Lamont, Hanley & Associates, Inc. (LHA) is a third-party collection agency based in New Hampshire. LHA has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including illegal communication tactics and attempting to collect debts not owed.If you have been contacted by LHA, make sure you understand your rights before responding.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Lamont, Hanley & Associates, Inc. is a legitimate collection agency founded in 1991. The BBB established a profile page for LHA in 1992. LHA is listed as a collection agency with an estimated 50 employees.
According to its website, LHA “is a national company specializing in accounts receivable management solutions.” LHA states that it “redefined the collection industry…with…a customer service approach…that incorporates sales techniques with financial guidance to provide… customers with a program that results in clearing their balance in a non-confrontational, business-like manner.”
The LHA website does not provide any detailed information about its client base. LHA offers a variety of services, including industry-specific collection techniques; worldwide collection coverage; standard and custom reports provided by dedicated client services representatives; collections seminars, training, and monthly newsletters; audit visits; and proprietary collection software.
As for compliance, LHA states that it is professionally licensed and nationally insured and bonded. LHA’s collectors “are certified by ACA International or the International Association of Commercial Collectors.” However, the website is client-facing and does not include an easily accessible page with links and references to consumer protection resources, laws, and enforcement agencies.
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 16 complaints against Lamont, Hanley & Associates in the preceding 3 years, with 1 complaints closed in the past 12 months. Most Of Those complaints alleged problems with billing and collections. Since August 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 5 complaints against LA. Justia lists at least 2 cases of civil litigation involving LHA.
Lamont, Hanley & Associates, Inc.
1138 Elm Street
Manchester, NH 03101
Website: http://www.lhainc.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely LHA 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. Here are some Sample Complaints
Complaints Against Lamont, Hanley & Associates commonly cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and the accuracy of information reported to the credit reporting agencies.
In September 2016, a complainant indicated he had been receiving calls from LHS regarding an outstanding bill for which he had previously set up automatic payments.He characterized the conduct of LHA representatives during those calls as harassment.He stated that he had an outstanding balance from a year previously, and when he set up auto payments with the original creditor, he was allegedly given “assurance that …he would not hear again from LHA, who did not contact…him at all until after the auto pay was already in place.” Subsequently, he began “receiving periodic extremely nasty collection letters from” LHA. Because the automatic payments were taking place the same time each month, he stated that “these terrible letters can’t be necessary.” He allegedly spoke with the original creditor, asked them to remedy the situation, and was told that he would not hear from LHA again, but he continued to receive letters, anyway. Although he stated that “the bullying phone calls do seem to have ceased,” he insisted that “the letters MUST stop, too,” insisting that he “will not be harassed about a debt he is … actively paying to the company he owes the money to.”
In response, Lamont, Hanley & Associates stated they had been sending the complainant two different letters— “one is the reminder to pay letter and the other is the broken promise letter.” LHA stated that the “reminder of payment letter was…sent” to provide “an envelope in which… payment could be returned. The broken promise letter was… sent because…the due date is the 15th, but …payments were not being received until after the grace period.” LHA also indicated they had updated the due date to provide more time for payments to post.
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).
But here’s the rub: If you want to enforce your rights, or recover money for violations — you need to sue. These 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 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.”
“Thanks to the staff at Lemberg Law, I have peace of mind again. They worked quickly to find the harassing calls were super considerate when I talked with them. I love the hard work”
“I was almost going nuts receiving calls every afternoon from a person using profane language to push me to pay debts I don’t owe. Someone I trust referred me to Lemberg Law, and I don’t regret having contacted them. The attorneys were very kind and always available when I needed them.”
“Thank you for standing with me Lemberg Law. I was so afraid I could lose my job because of a caller who called my job number 4 hours straight back to back. He not only harassed and threatened me but also abused workmates who received the call when I wasn’t around. Since I solicited for your services, I’ve had a peace of mind, and I’m happy because of the few dollars I got as a settlement.”
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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