with consumers after being notified of active bankruptcy representation, raising issues under this section.
Documented Consumer Complaints
Consumers have filed complaints against Suttell & Hammer P.S. on the BBB complaints directory (29 complaints on file) and through federal court filings accessible via PACER and classaction.org.
Communication barriers after settlement: Multiple BBB complaints describe consumers who completed signed settlement agreements and made the required payment, only to have Suttell & Hammer continue garnishment procedures or fail to report the closed account to the credit bureaus.
Deceptive collection letter timeline: In Ochoa v. Suttell, Hammer and White, P.C., Case No. 5:18-cv-02688 (C.D. Cal. 2018), a class-action complaint alleged the firm sent letters to hundreds of consumers stating that legal action would be filed unless payment was made within five days, which plaintiffs alleged was a misleading threat under 15 U.S.C. 1692e(10).
Lawsuits filed without identifying the original creditor: In Armstrong v. Suttell & Hammer P.S., Case No. 2:19-cv-00092 (E.D. Wash. 2019), a class-action complaint alleged the firm filed more than 250 collection lawsuits without identifying the name of the original creditor, which plaintiffs argued violated the disclosure requirements of 15 U.S.C. 1692g.
To file your own complaint, use the following resources:
- (CFPB)
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Washington State: Washington Attorney General
- Better Business Bureau
If Suttell & Hammer P.S. Has Filed a Lawsuit Against You
A lawsuit from Suttell & Hammer requires an immediate, written response filed with the court before your Answer deadline expires, typically 20 to 30 days after the date you were served, depending on the state where the case is filed.
Step 1: Confirm Your Service Date. The clock starts on the date you were personally served, not the date you open the envelope or first notice the summons. Write down that date immediately and count forward to calculate your deadline. Washington state gives you 20 days to respond. California gives you 30. Other states where Suttell & Hammer files may vary.
Step 2: File a Written Answer With the Court. Your Answer must be filed with the same court listed on the summons. Simply calling the firm’s office or sending a letter to Suttell & Hammer does not satisfy this requirement. The Answer is a formal court document, and filing it stops the default judgment clock.
Step 3: Understand the Consequence of Default. If you do not file a timely Answer, the court enters a default judgment against you automatically. With a judgment in hand, Suttell & Hammer can garnish up to 25 percent of your disposable wages under federal law, freeze your bank accounts, and in some states place a lien on real property.
Step 4: Assert Your Defenses. Viable defenses in a Suttell & Hammer case include expiration of the statute of limitations on the underlying debt, failure to verify the debt under 15 U.S.C. 1692g, inability to document a proper chain of title from the original creditor to the current plaintiff, and any FDCPA counterclaims arising from the firm’s own collection conduct. Raising these defenses requires a written Answer filed on time.
If Suttell & Hammer has served you with a lawsuit, call Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC at 877-700-5790 or submit a free case review request before your Answer deadline passes.
Payments, Settlements, and Resolution Options
Collection law firms, including those representing original creditors, regularly accept less than the full claimed balance on charged-off or seasoned debt accounts, but the specific terms depend heavily on the creditor’s instructions and the age of the account.
Lump-Sum Settlement. Suttell & Hammer represents original creditors with strict settlement authority, which means negotiated discounts tend to be smaller than with junk-debt buyers. However, lump-sum offers in the range of 40 to 60 percent of the claimed balance are sometimes accepted on accounts that have been delinquent for an extended period. Any settlement must be confirmed in a signed written agreement before any payment is made.
Structured Payment Plan. If a lump sum is not feasible, the firm may agree to a structured installment plan, particularly after a lawsuit has been filed and both sides want to avoid trial. Payment plan agreements should specify the total amount, the monthly payment, the due date, and what happens if a payment is missed.
Litigation Settlement. If the case is already in court, settlement negotiations can continue up to and including the day of trial. A court-supervised settlement dismisses the lawsuit and eliminates the risk of a judgment. Any agreement reached in litigation should be memorialized in a stipulated dismissal filed with the court.
Bankruptcy Protection. If Suttell & Hammer has already obtained a judgment and is executing a garnishment, a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing triggers an automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. 362, which immediately halts all garnishment and collection activity. Bankruptcy has long-term credit implications and requires a separate legal analysis.
Important: Always obtain a written settlement agreement before making any payment, and confirm that the agreement specifies whether the account will be reported to the credit bureaus as “paid in full” or “settled for less than the full amount.” These two designations have different effects on your credit report and your ability to dispute any remaining balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Suttell & Hammer P.S. a legitimate law firm?
Yes. Suttell & Hammer P.S. is a licensed Washington law firm incorporated in 2003 and in operation since 1986. It is retained by major creditors and debt buyers to file civil collection lawsuits against consumers. Receiving a letter or summons from Suttell & Hammer is a real legal event that requires a timely response.
Why is Suttell & Hammer contacting me?
Suttell & Hammer contacts consumers on behalf of a creditor or debt buyer that claims you owe a balance on a credit card, auto loan, or other consumer account. The firm was retained to recover that balance, either through negotiation or by filing a lawsuit in state court.
How do I request verification of the debt?
Under 15 U.S.C. 1692g, you must send a written debt verification request to Suttell & Hammer within 30 days of receiving their initial written notice. Send the letter by certified mail with return receipt requested and keep a copy. Once they receive your written dispute, they must cease all collection activity until they provide written verification of the debt, including the name and address of the original creditor.
How do I stop Suttell & Hammer from calling me?
Under 15 U.S.C. 1692c(c), you may send a written cease-communication letter to Suttell & Hammer. After receiving that letter, the firm may only contact you to confirm that collection is ending or to notify you of a specific legal action it intends to take. Send the letter by certified mail and retain proof of delivery. Continued calls after delivery of a valid cease letter are FDCPA violations.
What is the statute of limitations on the debt Suttell & Hammer is collecting?
The statute of limitations depends on the state where the debt originated and the type of account. In Washington state, the statute of limitations on written contracts, including credit card agreements, is six years under RCW 4.16.040. If the debt is past the statute of limitations, Suttell & Hammer can still attempt to collect voluntarily, but filing a lawsuit on a time-barred debt may itself constitute an FDCPA violation under 15 U.S.C. 1692e. An attorney can confirm whether the statute of limitations has expired on your specific account.
What happens if I ignore a lawsuit from Suttell & Hammer?
The court enters a default judgment against you automatically if you fail to file a written Answer before the deadline. Armed with a default judgment, Suttell & Hammer can garnish your wages, freeze your bank account, and in some states place a lien on property, all without any further court hearing. If you have been served, call 877-700-5790 immediately.
Will Suttell & Hammer report the debt to the credit bureaus?
Suttell & Hammer is a law firm rather than a credit reporting agency, so it does not itself report to Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. However, the original creditor or debt buyer on whose behalf Suttell & Hammer files may have already reported the delinquent account. If the firm obtains a judgment, that judgment itself can appear as a public record on your credit report. Confirming credit bureau reporting obligations should be part of any settlement agreement.
Where can I file a complaint about Suttell & Hammer?
You can file a complaint with the at consumerfinance.gov/complaint, with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov, with the Washington Attorney General at atg.wa.gov, or with the BBB at the Suttell & Hammer BBB complaints page. If the firm violated the FDCPA, you may also have a private right of action under 15 U.S.C. 1692k for statutory damages up to $1,000, actual damages, and attorney’s fees.
Can I sue Suttell & Hammer for FDCPA violations?
Yes. Under 15 U.S.C. 1692k, any consumer harmed by an FDCPA violation has the right to sue in federal or state court within one year of the violation. Recoverable damages include up to $1,000 in statutory damages per action, your actual out-of-pocket losses, and attorney’s fees paid by the firm if you prevail. Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC takes FDCPA cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay no legal fees unless there is a recovery.
Suttell & Hammer Has Contacted You or Filed a Lawsuit
Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC has represented consumers against debt collection law firms since 2010, holds an A+ BBB rating, and recovers attorney’s fees from violating collectors under 15 U.S.C. 1692k, so representation costs you nothing if we prevail.
For information about other collection law firms, visit our collection attorneys hub. For a broader reference of collection agencies operating in the United States, see our list of collection agencies in the United States.
