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Answer

Is Rubin & Rothman legit -- and what do you do if they're suing you?

Yes -- Rubin & Rothman is a legitimate, licensed collection law firm, not a scam. It's a New York-based creditors'-rights firm that collects credit-card and other consumer debt on behalf of banks, card issuers, and debt buyers. The single most important thing to understand about a collection law firm is HOW it collects: it collects by filing lawsuits. So the number-one risk is a summons -- a court paper telling you you're being sued. If you're served, the worst mistake is to ignore it: if you don't file a written answer by your state's deadline, the court can enter a default judgment against you, which can lead to wage garnishment or a bank levy. Filing an answer preserves your defenses and forces the other side to actually prove its case. At the same time, an attorney who regularly collects debts is still a "debt collector" under the FDCPA -- lawyers are NOT exempt -- so you keep every right: demand written debt validation, make them identify the current owner of the account, and dispute anything inaccurate. And because law firms frequently sue on behalf of debt BUYERS, insist that whoever is suing prove it actually owns your specific account and produce the chain of title from the original creditor; resold accounts often have thin paperwork. Check the statute of limitations too, since a payment or written promise can restart the clock. If the balance is a genuinely-owed, validated, unsecured account, it can often be settled in writing -- and a forgiven balance over $600 can trigger a 1099-C.

DW
By Dana Whitfield — Personal finance writer

Seeing "Rubin & Rothman" on a letter -- or worse, on court papers -- is alarming because it's a law firm, and that usually means a lawsuit. Here's the calm version: Rubin & Rothman is a real, licensed collection law firm, not a scam. What matters most is knowing that a law firm collects by suing, so the summons is the thing to act on fast; and that a lawyer collecting debts is still bound by the FDCPA, so you keep all your rights.

Short answer

Yes, Rubin & Rothman is legit -- a licensed New York collection law firm that collects credit-card and consumer debt for banks and debt buyers, often by filing lawsuits. If you're served, never ignore it -- file a written answer by the deadline. Demand written validation, and if a debt buyer is the plaintiff, make it prove it owns your account.

Who Rubin & Rothman is

Rubin & Rothman is a creditors'-rights law firm that collects consumer debt -- primarily credit cards -- on behalf of banks, card issuers, and debt buyers. Because it collects debts regularly, it's a debt collector under the FDCPA, and lawyers are not exempt from those rules.

Because it's a law firm: the summons comes first

You still keep every FDCPA right

Is it a scam?

No -- Rubin & Rothman is a real law firm, not a fake front. But scammers do impersonate lawyers to pressure quick payment, so verify before you pay: real court papers come through proper service, and a real firm will validate the debt in writing. See also another collection law firm.

If the debt is genuinely yours

Once it's validated, ownership is proven, and it's within the statute of limitations, a genuinely-owed unsecured balance can often be settled in writing -- and settling can end a lawsuit. 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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