Parnell Law Group LLC, historically operating under the name Parnell & Parnell P.A. and affiliated with Parnell & Crum P.A., is a regional debt collection law firm headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama. This page covers the firm’s FDCPA obligations, the rights you hold as a consumer under federal law, and the steps you need to take if you have received a collection letter, a demand for payment, or a court summons from this firm. Note: this firm is not affiliated with Parnall Law Firm in New Mexico or Parnell Firm PLLC in Michigan.
Who Is Parnell Law Group LLC?
Parnell Law Group LLC is a creditors’-rights and debt collection law firm operating primarily across Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and neighboring southeastern states. The firm has been in operation since 1979 per BBB records and functions as retained legal counsel for commercial creditors, medical networks, property managers, insurance companies, and institutional creditors, rather than purchasing debts outright.
Its listing on the Forwarders List attorney network confirms it accepts forwarded collection accounts from out-of-state creditors in practice areas including commercial debt, medical, bankruptcy, retail, student loan, subrogation, and transport.
Under Heintz v. Jenkins, 514 U.S. 291 (1995), attorneys who regularly litigate to collect consumer debts qualify as debt collectors subject to the FDCPA, and Parnell Law Group meets that standard.
The principal contact listed on the Forwarders List is Matt Parnell; the BBB profile lists Charles N. Parnell III as president of the associated entity.
Firm Details
| Street Address | 641 South Lawrence Street, Suite D, Montgomery, AL 36104 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 2189, Montgomery, AL 36102 |
| Primary Phone | (334) 832-4200 |
| Jackson, MS Office | 129 South President Street, Suite D, Jackson, MS 39201 | (866) 629-0912 |
| Established | 1979 (per BBB records) |
| Primary Function | Creditors’-rights litigation and consumer and commercial debt collection |
| FDCPA Status | Debt collector under 15 U.S.C. 1692a(6) and Heintz v. Jenkins, 514 U.S. 291 (1995) |
| BBB Status | Not BBB Accredited; D- rating; 3 complaints on file, none responded to |
Your Legal Rights Under the FDCPA
The FDCPA grants you five enforceable rights the moment Parnell Law Group contacts you, and a single violation exposes the firm to statutory damages of up to $1,000 per lawsuit 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, Parnell Law Group must send a written notice stating the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor, and your right to dispute the debt within 30 days. If you send a written dispute within that 30-day window, the firm must cease all collection activity until it provides written verification of the debt.
The failure to identify the original creditor in collection communications has been the basis of FDCPA class-action claims against other firms operating in the same geographic region and practice model as Parnell.
Prohibition on False or Misleading Representations (15 U.S.C. 1692e)
Section 1692e prohibits Parnell Law Group from making any false, deceptive, or misleading representation to collect a debt. This includes misrepresenting the character, amount, or legal status of a debt under 15 U.S.C. 1692e(2), threatening legal action the firm does not actually intend to take under 15 U.S.C. 1692e(5), and using any false or deceptive means under 15 U.S.C. 1692e(10).
In Franklin v. Arbor Station LLC, Justin Matthew Parnell, and Parnell & Crum P.A., Case No. 2:11-cv-294 (M.D. Ala. 2012), a consumer raised FDCPA claims under sections 1692e(2), 1692e(5), and 1692e(10) in connection with an eviction proceeding handled by attorney Justin Parnell, alleging false and misleading representations during state court proceedings.
Prohibition on Harassment and Abuse (15 U.S.C. 1692d)
Section 1692d prohibits Parnell Law Group from engaging in conduct whose natural consequence is to harass, oppress, or abuse you. Repeated calls intended to annoy, use of obscene language, and threats not permitted by law all fall within this prohibition. If the firm’s contact pattern exceeds what the FDCPA allows, each instance is a separate violation.
Restriction on Communication (15 U.S.C. 1692c)
Under 15 U.S.C. 1692c(c), a written cease-communication letter requires Parnell Law Group to stop contacting you except to confirm that collection is ending or to notify you of a specific legal action it actually intends to take. Send the letter by certified mail with a return receipt requested. Under 15 U.S.C. 1692c(a)(2), once Parnell Law Group knows you have retained an attorney, all further communications must go to your attorney, not to you directly.
Prohibition on Unfair Practices (15 U.S.C. 1692f)
Section 1692f prohibits Parnell Law Group from using unfair or unconscionable means to collect a debt, including attempting to collect any amount not authorized by the underlying agreement or permitted by law under 15 U.S.C. 1692f(1). In the Franklin case referenced above, the consumer also raised a 1692f(1) claim alleging that the firm attempted to collect legal fees prohibited under Alabama’s Uniform Residential Landlord Tenant Act.
Documented Consumer Complaints
Consumers have filed complaints against Parnell & Parnell on the BBB complaints directory, where three complaints are on file. The firm has not responded to any of them, a factor contributing directly to its D- BBB rating.
Non-response to formal complaints: The BBB profile shows the firm received three consumer complaints and failed to respond to all three. Under BBB methodology, failure to respond to complaints is a primary reason for a low rating and is logged as a pattern consumers can review at the BBB profile linked above.
Writ of Possession enforcement during pending appeal: In Franklin v. Arbor Station LLC, Justin Matthew Parnell, and Parnell & Crum P.A., Case No. 2:11-cv-294 (M.D. Ala. 2012), a consumer alleged that attorney Justin Parnell obtained a Writ of Possession while an appeal bond was still pending, which she claimed violated Alabama Rule of Civil Procedure 62(d) and her due process rights. The Magistrate Judge recommended dismissal of the claims on res judicata grounds, but the case record documents the consumer’s FDCPA allegations under sections 1692e and 1692f in connection with the eviction proceeding.
Commercial collections malpractice allegations: According to reporting by Law360, GE HealthCare Technologies Inc. filed a federal lawsuit in South Carolina alleging that Parnell & Parnell committed legal malpractice in a regional debt collection pipeline, including claims of failure to respond to consumer counterclaims. The firm initially sought dismissal by arguing service was accepted by an unauthorized party, then withdrew that motion. The case was pending at the time of Law360’s reporting.
To file your own complaint, use any of these resources:
If Parnell Law Group Has Filed a Lawsuit Against You
A civil lawsuit from Parnell Law Group requires a written Answer filed with the court before your response deadline, which ranges from 14 days in Alabama small claims to 30 days in most state civil courts, depending on where the case was filed.
Step 1: Confirm Your Service Date and Deadline. The Answer deadline runs from the date you were personally served, not the date you first read the paperwork. In Alabama, you typically have 14 days in district court and 30 days in circuit court. In South Carolina, Mississippi, and Georgia, the deadline is generally 30 days. Write the service date down and calculate the deadline immediately.
Step 2: File a Written Answer With the Court. Your Answer must be filed with the clerk of the same court listed on the summons. Calling Parnell Law Group or mailing them a letter does not stop the clock. The Answer is the only document that prevents a default judgment from being entered against you automatically.
Step 3: Understand the Default Judgment Consequence. If you do not file a timely Answer, the court enters a default judgment in Parnell’s favor without a hearing. A judgment gives the firm the legal authority to garnish wages, freeze bank accounts, and, in some states, place liens on real property. The Forwarders List confirms Parnell accepts minimum cases of $300, which means the firm pursues relatively small balances in volume, making default judgments a core part of its collection model.
Step 4: Assert Your Defenses in the Answer. Viable defenses include expiration of the statute of limitations on the underlying debt, failure to verify the debt under 15 U.S.C. 1692g before filing suit, failure to properly identify the original creditor in the complaint, improper service of process, and any FDCPA counterclaims arising from the firm’s own collection conduct. Court records show at least one Parnell-filed case was voluntarily dismissed after service problems arose, confirming that procedural defenses can have real effect.
If you have been served by Parnell Law Group, call Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC at 877-700-5790 or submit a free case review request before your deadline passes.
Payments, Settlements, and Resolution Options
Collection law firms regularly accept less than the full claimed balance on charged-off or older accounts, but the settlement range depends on the creditor’s instructions and the status of the case.
- Lump-Sum Settlement. Parnell Law Group represents creditors rather than purchasing debts outright, which typically means its settlement authority is limited by the creditor’s own policies. That said, negotiated reductions on commercial and consumer accounts are possible, particularly on older balances. Any settlement offer must be confirmed in a signed written agreement before any payment changes hands.
- Court-Filed Payment Plans. Court records show Parnell has used court-filed settlement agreements that lock consumers into fixed monthly payments, require certified funds, and include waivers of dispute rights. If you enter a payment plan through the firm’s court filings, review every term carefully before signing, because the agreement may limit your ability to raise future defenses.
- Litigation Settlement. If Parnell has already filed suit, settlement negotiations can continue up to trial. A stipulated dismissal filed with the court eliminates the lawsuit and the judgment risk. Any settlement reached in litigation should be memorialized in a court-filed document, not just a private letter.
- Statute of Limitations Defense. In Alabama, the statute of limitations on written contracts is six years under Ala. Code section 6-2-34. On open accounts, it is six years as well. In Mississippi, the limit is three years on open accounts under Miss. Code section 15-1-29. If Parnell has filed suit on a debt past these deadlines, the lawsuit may be subject to dismissal, and filing on a time-barred debt may itself be a violation of 15 U.S.C. 1692e.
Important: Always obtain a written agreement before making any payment, and confirm whether the account will be reported to the credit bureaus as “paid in full” or “settled for less than the full amount.” The distinction affects your credit report and any remaining disputed balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Parnell Law Group a legitimate law firm?
Yes. Parnell Law Group LLC is a licensed Alabama law firm with offices in Montgomery, Alabama and Jackson, Mississippi, operating since 1979 per BBB records. Receiving a letter or summons from Parnell Law Group is a real legal event that requires a timely, written response.
Why is Parnell Law Group contacting me?
Parnell Law Group contacts consumers on behalf of a creditor that claims you owe a balance on a commercial account, medical bill, lease, credit line, or other obligation. The firm was retained to recover that balance through demand letters, court-filed settlement agreements, or civil litigation.
How do I request verification of the debt?
Under 15 U.S.C. 1692g, you must send a written debt verification request within 30 days of receiving Parnell’s initial written notice. Send the letter by certified mail with return receipt requested and retain a copy. Once your written dispute is received, the firm must stop all collection activity until it provides written verification, including the name and address of the original creditor.
How do I stop Parnell Law Group from contacting me?
Under 15 U.S.C. 1692c(c), you may send a written cease-communication letter to Parnell Law Group. 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 actually intends to take. Send the letter by certified mail and retain the delivery confirmation. Continued contact after receipt of a valid cease letter is a separate FDCPA violation for each instance.
What is the statute of limitations on the debt Parnell is collecting?
The applicable deadline depends on the state and the type of account. In Alabama, written contracts carry a six-year statute of limitations under Ala. Code section 6-2-34. In Mississippi, open accounts carry a three-year limit under Miss. Code section 15-1-29. In South Carolina, the limit on written contracts is three years under S.C. Code section 15-3-530. If the debt is past the applicable deadline, filing a lawsuit may itself violate 15 U.S.C. 1692e. An attorney can confirm whether the deadline has expired on your specific account.
What happens if I ignore a lawsuit from Parnell Law Group?
The court enters a default judgment against you automatically if you do not file a written Answer before your deadline. With a default judgment, Parnell Law Group can garnish wages, freeze bank accounts, and in some states attach liens to property, all without a further hearing. If you have been served, call 877-700-5790 immediately.
Will a Parnell Law Group judgment appear on my credit report?
Parnell Law Group is a law firm, not a credit reporting agency, and does not report directly to Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. However, the original creditor or debt buyer on whose behalf Parnell files may have already reported the delinquent account. A court judgment obtained by Parnell can itself appear as a public record on your credit report. Addressing the judgment before it is entered protects both your legal position and your credit file.
Where can I file a complaint about Parnell Law Group?
You can file a complaint with the at consumerfinance.gov/complaint, the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov, the Alabama Attorney General at ago.alabama.gov, or with the BBB complaints page for Parnell & Parnell. If the firm violated the FDCPA, you may have a private right of action under 15 U.S.C. 1692k for up to $1,000 in statutory damages, your actual losses, and attorney’s fees.
Can I sue Parnell Law Group for FDCPA violations?
Yes. Under 15 U.S.C. 1692k, any consumer harmed by an FDCPA violation may sue in federal or state court within one year of the violation. If you prevail, the court awards you up to $1,000 in statutory damages per action, your actual out-of-pocket damages, and attorney’s fees paid by the violating firm. Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC handles FDCPA cases on a contingency basis, meaning no legal fees unless there is a recovery.
Parnell Law Group 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 on other collection law firms operating across the Southeast and nationally, 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.
