Shafer Law Firm on Your Credit Report: Your Options Explained

Shafer Law Firm has collected medical debts for hospitals, physician practices, and healthcare systems from their Atlanta, Georgia office since 1995, representing healthcare providers in more than 30 states. They specialize in self-pay collections, insurance denials, worker’s compensation accounts, and third-party liability recovery.

As a law firm, their collection letters carry specific FDCPA implications that differ from standard collection agency notices. This guide covers who they are and how to respond.

Who Is Shafer Law Firm?

Shafer Law Firm is a medical debt collection law firm licensed in Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, and Ohio, with of counsel attorneys in Kentucky, Alabama, and Florida. They collect exclusively for healthcare providers including hospitals, physician practices, and long-term care facilities.

Georgia has a 6-year statute of limitations on written contracts, and medical debt CFPB rules apply to every account they report.

Collection Letters From a Law Firm Carry Weight

Because Shafer Law Firm is an actual law firm, their collection letters imply that an attorney has reviewed the account and determined that legal action is being considered. Under FDCPA case law, a collection letter sent on law firm letterhead that implies attorney involvement when no attorney has meaningfully reviewed the account is a deceptive practice under Section 1692e.

If you receive a letter from Shafer Law Firm, it may be a precursor to a lawsuit rather than a routine collection notice. Take it seriously and respond within the 30-day dispute window.

Insurance Denial Recovery and Unexpected Balances

Shafer Law Firm’s practice areas include recovering balances from insurance denials, worker’s compensation accounts, and third-party liability claims. This means not every Shafer account originates from a straightforward unpaid patient bill.

If Shafer Law Firm is collecting a balance you believed your insurer covered, request both the original explanation of benefits from your insurer and the specific denial reason from the healthcare provider before paying anything. An insurer’s denial for a procedure code or authorization issue does not automatically create enforceable patient liability.

Worker’s Compensation and Third-Party Liability Accounts

Shafer Law Firm specifically collects for worker’s compensation and third-party liability accounts, which involve medical treatment paid or disputed through an injury claim rather than standard health insurance. These accounts have more complex payment chains and a higher likelihood of disputed balances.

If the account Shafer is collecting involves treatment related to a workplace injury or an accident where a third party was at fault, confirm with your worker’s compensation insurer or personal injury attorney whether that balance should already have been addressed through the claim before engaging with Shafer.

Medical Debt Reporting Rules Apply

Shafer collects exclusively for healthcare providers. Medical debts under $500 cannot appear on any consumer credit report. Any medical debt must wait one full year past the date of first delinquency before being reported.

If Shafer has reported a medical balance under $500 or less than one year past due, dispute it immediately.

What Shafer Law Firm Cannot Do Under Federal Law

• Imply meaningful attorney review when none occurred: FDCPA case law on attorney collection letters requires that any attorney whose name or firm appears on a collection letter have actually reviewed the account before the letter was sent.
• Collect insurance denial balances that are not patient responsibility: FDCPA Section 1692e prohibits collecting amounts not legally owed. An insurance denial caused by a billing error does not create automatic patient liability.
• Collect worker’s compensation balances already covered by a claim: Confirmed covered worker’s compensation treatment is not patient-owed debt.
• Report medical debts under $500 or less than one year past due: Current CFPB rules prohibit both outright.

Verify the Debt Before Paying Anything

Send a written validation request by certified mail within 30 days of first contact. Request the original healthcare provider’s name, the date of service, an itemized bill, your insurer’s explanation of benefits, and for any insurance denial account, the specific denial reason code. For worker’s compensation accounts, confirm the claim number and adjuster contact before engaging with Shafer.

How to Find Shafer Law Firm on Your Credit Report

Check your credit reports for “Shafer Law Firm.” Confirm the original provider is identified and the account type is specified. For any account tied to an insurance claim or workplace injury, verify the claim status before accepting the balance as your patient responsibility.

Your Options Before Paying or Responding

• Request the specific insurance denial reason before paying any denied claim balance: Shafer’s insurance denial recovery practice means some accounts may involve billing disputes that were never resolved with the insurer before referral to collections.
• Confirm worker’s compensation claim status before engaging: Treatment covered under a workers’ comp claim should not appear as a patient collection account.
• Dispute medical entries under $500 or less than one year old immediately: CFPB rules make both disputable without waiting for Shafer to respond.
• File with the Georgia AG if rights are violated: The Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division accepts complaints at (404) 651-8600.

How to Contact Shafer Law Firm

• Address: Shafer Law Firm, 2000 RiverEdge Parkway, Suite 590, Atlanta, GA 30328
• Phone: (800) 266-1980

Bottom Line

Shafer Law Firm is a medical collection law firm representing healthcare providers in over 30 states. Their practice areas include insurance denials, worker’s compensation accounts, and third-party liability recovery, meaning some accounts may involve billing disputes that were never resolved with an insurer before referral to collections.

Verify whether the balance reflects actual patient responsibility before paying anything. For worker’s compensation or insurance denial accounts, confirm claim status directly before engaging with Shafer.