Foster and Monroe, LLC has collected debts from their West Seneca, New York office since 2012, also using the name F&M Capital. Their BBB profile carries an alert about out-of-state licensing, and a Texas consumer documented that Foster and Monroe’s right to conduct business in Texas had been forfeited while they continued collecting.
Documented patterns include threatening illegal arrest, ignoring certified validation requests, and reporting balances that contradict their own demand letters. This guide covers who they are and how to respond.
Who Is Foster and Monroe?
Foster and Monroe, LLC is a third-party debt collection agency founded in 2012 and headquartered in West Seneca, New York. The BBB gives them a B rating and has not accredited them, recording 53 complaints over three years with 32 closed in the most recent 12 months. Multiple federal PACER cases name them as a defendant.
They collect for a range of clients but do not publicly disclose which industries or companies they represent. New York has a 6-year statute of limitations on written contracts.
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The Out-of-State Licensing Alert
Foster and Monroe’s own BBB profile carries an alert noting the company may lack proper licensing to engage in out-of-state debt collection. A documented BBB complaint from a Texas consumer describes Foster and Monroe continuing to collect and report a debt to credit bureaus after the consumer provided documentation showing the company’s right to conduct business in Texas had been forfeited.
Most states require debt collection agencies to be licensed in the state where they collect. If Foster and Monroe is collecting from you in a state where they may not be properly licensed, that is a separate compliance issue worth documenting and raising in any dispute or complaint.
Threatening Illegal Actions
Documented consumer complaints describe Foster and Monroe making illegal threats including threatening arrest and wage garnishment in circumstances where those actions cannot legally be taken. A consumer debt cannot lead to criminal arrest. Wage garnishment requires a court judgment, not merely a collection demand.
FDCPA Section 1692e(4) prohibits threatening arrest or imprisonment for failure to pay a consumer debt. FDCPA Section 1692e(5) prohibits threatening legal action the collector does not intend to take or cannot legally take. If Foster and Monroe has threatened arrest or immediate wage garnishment in a phone call or letter, document that communication immediately.
Validation Failures and Balance Mismatches
A documented September 2025 BBB complaint describes a consumer who sent a certified validation letter to Foster and Monroe. Delivery was confirmed. Foster and Monroe failed to respond within 30 days as required by FDCPA Section 1692g and continued reporting the unverified account to credit bureaus.
A separate documented complaint describes Foster and Monroe sending collection letters with a balance and settlement amount that did not match the balance reported to credit bureaus. The same consumer described ignoring a cease-and-desist letter and continuing to report the account without notifying the bureaus of its disputed status.
Under FDCPA Section 1692g(b), once a consumer disputes a debt in writing, the collector must cease collection until verification is provided. Reporting an unverified disputed account without marking it as disputed is a separate FCRA violation.
What Foster and Monroe Cannot Do Under Federal Law
Based on their documented complaint record:
- Threaten arrest or imprisonment for unpaid consumer debt: A documented FDCPA complaint pattern. No consumer debt leads to criminal arrest. FDCPA Section 1692e(4) prohibits this directly.
- Fail to respond to a certified validation request within 30 days: A documented September 2025 BBB complaint. FDCPA Section 1692g requires verification before collection can resume.
- Continue reporting a disputed account without marking it as disputed: A documented complaint pattern. FCRA requires disputed accounts to be marked as such while under investigation.
- Report balances that differ from their own demand letters: A documented complaint. FCRA accuracy obligations require consistent and accurate reporting.
- Collect in states where they are not properly licensed: A documented BBB alert. State licensing requirements are separate from FDCPA compliance.
Verify the Debt Before Paying Anything
Send a written validation request by certified mail with return receipt within 30 days of first contact. Request the original creditor’s name, the account number, the balance at referral, documentation of Foster and Monroe’s authorization to collect, and proof of proper licensing in your state.
Compare any balance stated in Foster and Monroe’s collection letter against what they are reporting to the credit bureaus. If the figures differ, document that discrepancy before responding.
New York has a 6-year statute of limitations on written contracts. The relevant statute is the state where you currently reside.
How to Check Your Credit Report for Foster and Monroe Entries
Search all three credit reports for “Foster and Monroe” and “F&M Capital.” Confirm the original creditor is identified and the balance matches both the original creditor’s records and what Foster and Monroe states in their own collection letters.
Your Options Before Paying or Responding
- Request licensing verification for your state: Given the documented BBB licensing alert, ask Foster and Monroe in writing to confirm their collection license number for the state where you reside.
- Send validation request by certified mail immediately: The documented September 2025 complaint shows Foster and Monroe failing to respond. Certified mail with return receipt creates an undeniable delivery record.
- Document any threat of arrest or immediate wage garnishment: FDCPA Section 1692e(4) and (5) make these specific threats actionable. Log date, time, and exact language.
- File with the New York AG in addition to CFPB: New York residents can file complaints with the Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection at (800) 771-7755.
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How to Contact Foster and Monroe
- Office address: Foster and Monroe, LLC, 3770 Transit Road, Orchard Park, NY 14127
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 1031, West Seneca, NY 14224
- Phone: (866) 307-4543
Bottom Line
Foster and Monroe has 53 BBB complaints in three years, a BBB licensing alert for out-of-state collection, and documented patterns of threatening illegal arrest, ignoring certified validation requests, and reporting balances that contradict their own demand letters.
Send a certified validation request immediately and request confirmation of their collection license in your state. If they have threatened arrest or failed to respond to a prior validation request, file a CFPB complaint with that documentation attached.
Brooke Banks is a personal finance writer specializing in credit, debt, and smart money management. She helps readers understand their rights, build better credit, and make confident financial decisions with clear, practical advice.