Consumer complaint received 2020-09-25
Company: Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP
State: TX
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
I wish to file a complaint against the following Law Firm and personnel : LAW FIRM : LINBARGER GOGGAN BLAIR & SAMPSON, LLP Attorneys At Law XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX ( XXXX ) XXXX PERSONNEL : XXXX XXXX Office Manager- XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Attorney at Law- ( XXXX ) XXXX XXXX SUMMARY OF WHAT HAPPENED : XX/XX/XXXX I received a COURTESY call from a woman ( XXXX XXXX XXXX stating that she was calling on behalf of their client, XXXX COUNTY IRRIGATION DISTRICT XXXX XXXX, to notify us that we had DELINQUENT Taxes, dating back more than 30 years, from XXXX. ( starting 6 years before we bought the property in XXXX ) .and that the delinquent tax statement had been sent to the previous owner for all those years..they just discovered two days ago that we were the owners. I informed her that we had used a title company and that there was no disclosure of delinquent taxes or liens on the property. She advised me to contact them, that they should be liable. 
At my request for more information/details.She said I would receive more detailed information by mail but she did email me a copy of the DELINQUENT Tax statement, which included the principal, penalty due and attorney fee. Also included was the XXXX County Appraisal District information for our property. ( I found out later that the county appraisal district has no association with XXXX County Irrigation District # XXXX XXXX We did not receive anything else until XX/XX/XXXX. 



QUEST FOR RESOLUTION XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX I called XXXX County Irrigation District # XXXX, on XX/XX/XXXX, and XX/XX/XXXX, to validate this delinquent tax claim and personnel there ( XXXX  ) RELUCTANTLY gave me the following information about XXXX # XXXX : **They are a separate government ENTITY. not associated with XXXX County Appraisal District **There is no database to look up property tax or locate a specific property in the district **They are affiliated with XXXX **We should contact our title companythey should be liable **ANDfor further information refer to TWC CHAPTER 49 During this time ( XX/XX/XXXXXX/XX/XXXX ) I did extensive research and made numerous phone calls. to the XXXX ( District and State ), XXXX XXXX, the Title Company ..AND.STUDIED TWC CHAPTER 49 and CHAPTER 58 ( IRRIGATION DISTRICTS ) ... .the TEXAS TAX CODE XXXX the TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE..etc . 

XX/XX/XXXX I had just finished writing an Email to XXXX XXXX, again requesting more information to validate this Delinquent Tax, but, just before I sent it we received a COLLECTION LETTER in the mail from an attorney, XXXX XXXX XXXX, with LINEBARGAR GOGGAN BLAIR & SAMPSON. ( Postmarked XX/XX/XXXX ) The letter demanded payment by XXXX and threatening suit. 
We were never advised that this firm was a collection agency. I went to their website and discovered that this firm specializes in CUSTOMIZED COLLECTION PROGRAMS. 
At the bottom of this letter, Mr. XXXX quoted a partial section of TWC CHAPTER 58XX/XX/XXXXSEC. 58.305.

58.305 ( a ) the assessments shall be levied against all irrigable land in the district on a per acre basis, whether or not the land is actually irrigated. 

Through my research I have concluded that this does not support the claim against us. 
1 ) We do not have irrigable land 2 ) Our property is not an ACRE ( plus it has buildings and a parking lot ) 3 ) Irrigation Districts created under TWC CHAPTER 58 are for the SOLE purpose of irrigating land for agriculture 4 ) AND According to the information I received from the TEXAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, XXXX County Irrigation District was not legislatively created. It was created in XXXX, at the county level, using procedures now contained in the TWC, TITLE 4. GENERAL LAW, CHAPTER 58.  IRRIGATION DISTRICTS. 

Call me nave or ignorant.I still believed this was and honest mistake on their part..so I continued my pursuit for RESOLUTION or at least clarification. I am in not a lawyer and I dont claim to have and legal background. 

XX/XX/XXXX XXXX ) My husband CALLED XXXX # XXXX ( recorded conversation ) this was the THIRD phone call and my husband spoke to XXXX she said told him we could only get information through the law firm since we were put in there for collection 2 ) I CALLED LINBARGER FIRM ( recorded conversation ) I spoke with Mr. XXXX secretary about the letter demanding payment in by Monday and that we still had concerns about the validity of the claim and information about XXXX # XXXX to share with them. 
She stated the following : **that XXXX # XXXX was a new client to their firm **not to worry about the deadline, that it was just to remind us we had a balance due **we could contact a Mr. XXXX XXXX from the District, but that Mr. XXXX, from their office, told her to let us know that EVERYONE in the XXXX # XXXX district had to pay flat rate fees. 
**she would let XXXX XXXX know we wanted to meet with her We did not hear from XXXX XXXX 

XX/XX/XXXX I Sent email to XXXX XXXX requesting meeting. 
No response XX/XX/XXXX Morning Call- I called XXXX XXXX ( recorded call ) She said that due to COVID their office was closed to the public, we could only have a conference call. Call was set up for later that day. 

Afternoon Call- XXXX XXXX called us for the conference ( recorded call ) I relayed to XXXX that I had too much information to be done over the phone and I would email her what information I had. 
She informed me that we would be getting an updated statement with any penalties accrued since the last statement. 

At this point I realized they had no interest in what we had to tell them. So I researched on Collection Agency Procedural processes and discovered the FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT. 

These are the Sections that I believe the LINEBARGER GOGGAN BLAIR & SAMPSON, LLP VIOLATED : S807. False or misleading representations S809. Validation of debts XX/XX/XXXX After discovering that we could contest the Delinquent Tax Claim I sent an email to XXXX XXXX contesting. I included a list of concerns. 

As of this date we have received no response. 

XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX Sent Public Information Request to XXXX   # XXXX via certified mail also emailed a copy of this letter to XXXX XXXX.-waiting for a response XX/XX/XXXX- Sent email to XXXX XXXX requesting more public information from XXXX # XXXX-waiting for a response

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation