Rausch Sturm LLP on Your Credit Report: What You Should Know

If Rausch Sturm LLP has contacted you or appeared on your credit report, understand this first: Rausch Sturm is a debt collection law firm, not a collection agency. Their primary tool is litigation. A letter from them means a creditor is considering suing you or already has.

The good news is that Rausch Sturm cases are often resolved through negotiation before trial. But ignoring them is a serious mistake.

This guide walks through who Rausch Sturm is, why they’re contacting you, and how to respond.

Who Is Rausch Sturm LLP?

Rausch Sturm LLP, formerly known as Rausch, Sturm, Israel, Enerson & Hornik, LLP (RSIEH), is a debt collection law firm founded in 1997 and headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin. The firm maintains offices across multiple states including Florida, Alabama, and New York. They are BBB-accredited with an A+ rating.

Rausch Sturm does not own the debts they pursue. They work as attorneys representing banks, credit card companies, and debt buyers on contingency, filing lawsuits on their clients’ behalf. If you’ve received a letter or summons from them, one of their clients has decided to pursue legal action.

The firm has accumulated 41+ CFPB complaints and has been named in multiple federal cases as a defendant for alleged FDCPA violations, including a 2021 California class action alleging their attorneys were not licensed to practice in that state.

Why Rausch Sturm Is Contacting You

If Rausch Sturm has reached out, a creditor has referred your account for legal collection. Their client base includes:

• Credit card companies: American Express, Discover, Capital One, and other major issuers.
• Banks and lenders: Personal loans, lines of credit, and other consumer debt.
• Auto lenders: Deficiency balances after vehicle repossession.
• Student loan servicers: Defaulted private student loans.
• Debt buyers: Companies that have purchased charged-off portfolios and hired Rausch Sturm to litigate.
• Telecom and utility providers: Final account balances.

Unlike a standard collection agency that uses phone calls and letters, Rausch Sturm’s primary lever is the lawsuit. Their involvement signals that the creditor has moved past routine collection into litigation mode.

The Licensing Issue Worth Checking

A 2021 class action filed against Rausch Sturm in California alleged that the firm sent threatening collection letters signed by an attorney who was not licensed to practice law in California. The plaintiff argued this misrepresented the firm’s legal right to file suit in that state, violating the FDCPA.

If you received a letter from Rausch Sturm, check whether the attorney whose name appears on the letter is licensed in your state. State bar association websites allow free license verification. A letter from an unlicensed attorney that implies imminent legal action may constitute an FDCPA violation.

What Rausch Sturm Cannot Do Under Federal Law

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) applies to Rausch Sturm even as a law firm. Under federal law, they cannot:

• Threaten arrest or jail: Consumer debt is not a criminal matter.
• Call at odd hours: Contact is only allowed between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in your time zone.
• Contact you at work after you say stop: Written cease-contact requests must be honored.
• File suit in a state where their attorneys aren’t licensed: Documented as an FDCPA issue.
• Place liens for debts that aren’t yours: A documented complaint pattern with Rausch Sturm.
• Change settlement terms without notice: Documented in multiple CFPB complaints.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you the right to dispute inaccurate information. If Rausch Sturm violates either law, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov.

Verify the Debt Before Responding

Don’t pay or admit the debt is yours until you’ve verified it. Send a written debt validation request by certified mail within 30 days of first contact. Ask for:

• The original creditor and account number.
• The full balance breakdown including any added interest or fees.
• Documentation showing Rausch Sturm’s authority to collect on behalf of their client.
• The chain of ownership if the debt was sold before reaching Rausch Sturm’s client.

Old debts that have passed through multiple buyers before reaching Rausch Sturm often have documentation gaps. Demanding complete records forces the issue into the open.

How to Check Your Credit Report for Errors

Pull your credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Look at how the account is reporting. Is the balance correct? Is it listed under the right original creditor? Does a lien appear that shouldn’t be there?

Documented Rausch Sturm complaints include placing liens on homes for debts belonging to someone else, then failing to release the lien after the error was discovered and payment was made anyway. Any inaccuracy or erroneous lien is grounds for immediate dispute with each credit bureau and potentially legal action.

How Long Can They Legally Pursue the Debt?

Every state has a statute of limitations on debt. Once that window closes, the debt is time-barred and can’t be enforced in court. Credit card and personal loan debts typically fall in the 3 to 6 year range depending on your state.

If Rausch Sturm is threatening suit on an old debt, check the original delinquency date carefully. Pursuing time-barred debt through litigation is a documented FDCPA issue across the collection industry.

Your Options When Rausch Sturm Contacts You

Your strategy depends on whether you’ve received a demand letter or an actual lawsuit:

• Pre-lawsuit demand letter: Verify the debt, check attorney licensing, and negotiate. Rausch Sturm cases often settle before filing. Get every settlement agreement in writing with specific terms before paying.
• Filed lawsuit: Do not ignore it. File an answer within the deadline. Respond even if you can’t afford an attorney, because a default judgment is worse than defending the case.
• Negotiate a settlement: Rausch Sturm cases regularly settle for 40 to 60 percent of the balance. Their clients are more interested in getting paid than in litigating to judgment. Get the settlement agreement in writing before paying.
• Dispute if the debt isn’t yours: If a lien or account was placed in error, dispute aggressively and consider consulting an attorney about damages.

If Rausch Sturm Has Already Filed a Lawsuit

Do not ignore the complaint. Filing an answer is the single most important thing you can do. The majority of Rausch Sturm wins come from default judgments because defendants never responded.

When consumers file an answer and appear in court, they force Rausch Sturm to prove the debt with complete documentation. Many cases settle favorably or get dismissed at this stage. Consult a consumer protection attorney as soon as you’re served. Many offer free consultations.

How to Contact Rausch Sturm LLP

Handle all communication in writing whenever possible. Here’s how to reach them:

• Address: Rausch Sturm LLP, 250 N. Sunnyslope Road, Suite 300, Brookfield, WI 53005
• Phone: (866) 456-3744

If you’ve been sued, use the address on the court documents for any formal responses.

Bottom Line

Rausch Sturm is a litigation-focused law firm. Their involvement signals a creditor is serious about legal action. That makes responding quickly and strategically more important than with a typical collection agency.

Check attorney licensing in your state, verify the debt, and never ignore a summons. A negotiated settlement is almost always possible and almost always better than a default judgment.