A letter or lawsuit from Perdue Brandon about back property taxes is frightening -- especially words like "tax lien," "tax suit," or "foreclosure." Here's the calm version: Perdue Brandon is a real law firm, not a scam. What protects you is knowing this is government debt, so the answer is to work with the taxing authority, not to ignore it and not to hand it to a settlement company.
Short answer
Yes, Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott is legit -- a law firm that collects government debt, especially delinquent property taxes, for taxing units, counties, school districts, and cities. Property-tax and government debt is not "settled" through a debt-relief program -- go to the taxing authority for payment plans, penalty relief, deferrals, exemptions, or an appeal, and never ignore a tax suit or court paper.
Who Perdue Brandon is
Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott is a law firm that collects government debt -- primarily delinquent property taxes, along with court and municipal accounts -- on behalf of taxing units, counties, school districts, and cities. For any consumer-type account it collects, it's a debt collector under the FDCPA, so it must validate the amount in writing and identify the government body it collects for.
Why property-tax and government debt is different
- Don't route it to a settlement program. Property taxes and government debt follow the taxing authority's own process -- a third-party debt-relief company can't settle them.
- Go to the source. The county, taxing unit, or court is where the real options are: installment or hardship plans, penalty and interest relief, deferrals, exemptions (homestead, over-65, disability), and appeals of the assessment.
- The stakes are real. Unpaid property taxes carry a lien and can escalate to a tax suit and, eventually, tax foreclosure -- act early, through official channels.
If they've sued you or sent a tax notice
- Never ignore a tax suit, notice, or court paper. Respond by the deadline -- deadlines on tax and court matters are strict.
- Confirm the amount and the taxing authority it's collecting for before you pay anything.
- Ask the authority about relief -- payment plans, penalty relief, deferrals, exemptions, or an appeal you may qualify for.
Is it a scam?
No. Perdue Brandon is a legitimate firm, not a fake front. But impostors imitate tax and court collectors: a fake caller threatens immediate arrest or seizure and demands payment "today" by gift card, wire, or app. A real property-tax collection goes through the court or taxing authority in writing, and no legitimate debt leads to arrest for simply not paying -- verify with the county or taxing unit directly before you send money.
If part of it is a private account
If some of what Perdue Brandon is collecting is a genuinely private, unsecured account -- not a tax or government debt -- that piece may be negotiable once it's validated and within the statute of limitations, and a municipal utility balance can sometimes be itemized and reduced. But the property-tax and government portions belong with the authority that assessed them; work out a plan there rather than paying a settlement company. If any forgiven private 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 and by the government body involved; consider consulting a qualified attorney, a tax professional, legal aid, or the taxing authority or court directly.