Complaint Review: Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson

On May 28, 2001 I was honorably discharged from the Navy for medical reasons. I had been paying child support through the Navy by a garnishment that I set up through the courts the entire time I was enlisted. I first heard from LGB&S in March of 2007. They claimed that I owed the Navy $385 and change for a child support payment that was made by the Navy after my discharge. I asked for proof, which they provided in the form of a facsimile copy from the state court where the child support payments were made.

I told them that I was discharged from the Navy in May of 2001 and this was the first I had heard about it so it wasn't my problem, it was the Navy's. They ,(the representative from LGB&S), made the mistake of telling me that this was going to go on my credit report and that I WOULD pay in the end, either through a garnishment of my wages, or by the IRS withholding the amount from my taxes. I was furious.

Several months went by and I had received numerous phone calls and letters threatening me with legal action and bad credit. I told LGB&S the same thing every time, that there was no such thing as a "Debter's prison" and that I was not going to pay.

I decided to look up the Statute of Limitations in the state of Illinois, where I was stationed, and the state of Texas, where I reside. The statute on this type of debt, even though it is owed to the feds, is only 4 years in both states.

By the time I was notified, it had already been 6 years, 2 years past the S.O.L., so I decided to call THEM this time. I spoke with a very rude woman on the phone, who told me that "my credit had been PERMANENTLY damaged because I refused to pay" the Government back for their mistake.

I simply replied that "I am not the type of person that takes threats very well and I will not tolerate you or your firm treating me like an idiot. Don't presume to think I am stupid enough that I can be told my credit is permanently damaged or that I owe you or the Government anything. The statute of limitations has long since expired in both states and my credit report will be cleared in June of 2008, 7 years after the debt was first issued." I also told the lady that if I received any correspondence of ANY kind be it through the mail or a single phone call, that I would sue them for harassment and they would be the ones to pay.

Do not take any kind of abuse from these people. They are a collection agency, nothing more. Attorneys that misrepresent themselves in this way should be taken to the ABA and disbarred for violations of civil rights.

Adam
Houston, Texas
U.S.A.