Klima Peters & Daly Debt Collection Harassment?

Klima, Peters & Daly, P.A. (KPD Law Group) is a Maryland-based creditors’ rights law firm that files hundreds of debt collection lawsuits annually across Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. on behalf of major debt buyers, including Cavalry SPV I and LVNV Funding.

In our practice, the single most common pattern clients describe when they contact us about KPD is discovering a wage garnishment or bank levy already in motion before they ever knew a lawsuit had been filed.

If you are receiving contact from this firm or have been served with a Warrant in Debt, call +1-877-700-5790 for a free case review with Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC today.

Key Facts About Klima, Peters & Daly, P.A.

Who Is Klima, Peters & Daly, P.A?

Klima, Peters & Daly, P.A. is a legitimate, licensed Maryland debt collection law firm that has operated since 1983, today marketed as KPD Law Group. What distinguishes KPD from a typical third-party collection agency is that it functions as a law firm, which means it can file lawsuits directly and move to enforce judgments through garnishment and levy without hiring outside counsel.

The firm collects consumer debt across a broad range of account types: credit card balances, charged-off consumer installment loans, personal lines of credit, and retail accounts. Critically, KPD frequently collects on behalf of debt buyers, entities like LVNV Funding and Cavalry SPV I, LLC, that purchased your charged-off account from the original creditor, often for pennies on the dollar. The entity named in any lawsuit against you may not be the company you originally owed money to.

In our firm’s experience, clients who contact us about KPD frequently describe receiving a summons or garnishment notice associated with a debt buyer they have never heard of, for a balance that looks different from any account in their records. That disconnect is not an accident: when accounts are sold multiple times, balances are restated, documentation thins out, and the risk of wrong-person collection and inflated balance claims rises substantially.

Why Is Klima, Peters & Daly Calling Me

KPD is contacting you because a creditor or debt buyer has retained the firm to collect on a delinquent account associated with your name, or because a lawsuit has already been filed and they are moving toward judgment. Unlike calls from a standard collection agency, contact from a law firm frequently signals that litigation is imminent or already underway.

According to BBB complaints filed through early 2026 and consumer forum reports, the most commonly alleged contact patterns include:

• Pre-litigation letters styled to resemble official court documents, reportedly causing consumers to confuse them with formally docketed Warrant in Debt notices before a court date has actually been assigned
• Phone-only communication that refuses written or email contact before a court hearing, which consumers allege makes it impossible to document payment plans or dispute agreements
• Summonses reportedly filed in counties where the debtor has never resided, raising venue questions under the FDCPA’s requirement that collection lawsuits be filed in the judicial district where the consumer signed the contract or currently lives
• Contact arriving with no prior collection letters or calls, with the first communication allegedly being a formal summons or wage garnishment notice

Clients who contact us about KPD most frequently describe a version of the same scenario: they ignored or misidentified an early communication as junk mail, missed the response deadline, and discovered weeks later that a default judgment had been entered and a garnishment was already executing against their paycheck or bank account.

Has Klima, Peters & Daly Been Sued?

Yes. Multiple federal lawsuits have been filed against KPD and its predecessor entity, alleging FDCPA, FCRA, and consumer protection violations. Three documented cases are detailed below.

Shelton v. Klima, Peters & Daly, P.A.

This case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (Civil Action No. DLB-24-1068), alleged that KPD attempted to collect unauthorized and unjustified amounts on a Capital One account, reportedly seeking approximately $6,211.88 beyond what was authorized by the original agreement.

The consumer brought claims under FDCPA §§ 1692e(2), 1692e(10), and 1692f for misrepresentation of the amount, character, and legal status of the debt, as well as claims under the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act and the Maryland Consumer Protection Act.

The court issued an order on February 4, 2025, granting motions to dismiss without prejudice and allowing the plaintiff until March 4, 2025, to amend the complaint. The official docket is available at Justia: Shelton v. Klima, Peters & Daly, P.A.

Bittinger v. DNF Associates, LLC, et al. (Class Action)

Consumers filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (Civil Action TDC-22-2461) naming both DNF Associates and Klima, Peters & Daly regarding debt collection practices and procedures surrounding debt portfolios. Class actions against collection law firms are significant because they indicate that the alleged conduct affected consumers across multiple accounts systematically, not as an isolated incident.

Wack v. Peroutka, Miller, Klima & Peters, P.A.

Multiple consumers joined a single FDCPA action against KPD’s predecessor entity in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (No. 8:17-cv-01271), with the case terminated January 30, 2018. The fact that unrelated consumers across separate accounts reported the same alleged violations in a single lawsuit points toward systemic conduct rather than individual error. The case record is available at CourtListener: Wack v. Peroutka, Miller, Klima & Peters, P.A.

What Do BBB and CFPB Complaints Against KPD Actually Say

The firm’s BBB complaint record shows 21 total complaints in the last three years and 10 in the last 12 months alone, producing a C- rating that reflects both the volume and the firm’s failure to resolve at least one complaint. According to complaints filed through early 2026, three documented patterns recur across the formal record.

• Liens and garnishments without notice: According to a January 2026 BBB complaint, one consumer reported discovering a lien only during a property refinancing, with no prior awareness of any litigation or judgment. The firm reportedly required bank account routing numbers to arrange payment, refused debit cards, and would only mail receipts rather than provide any digital confirmation. KPD’s response confirmed it had filed the lien following a court judgment, but did not dispute the consumer’s assertion that no proactive outreach had occurred.
• Garnishments during active payment plans: According to a June 2025 BBB complaint, a consumer alleged that approximately $1,600 was garnished from their wages, and then a second garnishment was filed despite an existing payment agreement and no new written contract. The consumer described dismissive communication from firm staff; KPD proceeded with a 25% wage garnishment.
• Phone-only communication policy: According to an August 2025 BBB complaint, a consumer reported that KPD refused to communicate in writing or by email prior to a court hearing, making it impossible to document any agreements reached by phone. KPD confirmed in its response that it is not obligated to communicate via email.

One particularly detailed CFPB complaint (ID 2842235, received March 13, 2018) alleged that the firm repeatedly characterized itself as the “assigned agent and affiliate” of Capital One when it had allegedly purchased the charged-off account as a debt buyer for approximately four cents on the dollar.

The same complaint alleged that a firm representative told the consumer they “need not appear” at the scheduled court hearing because it was “just a matter of legal formality,” and that KPD subsequently filed for $10,000 in court after the consumer had agreed to a $75 per month payment plan toward a $6,000 balance.

These allegations, if proven, would constitute violations of FDCPA § 1692e(2) (misrepresentation of the amount or legal status of a debt) and § 1692f(1) (collecting amounts not authorized by the original agreement).

What Are the Warning Signs in a KPD Warrant in Debt

A Warrant in Debt is a Virginia small claims court summons, and KPD files these regularly on behalf of debt buyers in Virginia General District Courts. The document looks official, and it is, but receiving one by USPS mail before a case is formally docketed with the county courthouse is a pattern that consumers on forums like Reddit’s Debt community have frequently flagged as confusing and easy to misidentify as junk mail.

If you receive any document from KPD that references a court date, a case number, or a debt amount, treat it as legally significant regardless of how it was delivered. Key things to verify immediately:

• Whether the case number can be confirmed in the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System or the Maryland Judiciary Case Search
• Whether the court venue listed is the judicial district where you actually live or where the original contract was signed, because filing in the wrong venue may itself be an FDCPA violation
• Whether the debt amount claimed matches any account in your records, and whether the creditor named is the original issuer or a debt buyer you have never had a relationship with
• How much time remains to file a written Answer with the court, because a missed response deadline results in an automatic default judgment, regardless of whether the underlying debt is valid

In our practice, the most consequential mistake we see in KPD cases is a consumer waiting to call us until after a default judgment has already been entered. Reversing a default judgment is possible but significantly harder than preventing one.

What Collection Tactics Has KPD Used That May Violate the Law

The BBB complaint record, CFPB filings, and federal court documents reveal a consistent set of alleged tactics that, depending on the specific facts, may constitute violations of the FDCPA, the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act, and the Maryland Consumer Protection Act.

• Pursuing inflated balances: According to court filings in Shelton v. KPD and the CFPB complaint record, consumers have alleged that KPD sought amounts exceeding what was authorized by the original account agreement, which is a potential per se violation of FDCPA § 1692f(1)
• Misrepresenting collection authority: According to CFPB Complaint ID 2842235, a consumer alleged that KPD described itself as Capital One’s agent when the account had reportedly been purchased as charged-off debt, a misrepresentation of the firm’s legal authority potentially violating FDCPA § 1692e(10)
• Discouraging court appearances: The same CFPB complaint alleged that a firm representative advised the consumer not to appear at a court hearing as a formality, which, if proven, would constitute one of the most serious FDCPA violations our firm encounters because it deprives a consumer of their right to contest the debt
• Phone-only communication policy: Refusing to document payment plans in writing leaves consumers without evidence if the firm later disputes the terms, and the FDCPA requires that collection communications not be inherently misleading about the consumer’s rights
• Restrictive payment methods: Consumers across multiple complaint platforms have alleged that KPD accepts only checks, money orders, or cash, requires the provision of bank account routing numbers, and issues no digital receipts, creating conditions where payment records are difficult to verify, and banking information is held by the collector
• Venue issues: According to consumer forum reports, some KPD summonses have allegedly been filed in jurisdictions where the consumer no longer resides and did not sign the original contract, which the FDCPA requires to be the filing venue

How to Respond If Klima, Peters & Daly Are Contacting You

The single most important first step is to treat every KPD communication as legally urgent from the moment you receive it, because the firm’s primary leverage comes from consumers who do not respond until it is too late to prevent a default judgment.

1. Document every contact immediately. Log the date, time, phone number, caller name, and a summary of what was said. Save every voicemail, letter, and envelope postmark. Screenshot your call log. If a letter references a court date or case number, verify that number against the official court docket for your jurisdiction before the response deadline passes.
2. Request written debt validation within 30 days of first contact. Send your request by certified mail with a return receipt to 8028 Ritchie Highway, Suite 300, Pasadena, MD 21122. KPD must produce the original account agreement, an itemized balance history, and documentation proving the debt buyer’s chain of ownership. All collection activity must pause while they verify. If calls or court activity continue after receipt of your dispute, each action may constitute a standalone FDCPA violation.
3. Do not ignore a court summons or Warrant in Debt. If you have been served, contact an attorney immediately and file a written Answer with the court before the response deadline. A missed deadline results in an automatic default judgment, giving KPD immediate authority to garnish wages and levy bank accounts.
4. Send a written cease-and-desist letter if harassment is ongoing. Send by certified mail. Every call or written contact after confirmed receipt is a potential standalone FDCPA violation. Given KPD’s documented phone-only policy, a certified-mail cease-and-desist also creates your evidence record in a medium they cannot later dispute.
5. File complaints with the CFPB and regulators if violations have already occurred. The CFPB portal is at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. The Maryland Attorney General Consumer Protection Division and the Virginia Attorney General Consumer Protection Section both accept CFDCPA and state consumer protection complaints.
6. Contact Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC. If you have documented violations, have received a summons, or have discovered a garnishment you were not notified of in advance, call +1-877-700-5790. FDCPA statutory damages do not require proof of financial harm, and the fee-shifting provision means KPD pays your attorney fees when you win.

What Our Clients Say

How Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC Fights Klima, Peters & Daly

We Know Klima, Peters & Daly’s Specific Playbook

In our practice, KPD cases present a consistent set of potential violations, and we know exactly what to examine first when we review a client’s contact and litigation history. The violations we look for include:

• Inflated balance claims: amounts sought in court that exceed what was authorized by the original account agreement, a potential per se violation of FDCPA § 1692f(1)
• Misrepresentation of collection authority: characterizing the firm as an agent of the original creditor when it is actually collecting on behalf of a debt buyer that purchased the account
• Default judgment by design: evidence that consumers were discouraged from appearing at hearings or responding to summonses, which may violate § 1692e(10)’s prohibition on deceptive means to collect a debt
• Improper venue: Warrant in Debt filings in jurisdictions where the consumer does not reside and did not sign the original contract, which violates the FDCPA’s venue requirement
• Surprise garnishments and levies executed without verified prior consumer notice of the underlying lawsuit or judgment
• Post-cease-and-desist contact after receipt of a written request to stop
• TCPA violations: autodialer or prerecorded message calls to cell phones without documented prior express written consent
• FCRA violations: inaccurate credit bureau reporting or failure to investigate disputes within 30 days

We Stop the Calls Within 48 Hours

The moment Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC sends a notice of representation to Klima, Peters & Daly, all direct contact with you must legally cease. Any call, letter, or court filing that follows after receipt of our notice becomes an additional violation that strengthens your case. We send notice immediately, document everything that follows, and treat each subsequent contact as a standalone claim.

We Handle FDCPA, FCRA, and TCPA Claims

KPD cases frequently implicate more than one federal statute, and our firm evaluates all three when we review a client’s situation:

• FDCPA claims: Misrepresentation of debt amounts or collection authority, inflated balance collection, improper venue, discouraging court appearances, surprise garnishments without adequate notice, post-cease-and-desist contact, and failure to validate
• TCPA claims: Autodialer or prerecorded message calls to cell phones without prior express written consent, at $500 to $1,500 per call in statutory damages
• FCRA claims: Inaccurate reporting to credit bureaus, failure to investigate written disputes within 30 days, and re-reporting of accounts after payment or dispute resolution

You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC handles every consumer protection case on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront costs and no hourly fees. When we prevail, the FDCPA and TCPA both require Klima, Peters & Daly to pay your attorney fees and costs as part of the judgment. That fee-shifting provision is built into federal law, not a courtesy the firm extends voluntarily.

Frequently Asked Questions About Klima, Peters & Daly

Is Klima, Peters & Daly a scam or a legitimate company

Klima, Peters & Daly is a licensed and legitimate Maryland debt collection law firm operating since 1983, not a scam. Licensed does not mean every tactic they use is legal: according to BBB complaints and federal court filings, consumers have alleged surprise garnishments, inflated balances, and misrepresentation of collection authority, all of which are potential FDCPA violations.

What is a Warrant in Debt from Klima, Peters & Daly

A Warrant in Debt is a Virginia small claims court summons notifying you that KPD has filed a collection lawsuit against you on behalf of a creditor or debt buyer. It is not junk mail. If you do not file a written Answer with the court before the stated deadline, a default judgment will likely be entered automatically, giving KPD immediate authority to garnish your wages and levy your bank accounts.

Can Klima, Peters & Daly garnish my wages without notice?

Wage garnishment requires a court judgment first, but according to multiple BBB complaints filed through early 2026, consumers have alleged that they discovered garnishments already in motion without any prior awareness of a lawsuit or judgment. If you received no notice of a lawsuit and are now facing garnishment, contact Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC immediately: this pattern raises serious FDCPA concerns and may also support a motion to vacate the default judgment.

What should I do if I receive court papers from KPD?

Treat the summons as urgent and respond immediately. File a written Answer with the court before the response deadline, verify the case number in the official court docket for your jurisdiction, and contact an attorney to evaluate whether the amount claimed matches what was authorized by your original account agreement. Missing the deadline produces an automatic default judgment regardless of whether the debt is valid.

Can KPD collect on a debt I do not recognize

If you do not recognize the creditor or the account, send a written debt validation request by certified mail within 30 days of first contact. KPD must produce the original account agreement, a complete balance history, and documentation of the debt buyer’s chain of ownership before collection activity can legally continue. Many old debts sold through multiple buyers lack adequate documentation, making validation requests particularly effective.

How do I stop Klima, Peters & Daly from calling me?

Send a written cease-and-desist letter to 8028 Ritchie Highway, Suite 300, Pasadena, MD 21122, by certified mail with return receipt requested. After confirmed delivery, KPD may only contact you to acknowledge receipt, notify you of a specific legal action, or confirm they are stopping collection. Every call after that may constitute a standalone FDCPA violation worth up to $1,000 in statutory damages.

What damages can I recover if KPD violated my rights?

FDCPA violations entitle you to statutory damages of up to $1,000 per case without needing to prove any financial harm, actual damages for documented distress or financial losses, and TCPA per-call damages of $500 to $1,500 for illegal robocalls. The fee-shifting provision of the FDCPA requires KPD to pay your attorney fees and costs when you prevail, which is why contingency representation is available at no upfront cost to you.

Can Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC help me if KPD has already gotten a judgment against me?

Yes. If the judgment was obtained through a process that involved potential FDCPA violations, such as filing in an improper venue, using deceptive documents, or failing to properly serve you, there may be grounds to challenge the judgment in addition to pursuing claims for the underlying violations. Contact us as soon as possible because post-judgment options are time-sensitive.

Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC focuses exclusively on consumer protection law, is admitted in the federal courts of Maryland and Virginia, where KPD litigates most aggressively, and handles FDCPA, TCPA, and FCRA violations on a full contingency basis. If you have received a Warrant in Debt, discovered an unexpected garnishment, or been contacted by Klima, Peters & Daly about a debt you do not recognize, call +1-877-700-5790 for a free case review with Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC. The sooner you call, the more options you have.