Rubin & Rothman, LLC on Your Credit Report: What to Know

Rubin & Rothman, LLC filed nearly 16,000 debt collection lawsuits in New York in 2021 alone. They represent Bank of America, Capital One, Citibank, JPMorgan Chase, LVNV Funding, and other major creditors and debt buyers against consumers across New York and New Jersey.

Consumer attorneys who routinely defend against their cases describe them as operating more like a high-volume collection agency that uses the courts as its primary collection tool.

When you call Rubin & Rothman, you will not reach an attorney. You will speak with a commission-paid collection agent working under law firm letterhead.

Who Is Rubin & Rothman?

Rubin & Rothman, LLC is a creditors’ rights law firm founded in 1960, incorporated in 1999, and headquartered in Islandia, New York. They have 55 employees, $9.2 million in annual revenue, 179 CFPB complaints on record, and a documented history of FDCPA litigation. They practice in New York and New Jersey. New York has a 6-year statute of limitations on written contracts.

16,000 Lawsuits a Year and the Default Judgment Strategy

Rubin & Rothman filed over 10,000 New York collection lawsuits in both 2016 and 2017, and nearly 16,000 in 2021. They file across every county in New York state. The volume reflects a strategy that relies heavily on default judgments obtained when consumers fail to respond to summonses.

Once a default judgment is entered, Rubin & Rothman can freeze bank accounts, garnish wages, issue information subpoenas, and place liens on property, all without further court action. If you receive a summons from Rubin & Rothman, respond before the court deadline regardless of whether you believe you owe the debt. A response preserves all your defenses. Silence ends them.

The Frivolous Lawsuit and Improper Service Record

In May 2012, a Mount Vernon City Court judge issued an order considering whether Rubin & Rothman should be sanctioned for filing a frivolous lawsuit and failing to comply with court orders.

In K.S. v. Rubin & Rothman (E.D.N.Y. 12-CV-4854, 2012), Rubin & Rothman sued a consumer in the wrong county and then garnished her wages based on that defective lawsuit. The court found Rubin & Rothman violated the FDCPA by leaving two voicemails on the debtor’s mother’s answering machine, a woman the debtor did not live with and had never authorized as a contact.

In DaimlerChrysler Financial v. D.H., Rubin & Rothman obtained a default judgment on a vehicle repossession deficiency. The process server’s affidavit claimed the summons was served on a Caucasian woman when the actual recipient was Black. Rubin & Rothman agreed to vacate the judgment after the defect was challenged.

The LVNV Chain of Assignment Failure

In a GE Money Bank case where Rubin & Rothman represented LVNV Funding, a court held a hearing on whether the firm should be sanctioned for filing a frivolous lawsuit and failing to provide court-ordered documents.

Despite multiple opportunities, Rubin & Rothman could not produce the chain of assignments proving LVNV owned the specific account. The case illustrates a core defense available to any consumer sued by Rubin & Rothman on behalf of a debt buyer: demanding proof of complete chain of assignment.

Contacting Family Members

Both the Clayson v. Rubin & Rothman case (W.D.N.Y. 2010) and the K.S. case resulted in FDCPA findings against Rubin & Rothman for contacting debtors’ mothers without authorization. In Clayson, the court found Rubin & Rothman violated the FDCPA by communicating twice about the debt with the debtor’s mother. Under FDCPA Section 1692c(b), third-party contact is permitted only to obtain location information and cannot involve discussion of the debt.

The Tito Deceptive Statements Case

In Tito v. Rubin & Rothman, LLC (E.D.N.Y. 2014), a class action alleged Rubin & Rothman made deceptive statements in New York state court collection actions, falsely representing in court filings that TD Auto Finance was “not required to be licensed by the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs” because it was a passive debt buyer. The parties settled and the plaintiff was awarded $22,110 in attorney fees.

Filing a Lawsuit Before Verifying a Written Dispute

In S.M. v. Rubin & Rothman (E.D.N.Y. 12-CIV-0071, 2012), consumer advocates argued Rubin & Rothman represented it could sue the consumer without first verifying her written dispute letter. FDCPA Section 1692g(b) requires all collection activity, including filing a lawsuit, to pause after a consumer disputes a debt in writing until verification is provided.

If you have sent Rubin & Rothman a written dispute and they have subsequently filed a lawsuit, document the timeline. The sequence may constitute an FDCPA violation.

Bank Account Freezes and Rescinded Payment Plans

Documented BBB complaints allege Rubin & Rothman froze consumers’ bank accounts and filed judgments without verifying the debt, and that the firm rescinded previously negotiated payment plans after consumers had begun paying.

Get every payment arrangement with Rubin & Rothman confirmed in writing. Do not rely on verbal terms. A written agreement specifying the amount, schedule, and account the arrangement covers is the only enforceable form.

Your Options Before Paying or Responding

Rubin & Rothman’s volume and litigation record make this one of the more consequential collector relationships a consumer can face in New York:

• Respond to any summons before the court deadline. Rubin & Rothman files in every New York county and relies on default judgments. Filing a response is the single most important action you can take.
• Demand the complete chain of assignment if they represent a debt buyer. The LVNV case shows Rubin & Rothman cannot always produce this documentation. An inability to prove chain of ownership is a defense.
• Document any contact with family members. Two documented FDCPA cases found Rubin & Rothman liable for exactly this conduct.
• Get every payment arrangement in writing. BBB complaints confirm Rubin & Rothman has rescinded verbal arrangements after consumers began paying.

New York AG’s Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection accepts complaints at (800) 771-7755.

How to Contact Rubin & Rothman

• Address: Rubin & Rothman, LLC, 1787 Veterans Memorial Highway, Islandia, NY 11749
• Phone: (800) 298-6058 or (631) 234-1500

Bottom Line

Rubin & Rothman filed nearly 16,000 New York collection lawsuits in 2021 and operates on a default judgment model. They have documented FDCPA findings for contacting debtors’ family members, filing suits before verifying written disputes, and using defective service to obtain judgments they later had to vacate.

If you receive a summons, respond before the deadline. If they represent a debt buyer, demand complete chain of assignment documentation. If they have contacted any family member about your debt, document it for a potential FDCPA claim.