The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation in California has issued a consumer alert, notifying the public that The Offices of Morgan and Moss is “holding itself out as a legitimate debt collector” in California, and is using “threatening and abusive tactics to coerce consumers to make payments on ‘debts’ that have not been verified, do not belong to the consumer, and/or cannot be legally collected upon.”
The alert noted that “it does not appear” as though the company appears to be currently operating, although it’s website, https://morganandmoss.com/, is still operational. The site is not associated with a licensed California business, the DFPI noted in its alert. The site says the firm has been in business for more than nine years and is a debt recovery collection agency located in Newport Beach, Calif. The site includes testimonials from a software development company in Orange County, Calif., and an office supply company in Boston, as well as two testimonials from consumers raving about the firm’s ability to settle debts and help remove negative items from the consumers’ credit reports. The website does not include any information about those in charge or a link to make a payment online.
The DFPI encouraged consumers to seek written verification of a debt if they are contacted by someone purporting to be from the firm.
Interestingly enough, the address listed on the website for Morgan and Moss — 5000 Birch Street, Suite 3000, Newport Beach, CA 92660, is the same address for Irwin & Irwin, a family law office with two offices in California.
Morgan and Moss was one of 12 companies subpoenaed by the DFPI earlier this year as part of its investigation into the accounts receivable management industry.