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Is Fein, Such, Kahn & Shepard legit -- and how should I handle them?

Yes -- Fein, Such, Kahn & Shepard, P.C. is a legitimate creditors'-rights law firm, not a scam. It is based in New Jersey, with attorneys admitted in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The single most important thing to understand about this firm is that a large share of its work is secured-debt litigation -- mortgage foreclosure, related bankruptcy matters, and post-sale evictions -- often on behalf of mortgage servicers and banks, alongside commercial and retail debt collection. So the first question is not "is it real," but "what kind of case is this?" -- because the answer changes your entire strategy. If it is a mortgage foreclosure, that is a secured debt tied to your home, and it is not something you "settle" through a consumer debt-relief or debt-settlement program. The real levers are the ones built into the foreclosure process itself: reinstatement, a repayment or forbearance plan, loan modification and other loss-mitigation options through the servicer, or, if keeping the home isn't the goal, a short sale or deed in lieu. There are legal notice and timeline requirements the firm must follow, and you generally have the right to respond in court and to seek help from a HUD-approved housing counselor or a foreclosure-defense attorney. Never route a mortgage into a settlement program, and never pay an upfront-fee "rescue" outfit. If instead the case is an unsecured or commercial collection matter -- because a law firm that regularly collects debts is still a debt collector, and attorneys are not exempt from the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act on consumer accounts -- then the standard playbook applies: request written validation, make the firm identify the original creditor and, if the debt was bought, the chain of title, and check the statute of limitations, since a single payment or written promise can restart that clock. Whatever the case type, a law firm collects by filing suit, so if you are served, do not ignore it: file a written answer with the court by the deadline, because a default judgment can lead to a lien, garnishment, or a bank levy. Watch for impostors -- a real firm names the case, the court, and the creditor and takes traceable payment. Only a validated, unsecured consumer account is negotiable; if you settle one in writing, a forgiven balance over $600 may generate a 1099-C. Rules and timelines vary by state, so get local advice.

DW
By Dana Whitfield — Personal finance writer

Getting court papers from "Fein, Such, Kahn & Shepard" is alarming -- and because so much of the firm's work is mortgage foreclosure, the stakes can be your home. The short version: it's a real creditors'-rights law firm, not a scam. The version that protects you is that a foreclosure case and a collection case call for completely different strategies -- so identify which one you have before you do anything.

Short answer

Yes, Fein, Such, Kahn & Shepard, P.C. is legit -- a New Jersey creditors'-rights law firm (also NY and PA) whose practice leans heavily on mortgage foreclosure and other secured-debt litigation, plus commercial and retail collection. What you do next depends on which kind of case it is.

First: which kind of case is this?

The firm handles both secured matters (mortgage foreclosure, evictions, related bankruptcy) and unsecured or commercial collection. These are not the same problem, and they don't have the same solution. Read the caption on your paperwork before you react.

If it's a mortgage foreclosure (secured)

A mortgage is a secured debt tied to your home -- it is not something you settle through a debt-relief program. The real levers are inside the process: reinstatement, forbearance, loan modification, and other loss-mitigation options through the servicer, or a short sale or deed in lieu if you're not keeping the home. You generally have the right to respond in court and to work with a HUD-approved housing counselor. Never route a mortgage into a settlement program, and never pay an upfront-fee "foreclosure rescue" outfit. See what happens if you stop paying your mortgage.

If it's an unsecured or commercial collection

A law firm that regularly collects debts is still a debt collector, and attorneys are not exempt from the FDCPA on consumer accounts. Request written validation, make the firm identify the original creditor and (on a bought account) the chain of title, and check the statute of limitations -- a payment can restart it. A genuinely commercial, business-to-business debt is handled differently and reviewed with a business attorney.

However it starts, if you're served

A law firm collects by filing suit. Don't ignore a summons -- file a written answer by the deadline, because a default judgment can lead to a lien, garnishment, or a bank levy.

Is it a scam?

No -- it's a real firm. But impostors borrow official-sounding names and demand gift cards or wires with threats. A real firm names the case, the court, and the creditor and takes traceable payment.

What's actually negotiable

Only a validated, unsecured consumer account is negotiable -- settle in writing and get the terms in writing before you pay; a forgiven balance over $600 may generate a 1099-C. A mortgage is not settled this way. 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, a HUD-approved housing counselor, legal aid, or your state attorney general's office.

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