What to Do If Rubin and Rothman Contacts You

Rubin and Rothman LLC is a high-volume creditors’ rights law firm based in Islandia, New York, that files thousands of consumer debt lawsuits each year across New York and neighboring states. This page covers the firm’s FDCPA obligations, documented complaint patterns, how to respond to a lawsuit or summons, and your options if you received a letter, a phone call, or court papers.

Who Is Rubin and Rothman LLC?

Rubin and Rothman LLC is a creditors’ rights law firm headquartered at 1787 Veterans Memorial Highway, Islandia, New York 11749, operating for over 50 years. The firm does not purchase debts; it is retained as legal counsel to file lawsuits and obtain judgments on behalf of major original creditors and debt buyers, including Capital One, Citibank, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Discover Bank, LVNV Funding, Midland Funding, National Collegiate Student Loan Trust, Ford Motor Credit, and Toyota Motor Credit.

According to New York State Unified Court System data, Rubin and Rothman filed 15,978 New York debt collection lawsuits in 2021 across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau County, and Suffolk County. The firm is licensed in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and additional Northeastern states.

Under Heintz v. Jenkins, 514 U.S. 291 (1995), attorneys who regularly collect consumer debts through litigation are “debt collectors” under the FDCPA and are bound by its full requirements.

Your Legal Rights Under the FDCPA

The FDCPA grants you four immediately enforceable rights against Rubin and Rothman, and authorizes up to $1,000 in statutory damages per violation plus attorney fees under 15 U.S.C. § 1692k.

Right to Debt Validation — 15 U.S.C. § 1692g

Within 30 days of the first written notice from Rubin and Rothman, you may send a written validation request demanding verification of the debt and the name and address of the original creditor. The firm must cease collection activity until it provides that verification. Send the request by certified mail, return receipt requested, and keep your copy. Missing the 30-day window forfeits the automatic cessation right, though you retain the right to dispute at any time.

Right Against False or Misleading Statements — 15 U.S.C. § 1692e

Rubin and Rothman may not misrepresent the character, amount, or legal status of any debt. The firm may not imply a lawsuit has been filed before one has, threaten actions it does not intend to take, or make false representations about the consequences of nonpayment. Any such statement is a violation of § 1692e(5) or § 1692e(10), and each violation is independently actionable.

Right Against Harassment — 15 U.S.C. § 1692d

Rubin and Rothman may not engage in conduct whose natural consequence is to harass, oppress, or abuse. Threatening to demand bank account routing numbers over the phone as a precondition to discussing any settlement, without first providing a written agreement, can constitute oppressive conduct under this section. Document every call: date, time, duration, and the name of the representative.

Right to Stop Contact — 15 U.S.C. § 1692c

A written cease-communication request sent by certified mail requires Rubin and Rothman to stop contacting you. The firm retains the right to notify you of a specific legal action it intends to take. Ceasing contact does not stop a pending lawsuit or eliminate the debt, but it ends informal collection pressure and shifts all subsequent communication to written form.

Documented Consumer Complaints

Consumer complaints against Rubin and Rothman appear in the CFPB complaint database, on the BBB complaints page, and in federal court FDCPA filings.

Sewer service and default judgments obtained without actual notice: A recurring complaint pattern documented by New York consumer defense attorneys involves Rubin and Rothman’s process servers failing to deliver court papers to the actual consumer. Because the consumer never receives the summons, they miss the response deadline and a default judgment is entered automatically. The consumer typically discovers the judgment only when their bank account is frozen or a wage garnishment begins. New York courts permit a motion to vacate a default judgment on grounds of defective service, but that motion must be filed promptly.

Enforcement of aged judgments without prior consumer knowledge: BBB complaints and consumer forum accounts describe Rubin and Rothman activating judgments on debts that are 15 to 20 years old, resulting in sudden bank account freezes or workplace wage garnishments. In many cases consumers report having no knowledge a lawsuit was ever filed, which is consistent with improper service patterns.

Proceeding after debt validation requests go unanswered: Consumers report sending written verification requests under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g and receiving no response, yet seeing the firm continue collection activity including credit bureau reporting and account freezes. Continuing collection while a timely validation request is pending is a per-se FDCPA violation.

To file your own complaint: CFPB online complaint form | FTC Report Fraud | New York Attorney General: ag.ny.gov.

If Rubin and Rothman have filed a Lawsuit Against You

A summons from Rubin and Rothman means a state court complaint is on file, and your response clock started the moment you were served.

Step 1: Confirm how and when you were served. New York Civil Court gives you 20 days to respond after personal service (someone handed you the papers). If service was made by substitute or nail-and-mail methods, the deadline extends to 30 days. The date on the affidavit of service, not the date you opened an envelope, controls the deadline.

Step 2: Verify the case in the public court system. Check the New York State Unified Court System at nycourts.gov using your name and county. Confirm the index number, plaintiff, and any scheduled hearing date before taking any other action.

Step 3: File a written Answer before the deadline. Filing an Answer, even a general denial, prevents a default judgment and forces Rubin and Rothman to produce evidence at a hearing. The firm relies on automated default wins; a filed Answer breaks that process and frequently leads to a discounted settlement offer or dismissal.

Step 4: Know New York’s Consumer Credit Fairness Act protections. The CCFA, effective 2022, requires debt collectors to include documentation with the complaint showing the basis for the debt, provides a six-year statute of limitations for most consumer credit claims under CPLR § 213, and prohibits suing on time-barred debts. If the complaint lacks the required documentation or the debt is past the limitation period, raise these as defenses in your Answer.

Step 5: If a default judgment already exists, file a motion to vacate. A default judgment obtained through defective service can be challenged by filing an Order to Show Cause in the court that issued the judgment. A successful motion requires Rubin and Rothman to prove its case from the beginning. Act promptly: delay weakens the motion.

Call 877-700-5790 or request a free case review to evaluate your deadline and your options before the window closes.

Payments, Settlements, and Resolution Options

Rubin and Rothman settles a significant share of its cases, and the discount available to you increases substantially once you file an Answer and force the firm to handle your case manually.

Lump-sum settlement. When the underlying creditor is a debt buyer such as LVNV Funding or Midland Funding that acquired the account at a fraction of face value, settlement below the stated balance is realistic. Settlements of 40 to 75 percent below the original balance are documented in cases where the consumer filed an Answer and the firm could not produce a complete chain-of-title or original account documentation.

Structured payment plan. Rubin and Rothman offers payment arrangements, particularly after a judgment is in place. Confirm in writing whether interest continues to accrue during the plan, and get the final payoff amount specified in the agreement before any payment is sent.

Motion to vacate a default judgment. If the judgment was obtained through improper service, vacating it through an Order to Show Cause eliminates the basis for any garnishment or bank freeze and restores your ability to negotiate from a non-judgment posture. This is the highest-leverage option available to consumers who never received the original summons.

Bankruptcy. Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy imposes an automatic stay that immediately halts all collection activity including garnishments, bank levies, and information subpoenas. Consult a bankruptcy attorney to evaluate whether this fits your overall financial situation.

Critical note on written agreements: Never send a payment without a signed written settlement agreement specifying the exact amount, the payment schedule, how the account will be reported to credit bureaus, and that the case will be dismissed or the judgment satisfied upon payment. Do not provide bank routing numbers or electronic payment authorization over the phone before you have received and signed a written agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rubin and Rothman LLC a legitimate law firm?

Yes. Rubin and Rothman is a licensed creditors’ rights law firm with over 50 years of operation, holding a NYC DCWP license and an A+ BBB rating. The firm is not a scam. Legitimacy does not mean the amount they claim is accurate, the debt is still legally collectible under New York’s statute of limitations, or they possess adequate documentation to prove the chain of ownership at trial.

Why is Rubin and Rothman contacting me?

A creditor or debt buyer has retained Rubin and Rothman to collect on an account it claims you owe. Common clients include Capital One, Citibank, LVNV Funding, Midland Funding, and National Collegiate Student Loan Trust. You may not recognize the firm’s name because the original debt was charged off and transferred before Rubin and Rothman became involved.

How do I request debt validation from Rubin and Rothman?

Under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g, send a written validation request by certified mail, return receipt requested, within 30 days of the first written notice. Rubin and Rothman must stop collection activity until it provides written verification, including the name and address of the original creditor. Keep the certified mail receipt and a copy of your letter. If the firm continues collection activity after receiving a timely request without responding, that is a per-se FDCPA violation.

How do I stop contact from Rubin and Rothman?

Under 15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c), a written cease-communication request sent by certified mail requires the firm to stop contacting you. Rubin and Rothman may still proceed with or file a lawsuit after receiving that letter. Stopping phone contact does not stop litigation.

What is the statute of limitations for a Rubin and Rothman lawsuit in New York?

New York’s CPLR § 213 imposes a six-year statute of limitations on written contracts, including credit card agreements. The New York Consumer Credit Fairness Act, effective 2022, reinforces this limit and requires the complaint itself to show the basis for the debt. If the original default predates the six-year window, raise the time-barred defense in your Answer. Making any payment on an old debt can restart the clock in some circumstances; consult an attorney before paying on any account you believe may be outside the limitations period.

What happens if I ignore a lawsuit from Rubin and Rothman?

The court enters a default judgment automatically. Rubin and Rothman can then freeze your bank account, garnish wages under New York’s 10% of gross earnings cap (or federal limits if lower), and issue information subpoenas requiring you to disclose assets. Many consumers discover the judgment only when their paycheck is reduced or their bank account is inaccessible. Call 877-700-5790 before your response deadline.

I was never served, but I have a default judgment against me. What can I do?

If Rubin and Rothman obtained a default judgment through defective or fraudulent service, an attorney can file an Order to Show Cause to vacate the judgment in the court that issued it. A successful motion restores your right to contest the case and stops enforcement actions. Act quickly: courts weigh delays against the moving party.

Will this debt appear on my credit report?

The original creditor’s charged-off tradeline and any collection entry remain on your Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion reports for up to seven years from the date of first delinquency under 15 U.S.C. § 1681c. A judgment appears in the public records section. Satisfying a judgment updates its status but does not remove it from your report before the seven-year period expires.

Where do I file a complaint against Rubin and Rothman?

File with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint, the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and the New York Attorney General at ag.ny.gov. A violation of the FDCPA gives you a private right of action to sue for actual damages plus up to $1,000 in statutory damages and attorney fees under 15 U.S.C. § 1692k.

For a broader overview of debt collection law firms and your federal rights, visit our collection attorneys resource page. You can also search our complete list of collection agencies in the United States to identify other firms that may be contacting you.