ComplaintsforPortnoff Law Associates, LTD
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Complaint Details
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Initial Complaint
11/03/2022
- Complaint Type:
- Billing Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I have been paying this place for three years and because I miss a few payments especially during this Covid era I get hit with a $510 attorney fee charge in 2020 and $160 in 2021, I had it down and then they tacked on these charges out of nowhere!Business response
11/09/2022
We are in receipt of your letter dated November 4, 2022 with respect to the complaint filed by ************************** Kindly accept this email in response to that complaint.
Portnoff Law Associates, Ltd. (hereinafter PLA), is a law firm that contracts with school districts and municipalities for the collection of delinquent real estate taxes and municipal claims pursuant to the Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Act, 53 P.S. §7101, et.seq. (the MCTLA). **************** is not a customer or client of PLA. PLA represents a school district whose interests are adversarial to those of ***************** Absent written permission from ****************, PLA will not discuss or disclose the particular details of **. ******* accounts with a third party such as the Better Business Bureau.Customer response
11/17/2022
Complaint: ********
I am rejecting this response because:
Please see signed authorization form attached.Regards,
*************************Business response
11/22/2022
I am in receipt of your letter dated November 17, 2022 with respect to the reply of ************************* to my response to his complaint. In that reply, **************** includes an authorization to discuss his account with the Better Business Bureau. Kindly accept this email as a more detailed response to **. *******’s original complaint.
Portnoff Law Associates (PLA) is a law firm that collects, among other things, delinquent school real estate taxes on behalf of school districts throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pursuant to the in rem collection provisions of the Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Act, 53 P.S. 7101, et seq. (“MCTLA”). The MCTLA provides that, following notice to the property owner, attorney fees may be added to a delinquent account pursuant to a fee schedule adopted by resolution by the school district. The statute also permits adding other charges, expenses, and fees incurred in collection to the delinquent balance.
In the instant matter, PLA represents the ********* School District for the in rem collection of delinquent 2020 and 2021 school real estate taxes against the property owned by ***************** **************** was sent the statutorily required notices for each of these delinquencies, the first on 10-15-21. These notices informed **************** that the failure to pay in full or to enter into and comply with a payment plan would result in PLA proceeding with legal action and additional costs and fees being added to the delinquent accounts. **************** entered into at least 2 payment plans over the next year, but only made sporadic and inconsistent payments, resulting in the automatic default of those plans and PLA being compelled to proceed with legal action and add costs and fees to the file. Specifically, our records indicate that **************** made only 4 payments over that time, on January 5, May 30, June 6, and August 22, 2022 respectively. The total of those 4 payments does not even equal the original amounts of the taxes, let alone the additional costs and fees added to the files for sending two legal demand letters, filing a lien (a/k/a tax claim) with the Prothonotary of Beaver County, and filing a Writ of Scire Facias with the same prothonotary.
As stated in my initial response, **************** is not a client or customer of PLA. PLA represents the ********* School District in a legal matter wherein **************** is the adversary. Nevertheless, PLA made every effort to assist **************** to pay over time in amounts acceptable to him and to avoid the addition of attorney fees and costs and continued legal action. Unfortunately, **************** has failed to comply with the terms of the payment plans.Initial Complaint
10/31/2022
- Complaint Type:
- Customer Service Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I bought my home end of 2020. I thought the mortage company took care of the trash bill. I never received a bill, so I assumed it was all taken care of. Today 10/31/22 I received a letter from a law office/collection agency threatening to put a lean on my home if the bill was not paid. Only issue is they have added on $500 worth of fees! I have no issue paying my garbage bill but $500 worth of fees on top of the bill is unreal! I need help! and this shouldn't even be legal.Business response
11/22/2022
Portnoff Law Associates, Ltd. (hereinafter PLA), is a law firm that contracts with school districts and municipalities for the collection of delinquent real estate taxes and municipal claims pursuant to the Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Act, 53 P.S. §7101, et.seq. (the “MCTLA”). *** ******* is not a customer or client of PLA. PLA represents a township whose interests are adversarial to those of *** *******. Absent written permission from *** *******, PLA will not discuss or disclose the particular details of *** *******’s account with a third party such as the Better Business Bureau.Initial Complaint
10/03/2022
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
On 09/16/2021, I received communication in the mail from Portnoff Law Associates regarding deliquent trash fees. This had a huge chunk out of it and was placed into a plastic bag by the post office with an apology. I called during my lunch hour to make payment arrangements and was on hold my entire break. I then sent an email, to which I had NO response. On September 30, I received another communication from them again stating the delinquent amount PLUS $35 for the letter they sent me. I again have emailed them twice since this time and get no response. It is at best, unethical, and should be criminal to ignore communication directed to them in an effort to settle the issue they were hired to do. It seems their intent is to tack on as many additional fees as they can. I am still waiting on a payment plan and I will not pay the $35 they are trying to steal from me, as it was their own incompetence for not responding as soon as I tried to rectify this.As I've gleaned from their multiple prior complaints and their form letter they respond to each with, I do give my permission for Portnoff Law Associates to discuss the matter with the Better Business Bureau.File Number ********** ***********************Business response
10/11/2022
Portnoff Law Associates, Ltd. (PLA) represents the City of Washington for the in rem collection of delinquent trash fees against a property owned by ************************ As such, ************** is not a customer or client of PLA, but is an adversary of our client in a collection matter. Ordinarily, our practice would be not to disclose any information by making a substantive response to a Better Business Bureau Complaint filed by an adversary of our client. Our reluctance to do so is predicated on the concern that we not violate the rights granted to a debtor by certain state and/or federal consumer protection laws that prohibit disclosure to third parties. In this matter, however, ************** spoke with our office and gave us explicit permission to discuss the matter with the Better Business Bureau.
As it appears that our office sent a second collection notice, which carried a collection fee and postage charges, despite Ms. ****** attempt to contact us after the initial notice in order to set up a payment plan, we have agreed to waive the collection fee and costs and set up a mutually agreeable payment plan limited to the original amount of the unpaid trash fees. Assuming ************** makes all payments in a timely manner, no additional costs or fees will be added to her file. We trust this should be a satisfactory resolution of this matter, and we apologize for the difficulty ************** had in contacting our office following the original notice.Initial Complaint
08/25/2022
- Complaint Type:
- Billing Issues
- Status:
- Answered
Law office that even after making a payment plan continue to add excessive fees. My bill went from 244.67 to 988.65. After being on hold multiple times and getting no where they add more fees.Business response
09/06/2022
Portnoff Law Associates, Ltd. (hereinafter PLA), is a law firm that contracts with school districts and municipalities for the collection of delinquent real estate taxes and municipal claims pursuant to the Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Act, 53 P.S. ****, et.seq. (the MCTLA). ******************** is not a customer or client of PLA. PLA represents a school district whose interests are adversarial to **. **************** Absent written permission from ********************, PLA will not discuss or disclose the particular details of **. ********* account with a third party such as the Better Business Bureau.Initial Complaint
03/23/2022
- Complaint Type:
- Billing Issues
- Status:
- Answered
Hello I got on a payment plan for $500 a month I overpaid them and now they don't wanna give me my money back in a timely fashion I stop payment in December 2021 and I still haven't received my over payment of $470.11Business response
03/31/2022
Portnoff Law Associates, Ltd. (hereinafter PLA), is a law firm that contracts with school districts and municipalities for the collection of delinquent real estate taxes and municipal claims pursuant to the Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Act, 53 P.S. 7101, et.seq. (the MCTLA). **************** is not a customer or client of PLA. PLA represented ***** ********* Township, a party whose interests were adversarial to **. ******* in a matter that has been resolved. Absent written permission from ****************, PLA will not discuss the particular details of **. *******'s account with a third party such as the Better Business Bureau.Initial Complaint
02/24/2022
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
They will not respond with a payoff on a delinquent property tax in 5 business days as per their website posting. Causing accrued penalties. I may have to take them to court for this very reason to get the penalties waived. Help please. Sincerely ***********************Business response
03/01/2022
Dear ******************:
We are in receipt of your letter dated February 25, 2022 with respect to the complaint filed by ***********************. Kindly accept this email in response to that complaint.
Portnoff Law Associates, Ltd. (hereinafter PLA), is a law firm that contracts with school districts and municipalities for the collection of delinquent real estate taxes and municipal claims pursuant to the Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Act, 53 P.S. 7101, et.seq. (the MCTLA). ************** was not a customer or client of PLA. PLA represented the Borough of Marianna for the collection of delinquent real estate taxes, a party whose interests were adversarial to *************'s in a collection matter that has been resolved. Absent written permission from **************, PLA will not discuss the particular details of **************'s account with a third party such as the Better Business Bureau.
Thank you for your courtesy in this matter.
Jeffrey *. S***************, Esq.
In-house Counsel
Portnoff Law Associates, Ltd.
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Customer Complaints Summary
9 total complaints in the last 3 years.
3 complaints closed in the last 12 months.