Selip & Stylianou , LLP is a law firm based in New York that specializes in debt collection litigation. Selip & Stylianou have received consumer complaints alleging serious violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), such as taking or threatening to take illegal actions. If you have been contacted by Selip & Stylianou, make sure you understand your rights before responding.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Selip & Stylianou, LLC is a legitimate collection agency founded and incorporated locally in Woodbury, NY in 2003. The BBB opened its file in 2006. Prior to January 2015, Selip & Stylianou did business as Cohen & Slamowitz, LLP, and the BBB has posted a notice that “the Law Office of Cohen & Slamowitz, LLP [allegedly] engage[d] in numerous deceptive business tactics to collect…debts.” Selip & Stylianou is listed as both a collection agency and a law firm. Buzzfile estimates Selip & Stylianou’s annual revenue at $26.5 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 123 people.
Selip & Stylianou’s website provides very little information to site visitors. The home page allows five options: consumer login; client login; contact us; about us; and community involvement. The consumer and client login pages require pre-registration and do not provide any information about company policies and practices. The Contact Us page provides mailing addresses, phone numbers, and a web-based contact form, with the following standard disclaimer: “This communication is from a debt collector. This is an attempt to collect a debt. Any information will be used for that purpose.”
The firm profile on the About Us page states only that “Selip and Stylianou, LLP provides its clients with thorough, complete and comprehensive legal representation throughout the entire states of New York and New Jersey in the practice area of Creditor’s Rights litigation and consulting.” The Community Involvement page provides a list of charitable giving recipients.
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 Selip & Stylianou in the past three years, and since April 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 25 complaints. According to the BBB, while operating as Cohen & Slamowitz, “consumers allege this company attempt[ed] to collect for debt already paid off or arbitrated by another firm, garnished consumer paychecks without consent, called consumers at work, threatened and bullied customers that they [would] be taken to court if they [did] not pay, and, in one case, removed over $15,000 from a consumer’s credit card for payment of debt she disputed.” Justia lists at least 23 cases of civil litigation naming these firms as defendants.
Selip & Stylianou, LLP
P.O. Box 9004
Woodbury, NY 11797-9004
Telephone: (800) 293-6006
Website: http://www.seliplaw.com/default1.asp
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely ARI 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 Cases Filed in Federal Court
In September 2013, in United States District Court, Western District of New York, a judge issued a judge issued a Decision and Order in a case alleging Selip & Stylianou (then Cohen & Slamowitz [C&S]) had violated provisions of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA). In this case, the plaintiff had incurred and defaulted on a credit card debt. The debt was transferred from HSBC Bank, Nevada, N.A. to Midland Credit, who hired C&S to collect it. The plaintiff received a letter from C&S initially indicating the balance owed was $1835.31, but about two weeks later in a subsequent letter, the amount owed had increased by $147.58. C&S claimed that $140.00 of this increase was the result of their having “mailed a check, along with a summons and complaint, to Buffalo City Court to pay the required filing fee for a newly instituted debt-recovery action against” the plaintiff. The plaintiff claimed that the increase violated the FDCPA. Specifically, the plaintiff cited “Sections1692e, 1692f, 1692g, as well as several of their subsections – 1692e(2)(A), 1692e(B), 1692e(10), 1692e(5), and 1692f(1). Generally, these provisions “make it unlawful for a debt collector to ‘use unfair or unconscionable’ or ‘false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt.’…In particular, Section 1692e(2) prohibits the false representation of ‘the character, amount, or legal status of any debt.’ And Section 1692f(1) prohibits the ‘collection of any amount (including interest, fee, charge, or expense incidental to the principal obligation) unless such amount is expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law.’”
After a series of procedural motions by both parties, the plaintiff prevailed in his effort to prove C&S (Selip & Stylianou) had violated the stated provisions of the FDCPA, with two exceptions: 1) Section 1692g(a), which would have required C&S to send the plaintiff a validation notice for the disputed $140 charge; and 2) Section 1692e(5) prohibiting debt collectors from threatening to take action that cannot be legally taken or that they do not intend to take, since C&S “could, and fully intended to, take legal action against” the plaintiff. The plaintiff also prevailed in his effort to certify the case as a class action lawsuit.
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 was so excited when you told me about the positive outcome of the lawsuit. If the need ever arises again, I will not hesitate to call your office or recommend your law services to a friend in need.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you! I couldn’t be happier with all the hard work your office has done for me. I feel throughout the whole process I was kept informed, and my questions were always answered completely. The calls have stopped, I no longer have a mountain of junk bills piling up, and I owe it all to Lemberg Law.”
“I found your website. I filled out the information and much to my surprise received a call back within the hour. She listened intently and addressed each one of my concerns. She immediately forwarded me an email and advised I would not be charged for services rendered. She made me feel confident and assured, and that someone was in my corner.”
Chances are good that we can help. Call us today 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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My credit debit was a charge off from 7 yrs ago. I never received any court papers or even collection notices for this debt. Their threatening me with wage garnishment if I dont pay this! Now!
They harassed consumers by placing numerous calls to your job and your home, and allegedly send “servers” to your home to serve court papers only the servers never exist. Once in court with Selip & Stylianou the lies continues and consumers are left with no one to help them navigate through the Selip & Stylianou lies, and as a result paying thousand of dollars to Selip &Stylianou who practices buying consumers debts for pennies and raking in thousands and thousands of dollars and the Bronx court consumer house, up hold the madness against poor consumers who have no where to turn to.
Today I received in the mail a letter from this law firm saying that they have been attempting to reach me to return funds for abandoned property in NY. The letter said to email or contact them. My wife said it was a scam and researched the name of this firm and your website came up with all of this information. Are they allowed to do this since clearly they are not a firm that deals with abandoned property? I am not aware of any current outstanding debt collection against me. To be sure, I checked my credit report and I have nothing listed derogatory against me. All of my accounts are current and in good standing. I’m not sure what I should do, other than not responding to them. I”m just surprised a law firm legally and ethically can pull this type of scheme on people. Thank you.
I had a pre-trial consumer debt on 06/13/18 which was adjourned for 10/24/18. Without further communication or notice, on 09/05/18, almost two months BEFORE the trial, Selip & Stylianou sought motion against me with a using a file number that is not assigned to my case and was awarded judgment without my knowledge. This act was underhanded, dishonest, crafty and malicious, and I was NOT afforded due process. I filed a motion to vacate and have an upcoming date for 11/14/18, as the clerk’s office was in awe, unable to explain how it happened. I NEED HELP and advice to deal with these unethical crooks. I will also file complaints with the BBB; the Disciplinary Committee; the Bar Association and also against the presiding Judge Carolyn Walker-Diallo. Am also trying to use social media and in the 4th estate to highlight these abuses. Miscarriage of justice must STOP.
I have an approximately 15 year old debt that this firm is trying to collect. They sent by regular mail an Information subpoena to someone I know regarding this debt. That person gave the paperwork to another acquaintance to give to me with the envelope opened. This so called subpoena was not sent with copies by certified mail and was not signed by a judge or clerk of the county, but by members of the firm. I am wondering if I can make a complaint about this and pursue this further.I am wondering if they have violated any debt collection laws.