Is Cohen & Cohen Law legit -- and how should I handle them?
Yes -- Cohen & Cohen Law, LLC is a legitimate, active debt-collection law firm based in the Bronx, New York, not a scam. If your paperwork shows the earlier name "Law Office of Steven Cohen, LLC," that is the same firm operating under a prior name, not a different or fake entity; law firms rebrand, and the address and phone carry over. It represents original creditors and debt buyers to collect credit-card, student-loan, medical, and other consumer accounts, and the way a collection law firm collects is by filing lawsuits. That means the single biggest risk here is a summons and complaint, not just a phone call. One thing to get straight first: this Bronx credit-collection firm is not the same as the well-known "Cohen & Cohen" personal-injury firms, and it is not the former Cohen & Slamowitz, which is now Selip & Stylianou -- so confirm the exact name and the Bronx, New York address on your paperwork before you engage. Here is the key legal point: an attorney or law firm that regularly collects consumer debts is still a "debt collector" under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) -- lawyers are not exempt -- so you keep every consumer protection. Send a written validation request within 30 days demanding the amount and the original creditor, and don't admit the debt on a call. If the plaintiff is a debt buyer rather than your original creditor, demand the chain of title -- the bill of sale, the assignment, and account-level records -- proving it owns YOUR specific account. If the underlying account is a medical bill, treat it as one first: demand an itemized statement, match it to your insurer's Explanation of Benefits (EOB), and ask the original provider about financial assistance -- medical balances are often reduced or corrected before any settlement. Check the statute of limitations, because an old account may already be time-barred -- and remember a single payment or a written promise to pay can restart the clock; if it's too old to sue on, raise a time-barred defense. Above all, if you're served with a summons, never ignore it: file a written answer by the deadline, because a default judgment is what enables wage garnishment, a bank levy, or a lien. A genuinely-owed unsecured balance, once validated and within the statute of limitations, can often be settled in writing -- get any agreement in writing before you pay, and note a forgiven balance over $600 can trigger a 1099-C. Finally, watch for impostor red flags: anyone demanding payment by gift cards, wire, or crypto, or threatening arrest, is running a scam and is not this firm.
Yes, Cohen & Cohen Law, LLC is legit -- a real, active debt-collection law firm in the Bronx, New York, not a scam. An earlier name, the Law Office of Steven Cohen, LLC, is the same firm, not an impostor. Because it collects by suing, the biggest risk is a summons: file a written answer by the deadline, demand written validation, and if a debt buyer is behind it, demand the chain of title.
Who they are -- and the name confusion
Cohen & Cohen Law, LLC is a law firm that regularly collects consumer debts -- credit-card, student-loan, medical, and other accounts -- for original creditors and debt buyers, primarily by filing lawsuits.
Same firm, prior name. The Law Office of Steven Cohen, LLC is the earlier name of the same Bronx practice -- not an impostor.
Don't confuse it with others. It is not the "Cohen & Cohen" personal-injury firms, and not the former Cohen & Slamowitz (now Selip & Stylianou). Confirm the exact name and Bronx, New York address.
Demand validation -- and proof of ownership
Send a written validation request within 30 days demanding the amount and the original creditor, and don't admit the debt on a call.
If a debt buyer is the plaintiff, demand the chain of title (the bill of sale, the assignment, and account-level records) proving it owns your account.
If it's a medical bill,itemize it and match your EOB first -- medical balances are often reduced before any settlement.
If you're sued -- and how to settle
Never ignore a summons. File a written answer by the deadline, or a default judgment can lead to wage garnishment, a bank levy, or a lien. Check the statute of limitations -- an old account may be time-barred, and a payment can restart the clock. A genuinely-owed unsecured balance, once validated and within the statute of limitations, can often be settled in writing, sometimes even after a case is filed; get any agreement in writing before you pay, and a forgiven balance over $600 may trigger a 1099-C. Watch for impostor red flags: demands for gift cards, wire, or crypto, or threats of arrest, are scams -- not this firm.
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.