Palmer, Reifler & Associates, P.A. IS A SCAM?

20 Answers

• unless this letter is from the District Attorney's office or some other judge or court, sounds like a scam to me.

  If you did not appear before a judge or magistrate, I think you're right.

  Tell them to never contact you via telephone....and stop stealing.

• Palmer Reifler And Associates

• It is not a scam. But you don't have to pay them either. You do not owe them a dime until a judge rules against you. If you have not been to court, you don't owe anything! The statement from the law firm itself confirms this ("Our letters do not say that you owe any money and do not threaten criminal action, but instead request that you pay an amount to resolve the statutory civil damages claim.").

  That said, they CAN bring a civil suit against you. They can sue you for that $250 if they want to. BUT no business in its right mind would ever sue over such a small amount of money. So what they're really doing is extorting you. They are threatening you with a lawsuit that they know will never actually happen, hoping that they can scare you into paying them.

  You should probably just ignore them. If they call you, tell them they have the wrong number and they'll take you off the call list.

• Ok... here are the facts as of today, 12 Nov 14.

  YES!, It is a scam and NO it is not a scam. Confused?

  Ok, According to Civil Remedies for Theft statutes, presumably in most if not all 50 states, in the case of shoplifting, a retail store has the right to go after you civilly for damages.

  However, according the Florida statute 772.11, the store must have suffered damage of some kind (any kind). They can sue for TRIPLE the damages or a minimum of $200, even for a 1 penny loss.

  If the retail store has recovered their merchandise undamaged and in sellable condition, they suffered no damage.

  Now, some have argued that they suffer the damages of the cost of the loss prevention staff time and salary, etc.

  HOWEVER, the Florida courts haven't really decided that issue yet. So, maybe they suffered that loss prevention cost, maybe they haven't. The counter argument is the store is already paying the loss prevention cost, so whether you shoplifted or not, their cost is the same.

  (Cont)

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  Palmer, Reifler & Associates, P.A. IS A SCAM?

  about 2 month ago i got caught stealing a 20 dollars video game, no court, no police, and i am only 15... the item was returned and a month latter a letter was send to me saying i have to pay 250 bucks or i will be "statutory civil claim against you" i didn't pay or talk to a attorney...

• Palmer And Associates

• As an attorney in Charleston, South Carolina, I've reviewed "Settlement Offer" letters from Palmer Reifler to my clients. Each state may have different laws regarding whether a merchant can recover civil damages for shoplifting. In SC, the merchant may recover civil damages when they couldn't recover the goods in "merchantable condition." In some cases, Wal-Mart recovered all of the goods, yet the client received a letter anyway. I consider this to be double-dipping. Additionally, the letters didn't comply with SC law such as listing the merchandise in issue. Before writing a check to Palmer Reifler and Wal-Mart, it may be worthwhile for you to speak to a lawyer to see whether they are owed any money under your state's laws.

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  arrests/court proceedings are public knowledge that anyone could access. there's a chance that it could be a scam that got your name and details about your case and is trying to have you send them $. i can't tell you if it's a scam or not- you'll have to do the research and the leg work through the court system to find out. i would do research on this company. are other people having trouble? typically, no reputable company will allow their phone representatives to 'hang up' on customers. also, it sounds like you are trying to settle your debt... i doubt they would tell you to stop calling if you were trying to get the funds paid. i would send a certified letter to Palmer & Assoc. explaining that you are trying to get the debt solved through the IOWA court system and explain what is going on. send a copy of the certified letter (write CC: with the parties at the bottom of the letter) to the judge on your case as well as the IOWA court system and KMART. include copies of your cancelled checks and proof that you've paid through the IOWA courts. your paperwork is your best friend. if this continues, get your own lawyer.

• DO NOT pay!!! They constantly harass you for "stealing". In a case I know about the person actually was stopped for theft then when given an alternative from the store manager paid the $20 for the item and was banned from the store. Now we get the harassing phone calls asking for hundreds of dollars. Just block there calls and shred their letter...half the people responding here telling you to pay work for/with them.

• Last 2 posts are incorrect and posted by the firm itself, obviously.

  This company is not a scam, but they do extort you to no end.

  Summary: If you owe less than its worth suing over, ignore them. They will eventually **** off. Real answer from experience with them.