Rochester Collections Lawyers

We understand debt collection is a subject without a lot of empathy. We also understand if you are rightfully owed a debt, it is right and fair to expect its successful recovery, so we pursue collections with a passion.

Lacy Katzen was founded in 1950 with one of its very first clients being a retail department store chain wishing to pursue debt recovery. Since then, Lacy Katzen’s clientele base has included national and regional banks, credit unions, finance companies, national forwarders, local and regional companies, and many other business entities.

With respect to commercial debt, if a matter cannot be resolved amicably, Lacy Katzen can litigate matters and has a proven track record of success. With combined efforts from our commercial litigators and business attorneys of the firm, we can handle complex commercial matters to the fullest extent of the law.

With respect to consumer debt, Lacy Katzen’s creativity combined with its vast knowledge of the law works favorably for our clients and generates successful outcomes while meeting client expectations.

Whether it’s a commercial or consumer debt, Lacy Katzen’s collection attorneys have sought and found justice for our clients. From the initial intake of a placement through judgment enforcement, Lacy Katzen will diligently work a file for recovery.

Traditional methods of post-judgment recovery include bank restraints, income executions, garnishments, property executions, debtor subpoenas and additional skip tracing when required.
However, Lacy Katzen goes beyond traditional avenues of recovery. Because of our vast knowledge of State law, nontraditional areas of recovery include motions for installment payments, turnover motions, and motions against employers for failing to honor income executions.

Our extensive knowledge and passion for upholding the law motivate us to find positive ends for our clients while abiding by state and federal laws.

Lacy Katzen is fully knowledgeable and compliant with all state and federal regulations including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Our team is trained and tested in regulatory compliance every year. Our team also understands the need for maintaining integrity and respect when dealing with debtors and will work with both consumer and commercial debtors on payment options and settlements with client approval.

To learn more about how we could help you address your collections disputes and fight to minimize the impact on your financial position, contact our skilled attorneys now.

Notice for New York City Residents:
Lacy Katzen LLP does not have language access services available, and we do not translate any communications into a language other than English.  A translation and description of commonly-used debt collections terms is available in multiple languages on www.nyc.gov/dca.

Lacy Katzen LLP handles claims throughout the entire State of New York.

You will receive an acknowledgment of the claim placed with our firm and the terms agreed upon for us handling the placement.

Once you agree with the terms by executing the acknowledgment or retainer agreement, an initial demand letter is mailed to the Debtor. Our initial demand letter complies with all requirements of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) in the event the collection is considered a consumer credit transaction.

In addition to the demand letter and within the first month of placement, our staff will verify the information you provide us, skip trace if necessary and return any phone calls the debtor made to us in an attempt to settle the matter.

If settlement cannot be reached or an amicable payment arrangement entered into by the debtor, immediate litigation is recommended when the debtor has a known asset such as a place of employment or owns real property.

In the event contact with the debtor fails to produce a payment arrangement, our office will prepare a Summons and Complaint and send it to you to review and sign off on it through a verification page. Once it is returned to our office, we will file the Summons and Complaint with the appropriate court to initiate suit.

Your file is advanced the appropriate number of days depending in how the debtor was served for us to enter judgment. In the event an answer is received, the file is coded accordingly and the matter is discussed with you for the next course of action. Typically, the matter can be resolved through a summary judgment motion or a negotiated settlement between the parties.

After judgment is entered, enforcement proceedings are immediately commenced. Income execution to garnish wages, restraining notices to banks and information subpoenas to locate other assets are utilized. All legal avenues are taken to enforce your judgment.

It depends upon the court. If City Court is used, we request an advance of $350. If Supreme Court is used, we request an advance of $550. These amounts will cover the filing fee and process server fee.

Our fees are discussed and agreed upon prior to accepting your claim and incorporated into the acknowledgement or retainer. Normally, the fee is contingency and is only earned when we collect from the debtor. Other fee arrangements include hourly charges, if preferred. In the event the debtor submits a counterclaim, you will be responsible for an hourly charge to be agreed upon between us.

Claims are not settled without first obtaining the client’s approval, unless the settlement is within the client’s pre-arranged settlement criteria.

We typically remit to a client once a month. A client will receive a detailed statement of account with the remittance. The monthly statement identifies monies recovered by the firm and disbursements incurred. Attached to such statement will be a net remittance check, representing all monies collected, less the firm’s fee and disbursements in the event the matter is on a contingency fee basis. If the matter is hourly, you will receive an itemized statement reflecting the work performed during the preceding month along with a bill for services rendered.

A Client may always request an update by utilizing a dedicated email address. If the client has multiple accounts, a status report may be requested and a client is advised of the status of every open account on a periodic basis.

Why Choose Lacy Katzen

Our mission is to ethically serve our clients with excellence and teamwork each day.

experience
Over 73 Years of Experience
best
Nine Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America®
ranked
Ranked by Best Lawyers as a Best Law Firm®
super
Six Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers
college
One Attorney is a Fellow at the American College of Trial Lawyers

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