If Schreiber Law Firm is calling you, sending collection letters, or threatening legal action, you need to understand two things immediately: they are a real, licensed debt collection law firm and being a law firm does not place them above the federal and state laws that govern how collectors must treat you. Schreiber Law Firm debt collection harassment is documented across public complaint platforms, and the tactics consumers describe, threatening wage garnishment, filing suits without notice, processing unauthorized payments, and pursuing debts they may not be able to validate can cross legal lines that entitle you to compensation.
Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC has been stopping debt collector harassment since 2010. A+ BBB rated. Call (877) 700-5790 or visit our website for a free case review. You pay nothing. If Schreiber Law Firm broke the law, they pay our fees.
Quick Facts About Schreiber Law Firm
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Legal Name | The Schreiber Law Firm, LLC (also operates as Schreiber Law, LLC) |
| Headquarters | 53 Stiles Road, Suite A102, Salem, NH 03079-2890 |
| Additional Offices | 186 Center Street, Wallingford, CT 06492; 148 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101; 496 Conti Court, Bolton, VT 05676 |
| Founded | 2003 |
| States Licensed | Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont |
| BBB Status | BBB Accredited (since May 1, 2013); A+ rating |
| BBB Complaints (3 years) | 10 total; 2 closed in the last 12 months |
| Founding Attorney | Jeffrey A. Schreiber |
| General Counsel | Edward Dial Jr. |
| Main Phone | (603) 212-9447 |
| Other Phones | (603) 870-5333, (603) 685-3403, (617) 206-3615 |
| Website | schreiblw.com |
| Who They Collect For | Midland Credit Management (Encore Capital Group), JP Morgan Chase, Discover Card, Resurgent Capital Services, debt buyers, and other credit card issuers |
| Debt Types | Consumer credit cards, Best Buy card accounts, retail credit accounts, charged-off consumer debt |
Are These Calls and Letters from Schreiber Law Firm Legal?
Debt collection law firms like Schreiber Law are fully covered by federal and state consumer protection laws. The Supreme Court confirmed in Heintz v. Jenkins (1995) that attorneys engaged in debt collection are “debt collectors” under the FDCPA, meaning they must follow the same rules as collection agencies.
Key legal limits that may apply include:
- FDCPA applies to all collection communications, threats, and conduct, including attorneys.
- TCPA may apply if robocalls or automated calls are used.
- New Hampshire RSA 358-C also regulates debt collection and can apply alongside federal law.
Potential violations described include:
- Excessive calling (more than 7 times in 7 days) under CFPB Regulation F.
- Calling outside allowed hours (before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.) under FDCPA §805(a).
- False or premature threats of lawsuits or wage garnishment under FDCPA §807.
- Attempting to collect time-barred debt, especially without disclosure of legal enforceability.
- Unauthorized payment processing or withdrawal.
- Continuing contact after a written cease-and-desist request under FDCPA §805(c).
“In our practice, what stands out about collection law firms specifically is the combination of legal threats and debt collection tactics used in the same communication. A letter that looks like a lawsuit filing with case numbers, attorney signatures, and urgent deadlines can create the false impression that legal action has already begun when it has not. That impression, if misleading, may be an FDCPA §807 violation regardless of how it was intended.”
What Type of Debt Does Schreiber Law Firm Collect?
Schreiber Law Firm operates throughout New England and describes itself as “New England’s premier collection law firm” in its National Creditors Bar Association listing. Its founding attorney Jeffrey A. Schreiber has publicly listed Midland Credit Management (a division of NYSE-traded Encore Capital Group), JP Morgan Chase, Discover Card, and Resurgent Capital Services among the global financial institutions he represents.
According to BBB complaint records, specific account types consumers have dealt with through Schreiber Law include Best Buy credit card accounts, credit card accounts associated with major national banks, and charged-off consumer balances that have been purchased by debt buyers. In multiple BBB complaints, consumers have referenced accounts from Citibank NA consistent with Schreiber Law’s work for large credit card issuers.
Schreiber Law is what the industry calls a “collection law firm.” This means they function both as attorneys and as debt collectors filing lawsuits in state courts across New England to obtain judgments, then enforcing those judgments through wage executions, liens, and bank levies. Consumers dealing with Schreiber Law are often in a more legally advanced stage of the collection process than they might realize.
What our clients tell us when they first contact us about a collection law firm is that they assumed the calls and letters were a standard part of dealing with a debt that they would eventually stop, or that the firm was just making noise. In many cases, these firms are actively pursuing court judgments that could result in wage garnishment or liens. Understanding what stage of the collection process you are actually in is critical before you respond to anything.
Is Schreiber Law Firm Legitimate or a Scam?
Schreiber Law Firm is a legitimate, licensed law firm. It is not a scam operation. It has been licensed to practice law since 2003, is registered with the New Hampshire Bar Association (License No. 16874), is BBB Accredited with an A+ rating, and is a member of the National Creditors Bar Association. Its founding attorney has practiced for decades and has been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell and The American Lawyer.
Being a legitimate, licensed firm does not mean their conduct is always within legal limits. BBB complaints against Schreiber Law describe consumers who were never served notice of lawsuits, default judgments obtained against consumers who had no opportunity to respond, liens placed on property belonging to the wrong person, unauthorized bank account withdrawals, and collection activity on accounts past the statute of limitations. If any of those situations applies to you, the legitimacy of the firm does not protect them from FDCPA liability.
One thing consumers often misunderstand about collection law firms is that the FDCPA’s “meaningful attorney involvement” rule applies to them. A letter sent on law firm letterhead, signed by an attorney, implies that an attorney has personally reviewed the account and made a professional judgment about the debt’s validity. If a law firm sends collection letters using attorney signatures without that actual review having occurred, that representation may be false or misleading under FDCPA §807. The CFPB has taken enforcement action against law firms for exactly this type of conduct in other cases.
BBB Complaints: What Consumers Are Actually Reporting
The Better Business Bureau profile for The Schreiber Law Firm shows 10 complaints in the last three years, with 2 closed in the last 12 months. Here are three verified, specific complaints in consumers’ own words.
- Complaint 1: Consumer alleges that Schreiber Law repeatedly harassed them through calls and emails while attempting to collect a disputed debt without providing debt validation, raising potential FDCPA §809(b) concerns if collection activity continued before the debt was properly verified.
- Complaint 2: Consumer alleges that Schreiber Law mistakenly placed a property lien on their home because they shared the same name as the actual debtor; although the firm later released the lien, the wrongful encumbrance may raise potential FDCPA §808 concerns involving unfair collection practices.
- Complaint 3: Consumer alleges that Schreiber Law attempted to collect a debt they believed was beyond the statute of limitations, failed to provide the required validation notice or demand letter, and obtained a default judgment that resulted in wage garnishment without proper notice, raising potential issues under the FDCPA, FCRA, and applicable state law.
Consumer Reviews Across Platforms
Consumer reviews about Schreiber Law Firm appear on Birdeye, Martindale-Hubbell, and FindLaw, alongside the BBB complaint record. At Birdeye, the firm has 325 reviews with a 3.7-star average. While some reviews describe positive payment-plan experiences, the negative ones raise specific, verified concerns about the firm’s collection conduct.
One Birdeye reviewer wrote:
“After working with Joseph Carmody for a few months and several phone calls trying to work out a settlement, suddenly my account was transferred to Lauren Sargent. After requesting a transcript of the account Schreiber filed suit against me for, they proceeded to process an authorized payment through my bank account after I asked them not to. I was told they were in the process of sending me a complete transcript of the account they were handling including all charges and payments, which they didn’t make good on.”
Processing a payment from a bank account without authorization may violate FDCPA §808(1), which prohibits collection of any amount not expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law.
On the BBB consumer review page, two posted reviews reflect the consumer experience directly:
“Communication is horrible. I’ve made multiple phone calls, left multiple messages, sent numerous emails with zero response.”
“They send absolutely outdated convoluted information from years past what is allowed. My credit information was stolen then I got this nonsense which they have never proven or provided any way to show it was ever mine bullied it through court in 4 months time no time to even fight it.”
Federal Cases Filed Against Schreiber Law Firm
Schreiber Law Firm has been named as a defendant in federal consumer protection litigation. These are verified cases from public court records.
Source: CourtListener
Brodeur v. The Schreiber Law Firm
A plaintiff filed a federal complaint against The Schreiber Law Firm in the District of Massachusetts under the FDCPA. The case was filed on October 1, 2012, in federal district court. Full document access requires a PACER account; docket information is publicly available through CourtListener.
What this means for you: Consumer complaints against debt collection law firms in federal court are not unusual, but they are significant. Federal FDCPA suits must be filed within one year of the violation. If Schreiber Law’s conduct toward you occurred within the last twelve months, your window to file is still open.
Source: CourtListener
Jeruss v. Schreiber Law Firm, LLC
Plaintiff Melinda Jeruss filed an FDCPA complaint against Schreiber Law Firm in the District of Connecticut on October 11, 2013. The case proceeded through initial filings before voluntary dismissal on January 21, 2014. The case was presided over by Judge Janet Bond Arterton.
What this means for you: Connecticut consumers dealing with Schreiber Law have both federal FDCPA protections and Connecticut state consumer protection law available. The firm’s Wallingford, CT office means Connecticut consumers are within their direct geographic collection territory meaning the firm is actively pursuing Connecticut debtors in Connecticut courts.
Your Full Legal Rights When Schreiber Law Firm Is Contacting You
- FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act): Applies fully to Schreiber Law Firm. It governs calling limits (7-in-7 rule), call time restrictions (8 a.m. to 9 p.m.), false threats of lawsuits or garnishment, debt validation rights, cease-and-desist rights, and third-party disclosure bans. Remedies may include up to $1,000 in statutory damages per case, plus actual damages and attorney fees.
- New Hampshire RSA 358-C (UDUCPA): State law regulating unfair or deceptive debt collection practices in New Hampshire. It can provide additional remedies, including damages, attorney fees, and enhanced penalties for willful violations under RSA 358-A. Enforced by the NH Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Bureau.
- FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act): Applies when incorrect information is reported to credit bureaus (wrong balances, dates, or outdated accounts). Furnishers must investigate disputes within 30 days and correct inaccurate data.
- Connecticut Protections: Connecticut law adds a six-year statute of limitations on credit card debt and may bar collection on time-barred accounts.
- Massachusetts Chapter 93A: Prohibits unfair or deceptive practices in debt collection and allows double or triple damages for knowing or willful violations.
One thing consumers often misunderstand is that debt collection law firms are not exempt from consumer protection law because they are attorneys. The FDCPA specifically covers law firms. Every violation that a collection agency could commit can also be committed by a collection law firm and carrying a bar license does not create a safe harbor from those violations.
Schreiber Law Firm FDCPA Violations
| Violation | Real Example | Statute | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calls before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. | Early morning or late-night calls about a credit card debt | FDCPA §805(a)(1) | Up to $1,000 per violation |
| Calls to workplace after you told them not to | Firm calls your employer after you asked them to stop | FDCPA §805(a)(3) | Up to $1,000; actual damages |
| Disclosing debt to a third party | Firm discusses balance with family member, neighbor, or employer | FDCPA §805(b) | Up to $1,000; actual damages |
| Continuing contact after written cease-and-desist | Calls continue after certified letter demanding they stop | FDCPA §805(c) | Up to $1,000 per call after receipt |
| False threats of wage garnishment without a judgment | “We will garnish your wages by Friday” before a judgment exists | FDCPA §807 | Up to $1,000; actual damages |
| False implication that attorney personally reviewed file | Collection letter signed by attorney without actual review | FDCPA §807(3) | Up to $1,000; actual damages |
| Placing a lien on the wrong person’s property | Lien filed on incorrect property due to name confusion | FDCPA §808 | Up to $1,000; actual damages |
| Processing an unauthorized bank payment | Withdrawing funds from account after consumer revoked consent | FDCPA §808(1) | Up to $1,000; actual damages; potential EFTA claim |
| Failure to send validation notice within 5 days of first contact | No written notice of debt, rights, or creditor name provided | FDCPA §809(a) | Up to $1,000; collection must halt |
| Collecting on a time-barred debt without disclosing its status | Pursuing a 7+ year old debt past NH’s 3-year SOL on credit cards | FDCPA §807; NH RSA 358-C | Up to $1,000 federal; state double/triple damages for willful violations |
| Calling more than 7 times in any 7-day period | Daily multiple calls about the same debt | Reg. F, 12 C.F.R. §1006.14 | Presumption of harassment; up to $1,000 |
What To Do Next: 5 Steps to Protect Yourself from Schreiber Law Firm
Step 1: Document every contact immediately. Every call, every letter, every email. For calls: date, exact time, number on caller ID, name of representative, exactly what was said. For letters: keep the original envelope and the letter itself. Do not discard anything. If Schreiber Law has threatened legal action, take the letter seriously, they are a litigation firm and they do file suits. The more complete your documentation, the stronger your legal position.
Step 2: Do not confirm the debt or make any payment before validating. You have the right to request written validation of the debt before you pay, acknowledge, or negotiate anything. Making even a partial payment can restart the statute of limitations in many states, including New Hampshire (3-year SOL on credit cards) and Connecticut (6 years). Until you have confirmed the debt is valid, the balance is accurate, and the account has not passed the applicable statute of limitations, say nothing about the account.
Step 3: Send a debt validation letter by certified mail. Within 30 days of first contact from Schreiber Law, send a written demand for validation. They must provide the name of the original creditor, an itemized balance breakdown, and documentation of the chain of account ownership. All collection must stop until written verification is provided. Send to: The Schreiber Law Firm, 53 Stiles Road, Suite A102, Salem, NH 03079-2890. Certified mail only. Keep the green return card.
Step 4: If you’ve been sued or received court papers, respond. Do not ignore a lawsuit. If Schreiber Law files a collection suit in state court and you do not respond, they will get a default judgment which gives them the legal authority to garnish wages or place liens. Respond to the lawsuit even if you dispute the debt. An attorney can help you assert FDCPA and state law counterclaims in your response, which may actually put money in your pocket rather than the other way around.
Step 5: File complaints and call a consumer attorney. File with the FTC, with the CFPB, and with the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Bureau. Call Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC at (877) 700-5790 or visit our website for a free case review. If Schreiber Law violated the FDCPA, they pay our attorney fees. You pay nothing.
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. Rather than suffer alone, contact our office to begin the process to stop the Schreiber Law LLC harassment. Our office has been assisting consumers since 2010. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. People lock arms to stand against harassment, emphasizing the importance of community support.
If you are interested in learning more about how to safeguard yourself and prevent harassment from Schreiber Law LLC call us at 877-700-5790 for immediate assistance or visit our website.
Success Stories
- After being threatened by a shady debt collector, I felt scared and confused. I contacted Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC, and they immediately took charge. Their team was responsive, respectful, and genuinely cared about helping me. I was no longer alone in the fight, and they helped me regain control of the situation.
- I found this firm online during a panic attack over a debt collector threatening me with legal action. From the moment I contacted them, I felt supported. They handled the case quickly, and the harassing calls stopped. Even better, I received compensation at the end! Their help was truly life-changing.
- I was dealing with an aggressive collections agency calling me non-stop, even at work. Consumer Rights Law Firm took my case and shut them down almost immediately. They were so kind and even helped me win a small settlement. I can’t thank them enough for standing up for me and protecting my rights.
FAQs
Who is Schreiber Law LLC and why are they contacting me?
Schreiber Law LLC is a debt collection law firm that contacts consumers regarding unpaid debts. If they are calling or sending letters, it is usually about an account they are attempting to collect on behalf of a creditor.
Is Schreiber Law LLC allowed to harass me over a debt?
No, they are not allowed to harass you. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits harassment, threats, misleading statements, and excessive contact by debt collectors, including law firms.
What should I do if Schreiber Law LLC is harassing me?
You should document all communication, including call logs, letters, and voicemails. Sending a cease-and-desist letter is an option, and contacting a consumer rights attorney may be appropriate if the harassment continues.
Can I sue Schreiber Law LLC for debt collection harassment?
Yes, if Schreiber Law LLC violates the FDCPA or TCPA, you may be able to sue for statutory damages, compensation for emotional distress, and attorney’s fees.
Does Schreiber Law LLC use robocalls or aggressive tactics?
Some consumers report receiving automated calls or repeated contact that feels aggressive. If such communication occurs without consent, it may violate federal consumer protection laws.
How do I stop Schreiber Law LLC from contacting me?
You can send a written request asking them to cease all communication under the FDCPA. Continued contact after such a request may strengthen a harassment claim.
Can Schreiber Law LLC contact my family or employer about my debt?
No, debt collectors cannot discuss your debt with family members, employers, or other third parties. Doing so may violate your privacy and federal law.
Phone Numbers Schreiber Law Firm May Use
| 603-212-9003 | 603-870-5333 | 603-893-1903 |
| 800-423-8142 | 866-718-3328 | 877-262-7712 |
