Consumer complaint received 2025-11-21 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Threatened to arrest you or take you to jail if you do not pay
Company: Gurstel Law Firm, P.C.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
RE : COMPLAINT AGAINST GURSTEL LAW FIRM , P.C . AND XXXX XXXX, XXXX FOR UNLICENSED DEBT COLLECTION AND FDCPA VIOLATIONS To Whom It May Concern : I am writing to file a formal complaint against Gurstel Law Firm , P.C . ( " Gurstel '' ) and XXXX XXXX, XXXX ( " XXXX XXXX '' ) for engaging in what I believe to be unlicensed debt collection activities in California and violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION : On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX XXXX filed a lawsuit against me in XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Case No. XXXX ), seeking to collect an alleged debt originally owed to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX California XXXX XXXX XXXX " XXXX '' ). I filed an answer on XX/XX/XXXX, disputing the debt. The case is currently pending with a trial date of XX/XX/XXXX. 
UNLICENSED DEBT COLLECTION ACTIVITIES : I believe that Gurstel Law Firm , P.C . and/or XXXX XXXX, XXXX may be operating as debt collectors in California without proper licensing under the California Debt Collection Licensing Act ( XXXX ), which went into eect on XX/XX/XXXX. I have not been able to verify that either entity held the required debt collection license at the time they filed the lawsuit against me or during their subsequent collection activities. Indeed they applied for an application and submitted an application in XX/XX/XXXX however, the case was filed prior to receiving the approval from this department of the state department in California that allow them to collect and file these proceedings against me they have been in the past already sued numerous times for filing such comp complaints in the state of California and the court of California without proper authority. We have some FDCPA VIOLATIONS : While the lawsuit has been pending, Gurstel has engaged in the following improper collection practices : XXXX. Dual-Tracking : Gurstel has sent multiple direct collection communications to me while simultaneously litigating the same debt in court. This " dual-tracking '' practice is prohibited under the FDCPA. Specifically, I received collection emails from Gurstel on : XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ( XXXX separate emails ) XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. Attempting to Collect Inflated Amount : XXXX XXXX and Gurstel are attempting to collect {$10000.00}, despite documentation from XXXX dated XX/XX/XXXX, showing a balance of only {$2500.00}. This represents an unexplained increase of over {$8000.00} with no documentation justifying such inflation, potentially violating FDCPA 1692f ( 1 ). 
XXXX. Continuing Collection Despite Evidence of Prior Payment/Discrepancy : I have provided Gurstel with evidence showing : The significantly lower balance from XX/XX/XXXX ( {$2500.00} ) A XX/XX/XXXX communication from XXXX acknowledging an " existing loan with us or our partners '' A XX/XX/XXXX payment confirmation showing payment to XXXX ( Confirmation # XXXX ) Despite providing this information, they have continued both litigation and direct collection eorts. 
XXXX. Deceptive Collection Communications : The collection emails from Gurstel contain the subject line " Re : Your jury service excuse request - Do Not ... '' clearly indicating their awareness of ongoing court proceedings while simultaneously pursuing direct collection. 
REQUESTED ACTION : I respectfully request that the California XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX investigate : XXXX. Whether Gurstel Law Firm , P.C . and/or XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX were XXXX licensed to engage in debt collection activities in California at the time they filed the lawsuit against me and during their subsequent collection activities. 
XXXX. The potential FDCPA violations described above, particularly the dual-tracking practice and attempt to collect an inflated amount. 
XXXX. Whether the significant unexplained increase in the alleged debt amount from {$2500.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ) to {$10000.00} ( current claim ) constitutes an unfair or deceptive practice. 
I have attached the following documentation to support my complaint : XXXX. Copy of the complaint filed by XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX. Copies of collection emails from Gurstel dated XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX, and XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XXXX documentation from XX/XX/XXXX, showing a balance of {$2500.00} XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX communication from XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX payment confirmation to XXXX Thank you for your attention to this matter. I am available to provide any additional information or documentation that may assist in your investigation. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX : As stated above cc : Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation