I need to get this off my chest because my anxiety is through the roof right now. I came home from work today and found a voicemail from the Law Offices of Donald B. Serafano. The woman on the phone had a very serious, official tone and said she was calling about a “pending legal matter” and that my “immediate attention” was required. She gave me a file number but wouldn’t say what it was actually about in the message. Just told me to call them back before the end of the week.
Here’s the thing. I had a really rough patch about 4 or 5 years ago when I was between jobs and I defaulted on a couple of credit cards. I’ve been slowly rebuilding my credit and trying to get my life back on track. I haven’t heard a peep about those old debts in years. I honestly assumed they had fallen off or been written off. Now I’m terrified that this firm has been hired to come after me.
My biggest fear is that I call them back and say the wrong thing. I’ve read horror stories online where people make one small payment or even just acknowledge the debt on a phone call, and it restarts the whole clock on the statute of limitations. I have no idea if the debt they are calling about is even still within the legal time limit for them to sue me. I’m in my state, and I think the limit is around 6 years, but I’m not 100% sure and I don’t want to accidentally trap myself.
I also haven’t received a single letter from them in the mail, no summons, no court papers, nothing. Just this one phone call. Is this how they usually start? Do they call first to try and scare you into paying before they actually file a lawsuit? Or is this a sign that they have already filed something and I just haven’t been served yet?
I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. If I ignore it, I could be making a huge mistake and end up with a default judgment against me, wage garnishment, all of that. But if I call them, I’m scared I’m going to give them ammunition to use against me and admit to something I might not even legally owe anymore.
Has anyone else dealt with this specific firm? What happened when you called them? Were they aggressive? Did they try to pressure you into making a payment right then and there on the phone? I just want to know what to expect. I’m thinking about maybe just answering if they call again tomorrow and asking them to send me proof of the debt in writing before I discuss anything. Is that a safe move?
I really appreciate any guidance here. I feel like I’m walking through a minefield and one wrong step could ruin my finances all over again. Please share your experiences. Thank you so much for reading.
Law Offices of Donald B. Serafano Calling?