Okay, I need to get this off my chest and hopefully get some guidance from people who have been in my shoes.
I first got a call from the Law Offices of Drociak & Yeager about a month ago. I let it go to voicemail because I don't answer unknown numbers. The message was super vague – just said to call them back about a "time-sensitive legal matter." That immediately set off alarm bells. I didn't call back because I figured if it was legit, they'd send something in writing.
Well, they didn't send anything. Instead, the calls escalated. They started calling my work phone, which was embarrassing because my receptionist took a message. Then they called my sister, which freaked me out because I have no idea how they even got her number. It feels like harassment at this point, but I know they're allowed to try to reach me.
Last week, I finally picked up just to make it stop. The guy I spoke with was professional but had that tone – you know, the one where they're trying to sound official and intimidating. He said I owed a debt from a store credit card I apparently opened back in 2019. He gave me the last four digits of an account number and said the balance was just over $4,200 with fees and interest.
Here's the problem: I don't remember that card. At all. I checked my old emails and bank statements and I can't find any record of it. I asked him to send me proof – a contract, a statement, anything – and he said they already sent letters to an old address. I moved twice since 2019, so I never got them. He told me I had a limited time to "resolve this" before they "recommend legal action to their client."
Now I'm in this horrible limbo. Every time my phone rings, my stomach drops. I'm terrified they're going to serve me papers at work. I've been reading about what happens if they get a default judgment and the thought of wage garnishment or a frozen bank account is keeping me up at night.
I don't know what to do first. Should I send a certified letter demanding debt validation even though they've already called me? I've heard that buys you time and forces them to prove the debt is mine. But I'm also scared that if I poke the bear, they'll just file the lawsuit faster.
Part of me wants to just offer a settlement to make this go away, even if the debt isn't mine. But I don't want to pay thousands of dollars for something I don't owe, and I definitely don't want to reset the statute of limitations by making a payment. The guy on the phone said they might take 60% as a lump sum, but I don't even have that kind of cash sitting around.
Has anyone actually gone through the court process with this firm? Do they usually follow through on threats, or is this mostly a scare tactic to get you to pay without fighting back? And if I do decide to settle, should I get everything in writing before I send a dime? I don't trust them at all at this point.
I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place. I can't afford a lawyer, but I also can't afford a judgment. Any practical advice – especially from someone who has dealt with this specific law office – would be a lifesaver right now. Thanks for letting me vent.
https://consumerlawfirmcenter.com/law-offices-of-drociak-yeager-calling/
