Is Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP Hurting Your Credit?

Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP is not a traditional debt collection agency. It is a law firm that collects more than $1 billion in government debt annually on behalf of toll authorities, tax agencies, courts, and parking enforcement offices. If their name appears on your credit report, the underlying account is almost certainly a government obligation, not a credit card or loan.

That distinction changes your rights significantly. A federal court has ruled that traffic fines are not “debt” under the FDCPA, meaning some LGBS collections fall outside the statute’s protections entirely. This guide covers who LGBS is, their documented legal history, and how to respond.

Who Is Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson?

Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP (LGBS) is a collection law firm founded in 1976 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, BBB-accredited since 2012, with offices in twelve states.

LGBS collects for government clients only: toll road authorities, city and county tax offices, state courts, and parking enforcement agencies. They do not collect credit cards, medical bills, or personal loans. The CFPB has recorded over 337 complaints against them, with “debt not owed” as the dominant category.

The FDCPA May Not Apply to Your Account

In Calderone v. Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, a U.S. District Court ruled that traffic fines do not constitute “debt” under the FDCPA because the statute covers only obligations incurred for personal, family, or household purposes. Government fines and penalties often do not meet that definition.

If LGBS is collecting a traffic citation or parking ticket, the FDCPA’s standard validation notice and 30-day dispute window may not apply. Your state’s consumer protection statutes and constitutional due process rights still apply. For tax deficiencies or court-ordered debts, the FDCPA analysis depends on how the obligation arose. A consumer attorney can clarify which laws cover your specific account type.

The $3.4 Million California Settlement

In January 2016, a federal judge approved a $3.4 million settlement in 4EC Holdings v. Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson (N.D. California, Case No. 3:14-cv-01944). The lawsuit alleged LGBS sent collection letters to California consumers on behalf of government clients without being licensed to practice law in California.

The class covered every person who paid in response to an LGBS letter sent into California between February 6, 2002 and September 15, 2013. At least $2 million went directly to class members. LGBS agreed going forward to have California-licensed attorneys on staff before sending letters to California residents.

The Iowa Lawsuit: Threatening Jail and Hiding Fees

In September 2020, a lawsuit was filed against LGBS on behalf of two low-income Iowa consumers with court debt from misdemeanor cases. The complaint alleged LGBS letters warned consumers they could have their driver’s licenses revoked or be jailed if they did not pay immediately.

The same letters failed to disclose that LGBS had added a 25% collection fee on top of the court-ordered principal. Threatening license revocation and jail while concealing added fees are documented violations under FDCPA Sections 1692e and 1692f. A 2015 CNN Money investigative series first documented LGBS threatening arrest for unpaid government debts nationwide.

If you received an LGBS letter threatening license suspension or arrest, document it. That threat must be legally supportable under your state’s law for the specific debt type to be lawful.

The Tennessee Class Action: Excessive Fees

In Youngblood v. Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson (W.D. Tennessee, Case No. 10-2304, September 2012), LGBS settled a class action for charging excessive fees in Tennessee tax collection. Combined with the Iowa lawsuit, this reflects a documented multi-state pattern of undisclosed or inflated collection fees added to government principal balances.

Before paying any LGBS balance, request an itemized breakdown separating the original government assessment from every fee LGBS has added.

What LGBS Cannot Do Regardless of Debt Type

Even where the FDCPA does not apply, state law and constitutional protections remain:

• Threaten arrest or license revocation without legal basis: The Iowa lawsuit documents this as a specific LGBS pattern. The threat must be an actual legal remedy available for your debt type in your state.
• Add undisclosed fees to the principal: The Iowa and Tennessee cases both document this conduct across multiple states and debt types.
• Send collection letters in states where the firm is not licensed: The California settlement covers letters sent between 2002 and 2013.
• Report inaccurate accounts to credit bureaus: The FCRA applies regardless of whether the FDCPA covers the underlying debt. CFPB complaints include cases where LGBS pursued consumers for tolls tied to license plates they never owned.

Verify the Account Before Paying Anything

Request the name of the government agency, the specific obligation type, the original government-assessed amount, and an itemized list of every fee LGBS added. For toll accounts, request the license plate number and the date and location of each alleged unpaid toll. CFPB complaints document cases where LGBS pursued consumers for tolls linked to vehicles they never owned.

How to Check Your Credit Report for LGBS Entries

Search all three credit reports for “Linebarger Goggan” and “LGBS.” Confirm the government agency is identified as the original creditor and the balance reflects the government’s assessment plus only disclosed fees. If the vehicle or license plate on a toll account is not yours, dispute with all three bureaus and file a CFPB complaint simultaneously.

How Long Can LGBS Legally Pursue the Debt?

Texas has a 4-year statute of limitations on written contracts. Government debts carry collection windows set by individual state statutes that vary by debt type. The limit for a parking fine differs from that for a tax deficiency. Confirm the specific limitation for your debt type in your state before engaging.

Your Options for Responding to an LGBS Account

• Request full itemization before paying: The Iowa and Tennessee cases document LGBS adding undisclosed fees to government principal across multiple states. You are entitled to see exactly what portion is the government’s assessment and what portion is LGBS’s fee.
• Verify any toll account license plate: CFPB complaints document misidentified plates. Confirm the vehicle is yours before paying.
• Document any threat of arrest or license suspension: The Iowa lawsuit was built on LGBS letters making exactly these threats. Record the letter date, the threat language, and the debt type.
• Dispute misidentified credit bureau entries immediately: The FCRA applies to LGBS reporting regardless of FDCPA coverage.

How to Contact Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson

• Address: Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP, 2700 Via Fortuna Drive, Suite 500, Austin, TX 78746
• Phone: (800) 262-7229

Bottom Line

Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson is one of the largest government debt collectors in the country, and the FDCPA may not apply to the specific debt they are pursuing. That does not eliminate your rights. The firm has a $3.4 million California settlement for unauthorized collection letters, a Tennessee class action for excessive fees, and an Iowa lawsuit for threatening jail while hiding added fees.

Before paying, get an itemized breakdown separating the government assessment from LGBS’s fees. For toll accounts, confirm the license plate on the violation is actually yours before sending a dollar.