Fulton Friedman and Gullace debt collection firm.
Judgment by FIA/MBNA for $11,060, wage execution collected for 6 years for minimal amount due to minimal pay. Collected $3,139, then Sheriff returned some funds collected and stated attorney called back file, no further info. In attempt to find out what was happening, I was advised they did not have the file. Each collection agency I contacted each stated did not have file and gave a number for another agency. About four different agencies and the last one stated did not have file or any info back in 2013.
I am now trying to refinance and found judgment still remains for approx. $10,000.
I do not have funds to pay but would like to make arrangements to pay each month. Don't know if should contact FIA directly and if did, they may not have records it's from 2008. I tried, prejudgment, to make payment arrangement but MBNA would not cooperate and followed through with lawsuit.
Attorneys for MBNA, Wolpoff & Abramson, wanted payments beyond what I was capable of paying. In 2012 the law firm of Fulton Friedman & Gullace substituted Mann Bracken, LLP, successor by merger to Wolpoff & Abramson. (I don't think I realized that law firm Fulton... had taken over file).
Not sure if should call Fulton, Friedman and Gullace, or FIA, and what type of request I should make. I was hoping to tell bank I made payment arrangements and get it in writing, so they would put my refinance through.
What can I do with Fulton Friedman & Gullace now?
—Lb
Fulton Friedman and Gullace is an active debt collection law firm with offices in New York. If the firm notified you in 2012 that they have your account, it could still be there, but having heard nothing for 2 years would suggest you start off by calling FIA Card Services first.
If I could, I would prefer to work something out with FIA card services directly. But my expectation would be that they will confirm the account is with Fulton Friedman & Gullace, and to call them to resolve the account, or that the account is somewhere else, and who you should contact.
Fulton Friedman Gullace and resolving your debt.
Yours is a sorted collection account. Having this old a judgment with collection attorney firms that merged, and were then shut down, can be a mess. If it were not for the court record, and your having made small payments for years, it could make sense to attack this differently, but probably not given the years of those small payments you made.
Calling Fulton Friedman and Gullace to negotiate a lower lump sum settlement (once you know they are still collecting), would be more ideal than calling to offer up monthly payments. That is even more advisable when you are looking to refinance. There is no telling whether your loan will get approved with a payment agreement in place. It would be a bit unusual for the loan to go through in today’s home loan markets where underwriters want all unpaid collections resolved. But there are some opportunities, such as with smaller banks that are not selling their loans to GSE’s like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
If you could pull together a lump sum amount of cash to offer as a settlement, so that the court could be updated that the judgment is satisfied, 50 percent would be a realistic place to start.
If all you can afford to do is make payments, make sure you are considering the following:
- Never agree to pay an amount that you are not confident you can afford each and every month.
- Check to see what amount of judgment interest is being charged. If your payments are too small, you could end up paying on this forever.
- Get everything in writing (whether settling or making payments).
You do want to resolve this debt eventually, as judgment debts in New York have a renewable lien.
Anyone who is dealing with Fulton Friedman and Gullace on a collection issue is welcome to post questions and concerns below for feedback.
About Michael BoveeMichael started CRN in 2004 with a mission to provide people in need with detailed debt and credit help and education. Michael has participated as an expert panelist in federal consumer protection rule making, collaborated on state law changes governing debt consolidation, has worked as an expert witness in court matters related to the debt relief industry. He is available to speak with you about your financial struggle and helps people resolve their debt problems daily.
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