Kimball, Tirey & St. John or KTS is a law firm in San Diego, California, formed under this name in 1997. KTS has received many consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), including attempting to collect debts not owed, failure to provide verification of debts, and misrepresentation. If KTS has contacted you, find out what your rights are before you respond.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the BBB, Kimball Tirey & St John LLP is a legitimate collection firm, founded in 1997. The BBB established KTS’ profile page also the same year. Kimball Tirey & St John LLP is listed as a collection agency.
In 2016, Kimball, Tirey & St. John settled with California’s Attorney General, who had alleged that they unlawfully evicted military families from military housing complexes in Southern California. The law firm agreed to pay $200,000 to the state and write off $52,000 in debt for the service members impacted.
Also known as KTS, this firm represents landlords in every imaginable type of real estate law, including legal actions to collect delinquent rent, defending landlords against complaints filed under fair housing laws, evictions from both residential and commercial property, and evictions after foreclosure.
Kimball, Tirey & St. John is debt collection firm with an extensive history of harassing consumers over debts, especially military personnel. Advertising that it has collected over $160 million for its clients and that it is forceful in collecting on judgments, KTS uses tactics such as bank levies, wage garnishments, and drilling safe deposit boxes to collect money from consumers. While its clients are located exclusively in California, this firm has contacts in all 50 states to help it pursue consumers who move to other states.
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.
As of April 2017, the Better Business Bureau reported 16 closed Kimball, Tirey & St. John complaints within the previous three years, including 12 closed Kimball, Tirey & St. John complaints within the previous 12 months. The BBB gives Kimball, Tirey & St. John an A+ rating. In addition, Justia lists one Kimball, Tirey & St. John complaint filed in federal court in the past year alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Furthermore, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) lists 37 closed Kimball, Tirey & St. John complaints for 2016.
Kimball, Tirey & St. John, LLP
7676 Hazard Center Drive, Suite 900
San Diego, CA 92108
Phone Number: 800-338-6039
Website: https://www.kts-law.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely Kimball, Tirey & St. John 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 is a Sample Case Filed in Federal Court:
In 2012, a judge in U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, denied Kimball, Tirey & St. John’s motion to dismiss Derr vs. Kimball, Tirey & St. John for alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and California’s Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. In his decision, the judge outlined the allegations that the consumers were an elderly couple whose only source of income was Social Security. For 32 years, they supposedly rented an apartment and were never late on a rent payment. One month they didn’t have the entire rent and made arrangements to pay it with the next month’s rent, but the landlord sent the account to Kimball, Tirey & St. John for collection. When the couple made up the payment, the landlord refused the accept it and said they were being evicted. At the courthouse just before a trial for an unlawful detainer action, the elderly couple didn’t have an attorney, but the Kimball, Tirey & St. John attorney told them that they owed four months’ rent, attorneys’ fees, and court costs. When they protested that the landlord refused to accept the rent, the attorney offered to settle if the couple moved out within 30 days. The attorney refused to communicate the couple’s counteroffer to the landlord, so the couple felt they had no other choice but to accept the attorney’s offer. After they signed the court papers, they discovered that they had unwittingly agreed to pay more than $5,000 in addition to moving out. The story goes on, but the couple asserted that Kimball, Tirey & St. John violated the FDCPA, and Kimball, Tirey & St. John argued that the couple could not state a claim. The judge outlined and refuted each argument, and denied the debt collection law firm’s motion to dismiss the case.
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…
“I can’t begin to tell you how happy this makes me. It is really comforting to know that there are people willing to do the things you have done. I am very lucky to have found you guys, and was never worried about anything. I think that in the end was the best part for me, peace of mind. I have the release here and have signed it, I will fax it within the hour.”
“After several months of frustration with a debt collector, I finally called Lemberg Law. It was one of the best financial decisions I’ve ever made. Jody and her team were thorough, helpful, and above all else effective. I highly recommend their services and thank them for their continual efforts.”
“Never did I feel anything less than your most important client. I appreciate your service, and wish that more people were aware that there was a remedy for these vile creatures that call themselves collectors. Don’t get me wrong, I pay my debts, or at least try to, but these agencies know what they are doing is illegal and know that the person on the other end of the line probably doesn’t know that.”
Chances are, we can. Call us and we’ll explain.
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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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Can you Help Me Delete Kimball Tirey & St. John from My Credit Report? I believe this is a debt that I really had no control over. I rented an apartment with two other people we were all on the lease. I ended up going to jail for 5 months and these people continued to live in the apartment, wouldn’t answer my calls the whole time I was in there. When I got out, come to find out they had gotten evicted but i was incarcerated and I wasn’t even aware of any of this. Does this sound like a situation you could beat?
A friend of mind is on orobate and has a estate attorney who represents my friends case which my friends case is 100 winnable. My friend will be geting the house in his name. The kimbally tirey law firms has been harassing my friend by constantly sending notice to vacate rentlessly after the attorney sending notice to the Kimbetly and tirey law firm not to send the notice to evict and vacate . With probate. Still going on kimberly tire continues to send vacate evict notices .
management at RIVER TERRACE towed my car away after being informed that I paid registration and was waiting for tags in the mail.stole my artificial lawn after making me take it down,while others in the complex have artificial lawn.Forced to remove my satelliter dish,while other tennants were allowed to keep theirs, forcing me to take down my AMERICAN FLAG or face eviction.2 business day warning. shown a 2 bedroom apartment with fireplace, then given keys for a 1 bedroom apartment across the street. Paying $1385 a month ,while they posted just yesterday that they are renting these same units for $865.
They are harrassing me and I have all the neighbors as witnesses.And they get a lawyer saying that I’m harrassing them.
There is a major safety hazard here and I informed the local FIRE DEPARTMENT.They are retaliatiing on me for this proper judgement. They have only 1 way in here and the same way out.They have the back gates welded shut and we’re living in a fire hazard area.
Something needs to be done immediately.I’m a disabled U.S. ARMY VETERAN 100 percent awarded.
Tired of the harrassment while I’m searching for a house to buy, financed by the V.A.
And I get a letter from this firm accusing me of harrassing RIVER TERRACE and wants to sue me.For what?
I’m the victim here.And my PTSD is over the top.I don’t need more problemss from gimmic firms like this.
I want to sue them..
I had an apartment with my ex boyfriend it was a abusive relationship and of course yelling happened and more but I never wanted any of it I was the victim and sadly our apartment was in both of our names now I’m stuck with a 3,263 payment on my credit report it just sucks I don’t know what to do.
KTS Law Firm are the most rude, demeaning, & downright liars about their tenants. They are trying to terminate my tenancy, while I’m going thru cancer treatments. I was trying to protect an unsupervised autistic child, who was near to going into the busy parking lot, where many cars were coming to a Boy Scout meeting at the church in front of the apt building. I went downstairs, & went the the father’s patio, asking him to come get his child before he was injured. I opened the side door to the community room. As the door started to open, the string as an ox 7 yr charged me & had me backed into the heavy steel frame & glass door. The kid started head butting me & hurting me. I gently pushed the child back, & the kid started hitting me. I gently grabbed his wrists, & turned him around, so he’d stop hurting me. The father finally came out, telling me the kid was autistic, & I told him “Even more reason you should be watching your child.” The next day, a sheriff’s deputy was at my door, because the on-site social worker called the sheriff, reporting me of child abuse. The sheriff never filed a report & said he viewed the video of the incident, & found I did nothing wrong.
On September 12th, a termination of tenancy from this senior building, listing I abused the child, & a report had been filed. The mgmt company also said I threatened bodily harm to the social worker-I asked him to move his car from the emergency vehicle staging area. He told me in a snotty manner, I don’t have to twice. I informed I would speak to his super3. I contacted Corporate supervisor. I never threatened him harm, because I would go to jail & I was physically to weak to hurt him.
I had a Grievance Hearing yesterday. I was called a proven liar, I needed anger mgmt classes, & an old dog doesn’t learn new tricks. They will not provide my atty the video. The new mgr said it was my fault the previous mgr for quitting-no she got a better paying job with a 3 bdrm apt for her 3 kids.
I melted down & had a severe panic attack, which had to be treated by my dr.
I’m 67 & have cancer. I’m very poor & there isn’t Section 8 units available in my high rent area. I will become homeless & I will not survive on the streets.
This autistic child has tripped small children & hit the child, then the autistic child tried to trip the 75 yr old ggma. This child has hurt neighbor’s dogs; he has intentionally hit tenants on their walkers; has purposely rammed tenant’s cars; has run out in front of moving cars, ran free of supervision completely naked for over 5 months & tenants have complained to no avail.
I’m being kicked out for attempting to protect an unsupervised child with a violent streak. This family should be removed for not protect other tenants from their out of control child. This is a senior building & we seniors are able to handle unsupervised out of control child. There are low income units available in family buildings.
I’m being vilified as a child abuser & in need of anger mgmt. I have PTSD & manifest anxiety, not anger. I’m terrified about my future being homeless during the winter.
HELP HELP HELP
My husband and I are currently separated but had a place together in San Diego. The carpet needed to be replaced and other fees were tacked on. We were struggling for quite some time so paying it wasn’t something we could do for the longest. I am now leaving and getting a place of my own but in order to do so I have to clear this debt. I called and spoke with Nicole. Initially I let her know we are separated and I’m paying my half today but because he is active duty military he doesn’t get paid till the 1st to pay the remaining balance. I asked her how it would work with the credit. Nicole said that it would reflect paid in full. I asked how we could make sure it gets removed instead. She then responded that if we pay in full we can get it removed. I said okay well I’ll go ahead and hang on to my half and then come the 1st we can call back and pay in full so we can make sure that this is removed off of our credit report. She then said that it would only reflect paid in full that she would NOT remove it completely off my credit. I was confused so I asked her to explain it again because if we are paying in full on the 1st why would we not get it removed. She said that we would have to pay in full today in order to get it removed. I said that doesn’t make very much sense either way you’re getting the money, I asked her if I pay the half today could she maybe out of courtesy go ahead and remove it. She then said it’s not a courtesy, we don’t have to do that by law, you knew you had this debt and didn’t pay it. Mind you she wasn’t saying this in a nice manner. I said OKAY! You’re being rude is there someone else that can handle my case she said you can speak with my supervisor Daniel and then hung up! YES! We knew! Of course we knew! But HELLO! People have rough times and when it comes down to my children eating or paying a debt off I’m feeding my kids first PERIOD. I will NEVER understand why these debt collectors have to be so nasty to people ESPECIALLY when they’re calling in to make payments and take care of the debt. So I called back IMMEDIATELY and asked for Daniel. Daniel was very understanding and KIND and spoke to me in a way more professional manner and explained exactly what she was saying but NICER and with more RESPECT! AND he said that he was going to go ahead and take my partial payment and add notes that once the remaining balance is paid on the 1st that they will go ahead and remove it off our credit. Nicole was a jerk. A rude person with no regard to human feelings. I’d like to call her something else but I don’t want my comment to be deleted. I’m simply someone who is trying to gain my independence back after a 6 year relationship. I wasn’t calling trying to raise hell about how I didn’t owe the balance. If this had been me 6 years ago I would have taken this L on my credit and they would have ended up having to sell my account to someone else just so Nicole would sit there looking stupid because she fudged that call up so horribly. Unfortunately for her, her supervisor actually has some sense. Thanks for reading my rent. Talk to a supervisor about getting whatever it is removed off your credit, not the peons they give your file to.
I rented a room from someone who received housing through section 8. At the time my income was 500 dollars. The landlord was requesting 600 dollars and all food I brought into the home. We had a disagreement that lead to her evicting my family. She allowed us to make a payment plan to pay for our last month. At the second payment she said she wanted all of the money immediately. We decided to continue to live on the property without paying her until legal action could take place to resolve the issue. Her lawyer then had us agree to take a settlement for the time we stayed regardless of her swindling us as she was using section 8. They settled on the amount of 2,000 with interest. This situation ended with me dealing with homeless with my children as a disabled veteran. Do I have a case
I was in the military and lived on base, after I moved out, I got charged a cleaning fee even though I had professional cleaner come in and clean the home before we left. Fast forward 6+ years and KIMBALL TIREY & ST. JOHN has $590 debt on my credit and will not work with me to get it off my credit unless I pay every penny of the $590, I have talked and made smaller payments when I can afford to but it stays on my credit and they will not work with me to close the account.
Back in2012 I rented apartment with two roommates.I trusted them.I was on SSI and I had payee .I had my payee pay my rent to one of the
roomated.I thought the roomate was paying the landlord. The management was going to give us a breakfast in our honor onpr for being on time for the two years we lived there.Then suddenly a roomatexi moved out without giving any notice.W e were a Little short so it wad turned down
Garnishment initiated before the account showed on my credit, I tried to fight the original issue but my response to the suit was never filed with them for some reason (I still have all paperwork), I had put a deposit down but was still charged over the amount I should have owed, I was charged interest OVER what was due, The account is now paid in full and when I requested a deletion letter as to not have a continued hardship in finding a home for myself (I have been forced to sublet or live in hotels…) The original issue was rent that was late by 2 weeks. I sent in money to pay but still was forced out. This whole situation was completely wrong and I am still paying for it almost 5 years later
I went to college in California for a week, and unknowingly signed a least before I left the next day. Now I owe over 3500$ to the apartment complex. I need help to try and get this account removed from my credit report.