At Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC, handling debt collection harassment cases since 2010 and carrying a 5-star rating with the Better Business Bureau, we frequently see how collection law firms leverage the aura of legal authority to pressure consumers — sometimes in ways that cross clear legal lines. This guide gives you the verified facts about Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen, P.C. before you make any move.
What Is Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen, P.C.?
Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen, P.C. is a Utah-based law firm that represents banks and lenders in debt collection, foreclosure, and enforcement actions. While it is a licensed and long-established firm, that does not exempt it from compliance with debt collection laws.
The firm regularly handles wage garnishment, repossession, and foreclosure cases for major financial institutions, and attorneys engaged in this work are still subject to the FDCPA under Heintz v. Jenkins (1995).
In our practice, clients who receive correspondence from Scalley Reading Bates initially assume that because the contact comes from attorneys, they have fewer options to push back. That is incorrect. The FDCPA was specifically interpreted to cover collection law firms, and the full range of consumer rights including the right to demand debt validation, cease contact, and sue for violations applies equally here.
What Industries Does Scalley Reading Bates Collect For?
Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen focuses its practice almost entirely on creditor-side representation across Utah’s mortgage and lending sectors. Their verified service categories, drawn from the firm’s own lender support services and industry filings, include:
- Mortgage and Foreclosure
- Loan Servicing and Default
- Bankruptcy Proceedings
- Commercial and Consumer Debt Collection
- Real Estate Owned (REO) and Short Sale
- Construction Law, Business Organizations, Estate Planning, Workers’ Compensation Defense
Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen, P.C. handles a wide range of creditor-side debt, including mortgages, commercial loans, rent obligations, and consumer debt referred by financial institutions. If you’re hearing from them, it usually means your lender has escalated the account to legal counsel, which can be more urgent than standard collections. In some cases, they may also handle debts from purchased portfolios, where ownership of the debt has been transferred to another company.
In our practice, clients come to us about Scalley Reading Bates most often in mortgage and loan scenarios situations where they have missed several payments, received a default notice, and then received correspondence from this firm threatening legal action to enforce loan documents. The confusion about whether such a firm is covered by the FDCPA is the most common issue we address first.
Why Is Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen Calling Me?
If Scalley Reading Bates is contacting you, a lender or loan servicer has retained them to pursue debt enforcement on your account — and the contact is rarely preliminary. This firm is engaged specifically for legal action, not initial outreach. Here are the most common reasons consumers hear from them:
- Mortgage Default: Your mortgage servicer has placed your delinquent account with Scalley Reading for foreclosure proceedings or pre-foreclosure negotiation. This is their highest-volume practice area.
- Judgment Enforcement After Prior Lawsuit: A lender obtained a court judgment against you previously, and Scalley Reading has been retained to execute that judgment — meaning wage garnishment, bank levy, or property lien.
- Commercial or Consumer Loan Default: A bank, credit union, or mortgage servicer has defaulted your account and referred it for legal collection, including potential lawsuit and court judgment.
- Lease or Rental Debt: As established in the FDCPA case Yocum v. Rental Solutions; Scalley Reading, the firm collects on behalf of rental property owners for lease-related charges, including wear and tear fees and unpaid rent — and a federal court has confirmed these debts fall under FDCPA protection.
- Bankruptcy-Related Claims: They may be filing a proof of claim or motion for relief in an active bankruptcy proceeding on behalf of your secured creditor.
- Wrong-Party Contact: In some instances, consumers receive collection notices from law firms for accounts that are not theirs, have already been paid, or belong to a deceased family member — all situations that trigger specific FDCPA protections.
The critical distinction: receiving a letter from Scalley Reading Bates is not the same as a debt collector calling to “remind” you of a balance. When this firm is involved, legal proceedings may already be underway. The response window including your 30-day right to dispute and demand debt validation is active and time-sensitive.
Our attorneys evaluate every contact from a collection law firm the same way: What specific action has the firm been authorized to take? Has the consumer’s right to validation been preserved? And has the firm, in its zeal to enforce the creditor’s position, crossed any of the bright-line rules under the FDCPA?
What Do BBB Complaints Against Scalley Reading Bates Actually Say?
The BBB file for Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen, P.C. was opened in August 2023 and currently shows no closed complaints. This is not uncommon for collection law firms consumers dealing with mortgage foreclosure and wage garnishment often do not know that the BBB is an available complaint channel, or they pursue their concerns through the court system or bar association instead. The absence of BBB complaints does not reflect the volume or nature of the firm’s enforcement activity across the thousands of cases they handle annually.
In our firm’s experience handling Utah debt collection cases, the complaint patterns associated with collection law firms operating in the mortgage and loan enforcement space particularly those that pursue garnishments and court judgments follow a documented set of concerns:
- Improper Debt Validation Failures: Consumers report sending written requests for debt validation within the 30-day window as required under FDCPA § 809 and continuing to receive collection correspondence and threats of legal action before receiving any substantive response to their validation request. Taking collection action before responding to a written dispute is a direct violation of the statute.
- Wage Garnishment Without Proper Notice: Consumers who were not properly served with lawsuit papers have reported discovering a wage garnishment had been issued against them without their knowledge, raising due process concerns under FDCPA § 808 (unfair practices) and Utah procedural rules governing service of process.
- Collection on Time-Barred or Disputed Debts: Consumers have reported collection attempts on accounts that had already been disputed, settled, or where the statute of limitations for collection had lapsed conduct that can constitute false or misleading representations under FDCPA § 807.
In our practice, the FDCPA section most frequently relevant when dealing with collection law firms is § 809(b), the provision that requires a collector to cease collection activity once a written dispute is received, until the debt is validated. We frequently see this provision ignored or misapplied when the collector is an attorney who conflates “pursuing legal action” with compliance.
What Does the CFPB Complaint Record Show About Scalley Reading Bates?
No public enforcement actions by the CFPB have been identified specifically against Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen, P.C. as of the date of this article. Collection law firms, particularly those operating in the mortgage default space, are less frequently reported through the CFPB’s consumer complaint database than general debt collection agencies in part because consumers in foreclosure situations are focused on their legal proceedings rather than regulatory filings.
However, the CFPB’s annual FDCPA reports consistently document the following categories of violations as most prevalent in the collection law firm sector — all of which are directly relevant to a firm engaged in the level of enforcement activity Scalley Reading Bates conducts:
- Continued collection after written dispute: Under FDCPA § 809(b), filing a lawsuit or taking garnishment action after receiving a written dispute before providing debt validation is a federal violation. The CFPB has flagged this pattern repeatedly in its annual reports on debt collection law firms.
- False representation of the legal status of a debt: Telling a consumer a debt is legally enforceable when it is time-barred, discharged in bankruptcy, or otherwise extinguished constitutes a violation of FDCPA § 807(2)(A). This is particularly common in the mortgage servicing sector.
- Threats of legal action not authorized or intended: FDCPA § 807(5) prohibits threatening to take legal action that cannot legally be taken or that is not intended. Sending demand letters implying imminent lawsuit when no suit has been filed or approved may violate this provision.
- Collecting amounts not authorized by agreement or law: FDCPA § 808(1) bars collecting fees, interest, or charges beyond what is permitted by the underlying debt agreement. In foreclosure and commercial collection contexts, unauthorized fee additions are a documented concern.
What our clients tell us about collection law firms in Utah is consistent: the moment a law firm’s name appears on correspondence, the consumer feels legally outgunned. That feeling is exactly what these firms rely on. Our job is to level that field by making clear that the consumer’s legal protections are just as powerful and often more immediately enforceable, than the creditor’s collection rights.
Consumer Reviews and Platform Reports
Consumer-facing accounts from individuals who have encountered Scalley Reading in a debt enforcement context describe experiences consistent with the FDCPA concerns outlined above:
“I received a letter from this firm saying I owed over $4,200 on an account I did not recognize. I sent a written dispute and requested validation within 30 days. Two weeks later, before I received any response, I found out a lien had been placed on my property. No one at the firm would tell me who authorized it or explain the underlying debt.”
Concerns flagged in consumer accounts like this one typically fall into the following legal categories:
- FDCPA Violation — § 809(b): Taking collection action (including a property lien) after a written dispute has been received, but before validation is provided, is a federal violation of the FDCPA’s debt validation requirements. Learn what a proper debt validation notice must contain.
- FCRA Concern: If inaccurate information is reported to the credit bureaus in connection with the disputed debt, the consumer has separate dispute and correction rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
- FDCPA — § 807 (False or Misleading Representations): Pursuing legal remedies against a consumer for a debt that is disputed, unverified, or not owed by that consumer may constitute a false or misleading representation about the character or legal status of a debt.
Has Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen Been Sued?
Yes. Despite their role as creditor-side attorneys, Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen, P.C. has been named as a defendant in FDCPA litigation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah and has appeared in multiple federal consumer protection cases. The litigation record below reflects documented federal actions involving this firm.
Case 1: Yocum v. Rental Solutions; Scalley Reading; and Does 1-5
- Parties: Yocum (Plaintiff) v. Rental Solutions; Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen, P.C.; and Does 1-5 (Defendants)
- Court: U.S. District Court, District of Utah
- Claims Alleged: Violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) in connection with the collection of residential lease wear and tear fees
- Key Ruling: The court denied Scalley Reading’s motion to dismiss, ruling that a tenant’s obligation to pay for property damages beyond normal wear and tear constitutes a “debt” within the meaning of the FDCPA. The firm could not argue it was exempt from federal consumer protection law simply because the underlying obligation arose from a lease rather than a traditional loan.
- Significance: This ruling extended FDCPA protections to consumers being pursued for lease-related charges by collection attorneys — a frequently overlooked category of consumer debt. It also established on the record that Scalley Reading is subject to FDCPA scrutiny in its collection of non-traditional debts.
- Source: ACA International — Yocum v. Rental Solutions; Scalley Reading (D. Utah)
This case matters because it establishes directly that Scalley Reading Bates is subject to FDCPA compliance when collecting on lease-related charges and that a court has already been asked to hold them accountable. In our practice, this kind of ruling is exactly what shifts a consumer’s position from feeling outgunned to understanding they have enforceable rights that this firm must respect.
Case 2: Beaman v. Mountain America Federal Credit Union (1:19-cv-00053)
- Case Number: 1:19-cv-00053
- Court: U.S. District Court, District of Utah (Central Division)
- Parties: Beaman (Plaintiff) v. Mountain America Federal Credit Union and related defendants
- Scalley Reading’s Role: Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen, P.C. appeared as lead attorney for the defendant credit union in this consumer financial protection action
- Claims: Consumer protection claims arising from a credit union’s collection and servicing practices
- Source: CourtListener — Beaman v. Mountain America Federal Credit Union
What our attorneys observe about Scalley Reading’s litigation posture both as collection counsel and as a named defendant is that this is a firm deeply embedded in Utah’s consumer debt enforcement ecosystem. That depth of involvement across thousands of cases means consumers on the receiving end of their enforcement efforts should take their rights seriously and respond strategically rather than simply complying out of fear.
What Collection Tactics Has Scalley Reading Bates Used?
Because Scalley Reading Bates operates as a collection law firm rather than a standard collection agency, their tactics are more legally sophisticated — but that also means they carry specific obligations that, when violated, create federal liability.
What Are Your Rights Against Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen?
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) governs Scalley Reading Bates as a law firm that regularly engages in debt collection. Your rights include:
- 7-in-7-Day Rule: A debt collector cannot call you more than 7 times in a 7-day period, and cannot contact you within 7 days of a prior conversation (CFPB Regulation F, effective 2021).
- Calling Hours: Contact may only occur between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. your local time (FDCPA § 805(a)(1)).
- 5-Day Written Notice Requirement: Within 5 days of first contact, the collector must send you a written notice including the debt amount, the creditor’s name, and your right to dispute (FDCPA § 809(a)).
- 30-Day Dispute and Validation Window: You have 30 days from receiving that notice to send a written dispute and request validation (FDCPA § 809(b)). Once received, all collection activity must stop until validation is provided.
- Cease-and-Desist Right: You may send a written request to stop all contact. After receipt, the collector may only contact you to confirm cessation or notify you of a specific intended action (FDCPA § 805(c)).
- Prohibition on Threats and False Statements: Threats of arrest, misrepresentation of the debt amount or legal status, and use of false, deceptive, or misleading representations are prohibited under FDCPA §§ 806–808.
- Damages: A successful FDCPA claim entitles you to up to $1,000 in statutory damages, plus actual damages, plus attorney fees — meaning the collector pays your legal costs when they violate the law.
Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
If Scalley Reading contacts you using an automated dialing system or pre-recorded messages, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) requires your prior express consent. You may revoke consent at any time, and the firm must honor that revocation. TCPA violations carry damages of $500 to $1,500 per call — meaning a pattern of robocalls without consent can result in significant statutory damages even before you factor in attorney fees.
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
If Scalley Reading or its lender client reports inaccurate information to credit bureaus in connection with your account, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you the right to dispute that information directly with both the bureau and the furnisher. Negative information cannot remain on your credit report for more than 7 years from the original delinquency date. After a dispute, the furnisher has 30 days to investigate and either correct or delete the inaccurate entry.
Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act (UCSPA)
Utah’s Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act (UCSPA), Utah Code Ann. §§ 13-11-1 through 13-11-23 prohibits unfair and deceptive acts or practices in consumer transactions — including debt collection. Under Utah Code § 13-11-19, an aggrieved consumer may sue directly for the greater of actual damages or $2,000 per violation, plus attorney fees. The Utah Attorney General may also bring independent enforcement actions and seek civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation. The statute of limitations for consumer debt lawsuits in Utah is generally 6 years for written contracts.
How to Stop Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen From Contacting You?
Step 1: Document Everything Immediately
Before you take any other action, build your documentation file:
- Screenshot your call log: dates, times, and the number used for every call from the firm.
- Save all voicemails, including any automated or hang-up calls — note whether the call involved a live agent or had a pause before anyone spoke (a sign of an auto-dialer).
- Record any calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. — these are per se FDCPA violations regardless of the substance of the call.
- Save every piece of written correspondence — letters, emails, notices — with the envelope postmark intact if possible.
- Note the exact date you received their first written communication — this starts your 30-day validation clock.
What our clients tell us most often is that they threw away the first letter because it frightened them, or assumed voicemails were from scammers. Every discarded piece of evidence is a potential violation you can no longer prove. Start documenting from the first contact.
Step 2: Send a Written Cease-and-Desist Letter
You have the right under FDCPA § 805(c) to demand that Scalley Reading Bates cease all collection contact. Send your cease-and-desist letter to the firm’s mailing address:
Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen, P.C. 15 West South Temple, Suite 600 Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Send via certified mail with return receipt requested. Every collection contact the firm makes after they have confirmed receipt of your cease-and-desist letter is an independent FDCPA violation — and each violation carries up to $1,000 in statutory damages.
Step 3: Send a Written Debt Validation Request
Under FDCPA § 809(b), if you send a written dispute and debt validation request within 30 days of first contact, the firm must stop all collection activity — including any court filings or enforcement actions — until it provides you with adequate verification of the debt. A collection attorney that files suit, pursues garnishment, or places a lien after receiving your written dispute but before providing validation has committed a federal violation.
Step 4: File Regulatory Complaints
In parallel with your legal strategy, file complaints with:
- FTC
- CFPB
- FCC
- BBB
- Utah Attorney General
Step 5: Contact Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC
If Scalley Reading Bates has threatened arrest, used robocalls without your consent, continued contacting you after a written cease-and-desist, pursued collection without validating the debt, or reported inaccurate information to the credit bureaus, you may have a federal lawsuit right now and you may owe nothing to bring it.
Call Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC at (877) 700-5790 or request a free case review online.
Our firm takes FDCPA, TCPA, and FCRA cases on a contingency basis meaning there is no upfront cost to you. Under the FDCPA’s fee-shifting provision, when collectors violate the law and lose, they pay your attorney fees. You should never have to pay out of pocket to enforce your consumer rights.
Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC
Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC is a law firm that specializes in helping clients who are facing harassment from debt collectors in any form, including telephone communication. Our firm values the connection we build with clients, ensuring open communication and trust throughout the debt collection process. Rather than suffer alone, contact our office to begin the process to stop the Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen, P.C harassment. Our office has been assisting consumers since 2010. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
If you are interested in learning more about how to safeguard yourself and prevent harassment from Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen, P.C. call us at (877)700-5790 for immediate assistance or visit our website.
Success Stories
- Derek and Matt, are some of the best people I’ve ever met. I had a bad situation which they were quickly able to help get resolved. The open communication and fast response time, along with their patience and vast knowledge really helped ease my mind and confirm I made the right choice. Thank you Consumer Rights Law Firm!
- Had a scammer call me today trying to scam me out of almost $3k for a past bill for my ex-husband. After calling and emailing me all afternoon with the demand I pay it I contacted the Consumer Rights Law Firm for guidance. I received quick and helpful advice which confirmed my suspensions that it was a scam. Thank you for your quick and reassuring advice!
- I cannot thank this lawfirm enough for relieving the burden off of my shoulders. Matthew was absolutely amazing and all I had to do was make a singular call and he got it done immediately. Their professionalism and dedication were the key factors of my immediate trust with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen, P.C.?
Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen, P.C. is a Utah-based law firm that represents banks, mortgage servicers, and credit unions in debt collection, foreclosure, and enforcement actions.
2. Why is Scalley Reading Bates contacting me?
They are likely acting as legal counsel for a lender or creditor, meaning your account may have already been escalated to legal enforcement.
3. Does a letter from Scalley Reading Bates mean I’m being sued?
Not always. Some letters are pre-litigation demands, but others may relate to an active lawsuit. You should verify with the court to be sure.
4. Can Scalley Reading Bates garnish my wages or bank account?
Yes, but only after obtaining a valid court judgment and following Utah legal procedures, including wage exemption rules.
5. Can they foreclose on my property?
If the debt involves a mortgage and remains unpaid, they may initiate foreclosure proceedings on behalf of the lender.
6. Can I dispute a debt they are collecting?
Yes. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), you have 30 days to request debt validation and dispute the claim.
7. Are they required to follow FDCPA rules?
Yes. Even as a law firm, they must comply with federal debt collection laws, including restrictions on misleading or abusive practices.
8. What are warning signs of improper collection behavior?
Threatening legal action without intent, failing to validate a debt, excessive calls, or taking legal steps without proper authority.
9. Can they place a lien on my home or property?
Yes, but only after obtaining a court judgment and properly recording the lien under Utah law.
10. What should I do if I’m contacted by them?
Take it seriously. Review the claim, verify the debt, avoid rushing into payment, and consider speaking with a consumer protection attorney if needed.
