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Answer

Is Gordon, Aylworth & Tami legit -- and how do you deal with them?

Yes -- Gordon, Aylworth & Tami, P.C. is a legitimate, long-established debt-collection law firm, not a scam. It's based in Eugene, Oregon, and its attorneys are licensed to practice across the Pacific Northwest -- Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Because it's a law firm rather than a call-center agency, the way it collects is by taking legal action: it files lawsuits on behalf of original creditors (banks, card issuers, lenders) and sometimes for debt buyers that purchased charged-off accounts. That means the biggest risk here is a court case, and the single most important thing you can do is not ignore a summons. If you're served, you generally have a short window to file a written answer with the court -- miss it and the firm can get a default judgment, which opens the door to wage garnishment or a bank levy. A lawyer who regularly collects debts is still a "debt collector" under the FDCPA -- being an attorney does not make them exempt -- so you keep your rights: demand written validation of the amount and the creditor, don't admit the debt on a call, and check the statute of limitations, because a payment or a written promise can restart the clock and even revive a time-barred debt. If the plaintiff is a debt buyer rather than the original creditor, make it prove it actually owns your specific account with the chain of title. A genuinely-owed unsecured balance can often be settled in writing -- sometimes even after a case is filed -- so get any agreement in writing before you pay, and note that a forgiven balance over $600 can trigger a 1099-C.

RC
By Renee Calderon — Consumer debt & rights writer

Gordon, Aylworth & Tami is a law firm, not a call-center agency -- so it collects by suing. That makes one thing matter more than anything else: if you're served, answer the lawsuit on time.

Short answer

Yes, Gordon, Aylworth & Tami, P.C. is legit -- a real Pacific-Northwest collection law firm, not a scam. If you get a summons, file a written answer by the deadline -- don't ignore it. A collecting lawyer is still bound by the FDCPA, so demand written validation and check the statute of limitations.

It collects by suing -- never ignore a summons

Your rights

Is it a scam?

No -- Gordon, Aylworth & Tami is a real, licensed law firm, not a fake front. But scammers do impersonate law firms, so verify anything in writing, confirm any court case through the court directly, never pay by wire or gift card, and use a traceable payment method.

If the debt is genuinely yours

Once it's validated and within the statute of limitations, a genuinely-owed unsecured balance can often be settled in writing -- sometimes even after a lawsuit is filed. 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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