How to Settle Debt With Rubin & Rothman in Court

Rubin & Rothman, LLC is a debt collection law firm from New York. They contact thousands of consumers every year about unpaid debts.

If they’ve reached out to you, don’t panic. You have options to resolve your debt without going to court.

Settling your debt is often faster and cheaper than fighting a lawsuit. You can negotiate a reduced amount and clear your name.

Who Is Rubin & Rothman?

Rubin & Rothman represents creditors and debt buyers in collection lawsuits. They’ve operated since 1960 and incorporated in 1999.

According to the Better Business Bureau, they employ over 100 attorneys. Their staff handles millions of dollars in collections annually.

They’re trained to win debt collection cases. You need to respond properly to protect yourself.

Three Steps to Settle Debt With Rubin & Rothman

Debt settlement means negotiating to pay less than the full amount. Both sides can benefit from this arrangement.

You save money and eliminate the debt. The creditor collects something instead of nothing.

Rubin & Rothman will work with you to settle outside of court. Here’s how to approach the process.

Step 1: Answer Any Pending Lawsuit

If you’ve been sued, file an Answer immediately. You typically have 14-35 days to respond.

Filing an Answer prevents a default judgment against you. It also buys you time to negotiate a settlement.

Our partner Solo can help you draft and file your Answer. The service walks you through each required section.

Missing your deadline means automatic loss. The court will grant Rubin & Rothman everything they requested.

Step 2: Make a Realistic Settlement Offer

Find the balance between what you can afford and what they’ll accept. Low-ball offers waste everyone’s time.

Review your finances honestly. Determine what you can pay as a lump sum or monthly.

Start by offering around 60% of the debt or less. You’ll give yourself room to negotiate when they counter.

Lump-sum payments often get better discounts than payment plans. You may need to save up before making your offer.

Step 3: Get the Settlement Agreement in Writing

Never trust a verbal agreement. Settlements aren’t official until documented in writing.

The agreement outlines exactly what you’ll pay and when. It also confirms that the debt will be considered satisfied.

Rubin & Rothman typically drafts the settlement agreement. Review it carefully before signing anything.

Ask questions if anything seems unclear. Keep copies of all documents for your records.

How to Respond to a Rubin & Rothman Lawsuit

Your Summons and Complaint arrive in the mail. The document lists the amount they claim you owe.

Your deadline to respond is printed on the Summons. Mark this date on your calendar immediately.

Filing an Answer is your constitutional right. You’re telling the court you dispute their claims.

Challenge Their Right to Sue You

Collection agencies often buy old debts for pennies on the dollar. They then try to collect the full amount from you.

They must prove they own the debt and have proper documentation. Many debt collectors can’t meet this burden of proof.

Challenge them to provide the complete paper trail. Demand proof from the original creditor to their agency.

Check if the debt is past your state’s statute of limitations. Most states set limits between four and six years.

After that time expires, they can’t legally sue you. But don’t make any payments on time-barred debt.

Any payment activity restarts the clock on the statute of limitations. You’ll give them a fresh chance to sue.

Send a Debt Validation Letter

You can request debt validation when they first contact you. Send this letter within 30 days of their initial communication.

A Debt Validation Letter forces them to prove several things:

• The exact amount of the debt
• The name of the original creditor
• Proof they own the debt
• Documentation of the debt’s history

Our partner Solo helps you create a proper Debt Validation Letter. You can generate one in minutes.

Rubin & Rothman Reviews and Complaints

Rubin & Rothman has a 3.9-star rating on Google reviews. That’s better than most debt collectors.

The Better Business Bureau gives them an A- rating. They’ve been BBB accredited since 2016.

Some complaints mention issues with billing and collections. Others cite problems with civil litigation procedures.

One consumer reported making payments for months without a formal agreement. Then Rubin & Rothman filed a judgment claiming non-payment.

Always get payment arrangements in writing before sending money. Verbal agreements mean nothing in court.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act protects you from abusive practices. It regulates how collectors can contact you.

Debt collectors can’t harass you or use threatening language. They can’t lie or mislead you about the debt.

You can sue collectors who violate the FDCPA. Successful claims can win you up to $1,000 per violation.

You can also recover attorney fees and court costs. But you must raise violations in court to enforce your rights.

Signs of FDCPA Violations

You may have a case against Rubin & Rothman if they’ve done any of these:

• Called you multiple times per day or week
• Called before 8 AM or after 9 PM
• Called you at work after you asked them to stop
• Discussed your debt with friends, family, or coworkers
• Threatened you with jail or criminal charges
• Used obscene or abusive language
• Tried to collect more than you actually owe
• Threatened to hurt your credit if you don’t pay
• Used robocalls or auto-dialers to contact you

Document every violation with dates, times, and details. Save all voicemails and written communications.

Consider filing a counterclaim in your Answer. You might recover money from them instead of paying.

Tips for Drafting Your Answer

Your Answer is a legal document that responds to their Complaint. Follow these six tips to strengthen your case.

1. Keep It Simple

Don’t tell your whole story in detail. The burden of proof is on Rubin & Rothman, not you.

Too much information can actually hurt your case. Stick to simple responses for now.

2. Deny Their Allegations

Respond to each claim by denying it. You’re forcing them to prove their case.

Denying allegations requires them to provide documentation. Most attorneys recommend denying as much as possible.

3. Include Affirmative Defenses

List any reasons they don’t have a valid case. Examples include statute of limitations or incorrect amounts.

Affirmative defenses shift some burden back to the plaintiff. They must overcome your defenses to win.

4. Use Professional Formatting

Your Answer should look clean and organized. Start with a caption showing court and case information.

Include sections for responses and affirmative defenses. Use standard fonts, sizes, and margins.

5. Add a Certificate of Service

Prove you sent a copy to Rubin & Rothman. Include their name and address in the certificate.

Sign and date the certificate of service. Courts reject Answers without proof of service.

6. Sign Your Answer

Your signature makes the document official. Courts will reject unsigned Answers.

Review everything before signing. Make sure all information is accurate and complete.

Take Action Against Rubin & Rothman Today

You have powerful options when facing Rubin & Rothman. Responding quickly protects your rights and saves you money.

Don’t ignore their lawsuit or collection attempts. That guarantees the worst possible outcome.

Start by filing your Answer to prevent default judgment. Then negotiate a settlement you can actually afford.

Thousands of consumers successfully resolve debt collection cases every year. You can be one of them.