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Answer

Is Blatt, Hasenmiller, Leibsker & Moore legit -- and how do you deal with them?

Yes -- Blatt, Hasenmiller, Leibsker & Moore is a legitimate, licensed law firm, not a scam. It is a creditors'-rights / collection law firm that represents original creditors (such as banks and card issuers) and debt buyers, primarily on credit-card and other unsecured consumer accounts. Because it is a LAW FIRM, it collects by filing lawsuits, so the stakes and the timeline are different from a regular collection call: the number-one risk is a summons and complaint. If you are served, do NOT ignore it -- you must file a written answer with the court by the deadline (often only a few weeks), or the firm can obtain a default judgment, which can lead to wage garnishment or a bank levy. Importantly, an attorney who collects debts is still a "debt collector" under the FDCPA -- lawyers are not exempt -- so you keep your rights: demand written debt validation, and make whoever is suing PROVE it owns your account. If the plaintiff is a debt buyer, ask for the chain of title tracing the account from the original creditor; resold accounts often come with thin paperwork, and if ownership or the amount can't be documented, that weakens the case. Don't admit the debt or agree to pay until it's validated, dispute anything that isn't yours, and check the statute of limitations, because a payment or written promise can restart the clock. If the account is genuinely yours, validated, and within the statute of limitations, a charged-off unsecured balance can often be settled in writing -- and settling can end a lawsuit -- but get any agreement in writing before paying, and know a forgiven balance over $600 can trigger a 1099-C.

DW
By Dana Whitfield — Personal finance writer

Getting a letter -- or worse, a court summons -- from "Blatt, Hasenmiller, Leibsker & Moore" is alarming precisely because it comes from a law firm. Here's the calm version: it's a real firm that collects by suing. The single most important thing is to respond to any lawsuit on time and make the plaintiff prove it owns your account.

Short answer

Yes, Blatt, Hasenmiller, Leibsker & Moore is legit -- a licensed collection law firm that represents creditors and debt buyers on credit-card and unsecured accounts. Because a law firm collects by suing, never ignore a summons -- file a written answer by the deadline. A collecting attorney is still a debt collector, so you keep your validation rights.

If you've been served

Who they are

Blatt, Hasenmiller, Leibsker & Moore is a collection law firm representing creditors and debt buyers. Because it collects regularly, it is a debt collector under the FDCPA and must validate the amount in writing. Compare with another creditors'-rights firm.

Your rights

Is it a scam?

No -- Blatt, Hasenmiller, Leibsker & Moore is a real, licensed law firm, not a fake front. That's exactly why you should take any court paperwork seriously and respond on time.

If the debt is genuinely yours

Once it's validated, ownership is documented, and it's within the statute of limitations, a genuinely-owed unsecured balance can often be settled in writing -- and a settlement can resolve a lawsuit. Get any agreement in writing before you pay. If a forgiven balance exceeds $600, you may receive a 1099-C; consider asking a tax professional.

This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Your rights and timelines vary by state; consider consulting a qualified attorney, a nonprofit credit counselor, or legal aid.

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