Gurstel Law Firm PC is a debt collection agency, which receives a lot of consumer complaints to our law firm for debt harassment. Find out who they are, why they might be calling, and how you can stop them.
Gurstel Law Firm, P.C. (GLF) is a law firm based in Minnesota that specializes in third-party debt collection. GLF has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), including improper contact or sharing of information and threatening to take actions that cannot legally be taken. If you have been contacted by Gurstel Law Firm about past due financial obligations, make sure you understand your rights before taking action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Gurstel Law Firm, P.C. is a legitimate collection firm founded in 1997. The BBB established a profile page for GLF in 2003. GLF is listed as a collection attorney firm that uses the alternate business name, Gurstel Chargo, P.A. Buzzfile estimates Gurstel Law Firm’s annual revenue at $20.9 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 150 people, with an estimated 200 total employees across all locations.
According to its website, Gurstel Law Firm “assists businesses with their fiscally driven matters” and established its practice “to support businesses within the fluctuating economy and throughout the business lifecycle.”
Gurstel Law Firm is comprised of three main divisions — Creditors’ Rights Retail; Creditors’ Rights Commercial; and Commercial Transactions and Litigation. GLF’s Retail division “provides all-inclusive collection services to clients from the sole proprietor to the Fortune 500 company with attorneys acutely involved in all aspects of collection litigation and post-judgment remedies.” GLF’s retail division utilizes “sophisticated systems and soft-touch collection practices that produce favorable results for clients while preserving their reputations.”
GLF’s Commercial division “assists with the collection of business-to-business debt of all varieties, sizes and volumes” using tactics ranging “from demand letters to full-fledged litigation and post-judgment collection measures.” Their Transaction and Litigation division “provides effective legal assistance in the many facets of commercial real estate transactions and commercial litigation on behalf of the single proprietor to the multi-million-dollar corporation or financial institution.”
The Gurstel Law Firm website includes a payment portal and a blog advertising GLF’s commitment to community outreach.
Who are we? We are Lemberg Law, a Consumer Law Firm
Lemberg Law is a consumer law firm helping victims of collection harassment and abuse. We are ranked A+ by the BBB. We’ve helped more than 15,000 consumers stop harassment and recover money from debt collectors. Harassed? Abused? Misled by a collector? Call our Helpline today! There is no charge unless we win.
The BBB has closed 17 complaints against Gurstel Law Firm in the past 3 years, with 6 complaints closed in the past 12 months. The majority of those complaints allege problems with billing and collections, although several people also complained about advertising, sales, and customer service. As of December 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 29 complaints against GLF. Justia lists at least 4 cases of civil litigation involving Gurstel Law Firm.
Gurstel Law Firm, P.C.
6681 Country Club Dr.
Golden Valley, MN 55427-4601
Telephone:(877) 344-4002
Website: http://www.gurstel.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely Gurstel Law Firm would sue you for a debt you may not owe or they cannot validate. However, debt collection agencies are known to have summoned debtors to court and garnish wages after a default judgement. Contacting an attorney BEFORE this could possibly happen would be a smart move. We’ve helped thousands of consumers fight back against unscrupulous debt collection harassers. Find out if we can help you too today!
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Unlawful Debt Harassment? Learn the Law & Sue the Collector.
Absolutely. You can sue a debt collector. Here are some Sample Cases against Gurstel Law Firm
In 2017, a proposed class action was filed in Wisconsin claiming Gurstel Law Firm, P.C. violated federal law when it mailed the case’s two named plaintiffs letters that do not comply with Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) regulations.
Complaints against Gurstel Law Firm frequently cite problems from overly aggressive collection tactics. In January 2018, a complainant indicated he had received a notice of garnishment from GLF. The complainant contacted them to discuss making payment arrangements, but allegedly never heard back from them. The complainant tried to make contact several more times, then “after a few weeks of nothing, … kind of forgot about it.” A week later, he received notice of another wage garnishment, and when he again attempted to contact GLF, the representative said they would not take payments, only the full amount for a 12-year old credit card debt that had reached in excess of $3,000. The complainant asked to speak to a supervisor and was transferred, but the call was never connected. Gurstel Law Firm garnished one-quarter of his most recent paycheck, which made it very difficult for him to pay bills. Although he tried to contact them multiple times to discuss payment arrangements, he indicated his belief that GLF “will do anything to avoid actual contact, just so they can really go after you.”
Also in January 2018, another complainant “was served papers.” The complainant had previously enrolled in a debt management program, and he and the program representatives had “tried numerous times to contact…Gurstel Law Firm to start making payments, but he …had yet to get a call back.” He had been making payments but had “no idea where these payments are going and the credit card company… told him he had to talk to” GLF. Allegedly, he spoke to a GLF receptionist who told him “they were going through an audit and that they would call…him back as soon as they…were done,” but he never received a call. He expressed his belief that it is “very unprofessional to serve someone with papers and then not even give them a chance to pay” their debt.
Gurstel Law Firm posted the same reply to both complaints: “Thank you for notifying this firm of the complainant’s concerns. This firm will contact the complainant with the contact information provided. Thank you.”
Federal laws protect you. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates the behavior of collection agencies by prohibiting actions such as the use of abusive or threatening language; harassment; or the use of false or misleading information to collect a debt. The FCRA regulates how collection agencies and creditors report delinquent debts to credit reporting agencies. Additional consumer protection laws include the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA).
Yes. If you want to enforce your rights, or recover money for violations — you need to sue. Federal laws provide individuals like you with a means to seek monetary damages in court. For example, the FDCPA allows consumers who have been violated to recover damages of up to $1,000, plus attorney fees and court costs.
You may have a case, if…
“We realize that ours is just one small case among many – and many more serious – but are heartened by the fact that you accepted it and represented us with a professionalism that belied the small dollar amount.”
“If you are unsure about this company…DONT BE!!! They are for real when they say they are here to help you. It only takes a few short minutes of your time to talk to a rep. I was a skeptic, but you did everything you said you would! I can’t say thank you enough!”
”Lemberg Law has saved me from the endless calls, and harassing voicemails. They really do go to bat for you. I didn’t know that debt collection agencies can end up paying your legal bill. What a surprise, to receive free legal help. I’m very grateful for all the hard work they did to finally give me my life back.”
“I would recommend your company to anyone. You have the debt collectors off my back, and I will finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Throughout the entire procedure your employees were courteous and professional. I was blown away by their efficacy also.
We can absolutely help. Call us today.
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Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
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I dealt with Gurstel Chargo back in 2015-2017. There was a class action lawsuit involving Capital One and how a firm they outsourced their billing to had mishandled/misappropriated moneys paid. I was making double payments, but only credited for single payments. Capital One lost the lawsuit, and I got a check for $20 and a letter forgiving the entire credit card debt as it would have been paid off if the payments made were properly recorded.
Now enter a collection agency (I forget their name), and they pursued the former debt that was forgiven/paid off, threatening to sue me. I provided them with a copy of the settlement. That ended their threats and contact. So now, a few months later, enter….you guessed it! Gurstel Chargo. And they pursued the very same debt. At that point I was homeless (lost my home in a foreclosure) while trying hard to get decent grades in college. Again, I provided a copy of the settlement, and the paralegal I discussed this with said that there was no such lawsuit and I WILL pay (his emphasis, not mine) or they WILL MAKE ME PAY. I informed him I know of my rights under federal law regarding debt collections, he needs to prove the debt and prove there never was any such lawsuit, to which he laughed, telling me “What are you talking about? We write the laws!”
I was subpeonaed & taken to district court, I responded the first time providing a copy of the settlement letter to the court, and asked to change the court date & location as I was in college and the hearing would interfere with classes. I did not hear back by the time the hearing date came & went, and when I did a follow up call to the court clerk I was that I lost by default by not showing up.
Now, here I am, finally have an apartment, lost all of the paperwork on the suit, and have a lien I owe on, for a debt that was paid off & forgiven, in a case where the court REFUSED to work with me on hearing dates & locations and Gurstel Chargo REFUSES to return calls.
What can be done about this “firm”? What they are doing skirts around the fine lines of the law and even dips into the illegal side at times. I was contacted by Gurstel in 2017 regarding a credit card I tried to work with from Bank of America. B of A was horrendous to deal with. The amount was a little over $6,000. I had been a teacher for 17 years and then I got very ill, so I had to quit. I was served in 2017 and filed every paper I had to with the court. I showed up for court and Security sent me to the lady at the help window. The Judge assigned to the case had no cases on his docket that afternoon. The lady looked up my case number and it stated it had been “Vacated”. I asked her what that meant and she said canceled. Fast forward to 2021 where I found out in 2018 they were awarded a judgement against me. I have received zero, 0, documents from then since 2017. How legal is this? It isn’t. I think we should class action Gurstel as well as notify everyone we can what this firm does. Social media, news channels, Twitter, all of it. The names of their “clients” should be blasted as well. Mine was Bank of America. I am ready to stand up and defend myself against this evil company.
Gurstel filed a lawsuit May 27 2020 for a hospital bill back from Feb 2015. I was in a very rough time in my life and was actually homeless when I incurred this charge. There were 2 other hospitals that worked with me and we were able to get those taken care of. Now my credit is being destroyed due this! When I got this summons, I immediately tried to contact someone and actually was able to get through 2 times! I tried to explain the situation, and see if there was something that could be worked out, but they seems to have serious ‘tech’ issues when it comes to discussing payment and income. They will not even consider anything, and will come back with full price everytime. They have me as married and want his information too, well there is no husband and has never been! They refuse to accurately record my financial situation, and after countless voicemails and faxes, now when I call and put in my account number it disconnects. I am trying to figure out where this all stands because I am a single very hard working mom and cannot afford to have a surprise ‘wage garnishment’ show up. How can they be allowed to conduct business if no one can contact them. How is this legal! Unfortunately with our legal system, unless you have a degree, good luck understanding even the process of how to respond to these jerks! I know any debt collector gets a bad rep, but most other places will at least work with you and figure something out. They at least have a real phone system….that answers…
This “law firm” is garbage. I did owe a credit card company $1,500. This “law firm” filed suit against me and “served” my papers by taping them on my door which is illegal and never followed up with a certified letter. I never responded. 3 years later they take me to court. I never went. Default judgement. Fine.. I didn’t care. They’re getting $202 in fees for 3 years of work. They started to garnish my wages @25%. I was fine with that. They were taking $500 a pay check. This “law firm” requires payments to come to them in the form of a check. I haven’t written a check in 30 years. My company stated this is the only “law firm” they’ve ever dealt with that doesn’t have automatic ACH payments.
So, I was going to overpay them by the 3rd payment and that was ok. After they got the first 2 checks fine the 3rd check they supposedly never got. My pay was going to hit again for a 4th time after they actually owed me a refund at that point.
My company had to get their legal department involved because this “law firm” was dragging their feet.
I wonder how many other people have their checks mysteriously stop making to them? At this point they only accept checks on purpose so they can pull this stuff in my opinion. This “law firm” is garbage and should be sued out of business.
My wages were garnished starting as of 4/10/2020 for a debt I was supposedly served for in 2005 and the debt was from sometime in 1998. Called the court as I thought this was a mistake as I was never served to appear. Was informed by the court to contact Gurstel. We are in the middle of SIP for COVID-19 and I can’t even get in to see a judge. I tried to settle with them as if I get laid off I don’t want them taking money I don’t have and putting my family on the street. the debt is for over $6000 and they have garnished my wages.
This is absolutely the worst business… if you can even call it that!! I can get much more help and professionalism from a scammer than what I can get from this place. I have been trying to get a hold of someone for over a year now. I’ve tried calling, which the phone will ring for 5 minutes if not longer before someone answers the phone at which point they act like they are put out for even having to answer it in the first place, then, no one is ever available so you go directly to a voicemail (which must be a black hole of unanswered phone calls). I’ve tried sending numerous emails, with read receipts so I can confirm at least someone has at least opened them; which they haven’t. I’ve tried emailing, faxing, certified letters; even going down to the business to talk to someone which l might add you cannot even get in to try to talk to someone. For someone trying to collect a debt, they sure do an awfully horrendous job at it!! Now, they just sent a court order for wage garnishments to my brand new employer stating they have sent numerous messages and letters to myself without any answer!!!! Is this shit for real?!?! I wish this was all just a terrible joke but unfortunately it is not. Do these people, if anyone actually works there, have any idea on what they actually do there…. aside from screwing with people’s lives?
I just received a notice that glf is freezing my bank account, at a bank that I’ve never owned an account at, in a debt I have no idea about from 2012. What is the best course of action? Reading others comments seem to sound like contacting glf is a waste if time as they give you the run around.
I requested production of documents from Gurstel and they forged my signatures , photo copied and altered things on a made up contract they printed off the Internet. hopefully this will help my case
I have a scheduling conference tomorrow regarding a debt I am being sued for bu gurstel law. Should I call to settle before the conference?
I have a scheduling conference tomorrow regarding a debt I am being sued for bu gurstel law. Should I call to settle before the conference?
Gurstel law is garnishing 25% of my wages. I never received any documents that would allow me to appear in court to dispute their claim. Now they are sending letters to my husband threatening his social security for the same thing they are taking my wages for. So far they have taken $776.89 of what they are saying is a $2400 debt.
I received a call from my bank today that my account has been frozen for a credit card that is over 10 years old. I never received a notice that this would happen. When I called them, they said that they are not required to send a notice of account garnishment and that there is nothing I can do except set up a payment plan for the remaining balance.
I received judgement in the mail on wed. October3 i sent to phone to call and make arrangements to pay and they had already cleared out checking account $874.I made arrangements to pay and the rep said that was fine and nothing else would be taken out of our bank. Three hours later all three of our account were cleared. I didn’t know that they could take your social security income out of your bank account.
I received a letter from Gurstel in Jan. of 2018. I replied by certified mail that I am judgement proof. I was served yesterday that I they are taking me to small claims court. Why would they bother with this when they can’t legally collect?
Guerstel filed a lawsuit in March of 2017 for a credit card debt from 2010, claimed that they gave the court summons to my non related housemate (the summons was never delivered) and gained a default judgement of $1,800 when Infailed to appear in court for a suit that I was not informed of and they garnished my paychecks with absolutely no notice.