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Answer

Is Andreu, Palma, Lavin & Solis legit -- and what do I do if they're suing me?

Yes -- Andreu, Palma, Lavin & Solis, PLLC is a legitimate law firm, not a scam. It is a Florida-based firm that handles debt collection, breach-of-contract claims, and judgment enforcement, and in many cases it also buys consumer accounts (such as charged-off credit cards) from creditors and then pursues them. Two things make a debt-collection law firm different from an ordinary agency, and both work in your favor if you act. First, a law firm collects by SUING, so the number-one risk is a summons -- and the number-one mistake is ignoring it. If you're served, never ignore it: file a written answer with the court by the deadline, because if you don't, the firm can get a default judgment that can lead to wage garnishment or a bank levy. Filing an answer forces the case to be proven. Second, a law firm that regularly collects debts is still a "debt collector" under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act -- attorneys are NOT exempt -- so you keep the right to demand written validation, and if the firm bought the debt, make it prove it actually owns your account (the chain of title from the original creditor). Don't admit the debt on a call, check the statute of limitations because a time-barred suit can be challenged, and get any agreement in writing. This is unsecured consumer debt (civil, no jail), so a validated, genuinely-owed balance can often be settled -- but do it in writing, and a forgiven balance over $600 can trigger a 1099-C. Court rules and timelines vary by state.

DW
By Dana Whitfield — Personal finance writer

A letter -- or worse, a summons -- from "Andreu, Palma, Lavin & Solis" is alarming because it comes from a law firm, not just a collection agency. The short version: it's a real Florida law firm, not a scam. The version that helps you is that a lawsuit is only as strong as the proof behind it, and you have rights that force that proof -- if you respond.

Short answer

Yes, Andreu, Palma, Lavin & Solis, PLLC is legit -- a Florida law firm that collects debts, sues, and sometimes buys the accounts it pursues. If you're served, never ignore it -- file a written answer by the deadline. Demand written validation, make the firm prove it owns the debt, and check the statute of limitations.

Who they are

Andreu, Palma, Lavin & Solis, PLLC is a Florida debt-collection law firm. It pursues consumer accounts through the courts and enforces judgments, and it frequently buys charged-off accounts from creditors and then collects on them. Because it regularly collects debts, it is a debt collector under the FDCPA -- and written validation forces it to prove the debt and who owns it.

Is it a scam?

No -- it's a real, licensed law firm. But impostors impersonate law firms: a real firm that has sued you files with an actual court and serves you properly, and a genuine collector validates in writing. Be wary of anyone who only calls, threatens instant arrest, and demands gift cards.

If you're being sued

How to deal with them

If the debt is really yours

This is unsecured consumer debt, so a validated, genuinely-owed balance can often be settled -- sometimes even after a suit is filed, before judgment. Offer a realistic lump sum or plan, insist on the firm's proof of ownership first, and get any agreement in writing before you pay; a forgiven balance over $600 can trigger a 1099-C. Court rules and timelines vary by state.

This page is general information, not legal or financial advice. Your rights and timelines vary by state; consider consulting a qualified attorney, legal aid, or your state attorney general's office.

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