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Answer

Is Pollack & Rosen legit -- and how do you deal with them?

Yes -- Pollack & Rosen is a legitimate law firm that collects debts, not a scam. The key thing to understand is what a law-firm collector does differently from an ordinary agency: it collects by filing lawsuits. So the number-one risk is a court summons, and the number-one rule is never ignore one. If you're served, file a written answer by the deadline; if you don't, the plaintiff can win a default judgment automatically, and that judgment is what leads to wage garnishment, a bank levy, or a lien. At the same time, an attorney or law firm that regularly collects consumer debts is still a "debt collector" under the FDCPA -- lawyers are not exempt -- so you keep your full validation and dispute rights. Demand written debt validation of the amount and the original creditor, and don't admit the debt on a call. Pollack & Rosen often works credit-card and other unsecured accounts, and it frequently sues on behalf of debt buyers that purchased charged-off debt for a fraction of the balance. That's your leverage: when a debt buyer is the plaintiff, make it prove it actually owns YOUR specific account through the chain of title -- resold accounts are often backed by thin, gappy paperwork, and a plaintiff that can't prove ownership can lose or have to dismiss. Check the statute of limitations, because a payment or written promise can restart the clock, and raise a time-barred defense in your answer if the debt is too old to sue on. A genuinely-owed unsecured balance, correctly validated and within the statute of limitations, can often be settled in writing; get any agreement in writing before you pay, and note that a forgiven balance over $600 can trigger a 1099-C.

DW
By Dana Whitfield — Personal finance writer

Pollack & Rosen is a law firm, and that one fact changes everything: a law firm collects by suing. The good news is that a lawsuit is also where a weak, resold account is easiest to challenge -- if you show up.

Short answer

Yes, Pollack & Rosen is legit -- a real law firm that collects debts. Because it collects by suing, never ignore a summons: file a written answer by the deadline. A law firm that regularly collects is still a 'debt collector' under the FDCPA, so you keep your validation and dispute rights.

If you've been sued

Your rights

Is it a scam?

No -- Pollack & Rosen is a real law firm that collects debts, not a fake front. But impostors do imitate law firms, so verify any lawsuit through the court itself, get everything in writing, and never pay off a phone call or link.

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 case 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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