Can a law office conduct an investigation with your neighbors?

[cajungirl_br]

I apologize if this has been addressed before but a lady knocked on my door two days ago with a note for my son from a law office. She also said other neighbors who live on the same street have been contacted by this law firm asking questions about my son. I called the law firm and asked them why they were contacting people who do not know my son. Her answer was that they were "conducting an investigation" She said she had left numerous messages on our machine and he had not bothered to return the calls. I knew this was a lie and I told her so. I am at home all of the time and we do not have an answering or even voicemail. Is this legal? The law firm is called Curtis Barnes out of Anahiem.

Thanks

[nascar]

They could be looking for information for any number of reasons. Perhaps you should let your son know they are looking for him. He may have been listed as a witness to a case they are working on...any number of things. Nothing illegal about it.

[divemedic]

Actually, if they are attorney debt collectors, whether or not they are violating the law depends on the questions asked. Third party contact and all that.

All they are allowed to use third party contact for is location information.

Acquisition of location information [15 USC 1692b]

Any debt collector communicating with any person other than the consumer for the purpose of acquiring location information about the consumer shall --

(1) identify himself, state that he is confirming or correcting location information concerning the consumer, and, only if expressly requested, identify his employer;

(2) not state that such consumer owes any debt;

(3) not communicate with any such person more than once unless requested to do so by such person or unless the debt collector reasonably believes that the earlier response of such person is erroneous or incomplete and that such person now has correct or complete location information;

[June]

"a note for my son from a law office."

What did the note say?

"asking questions about my son"

Questions concerning what?

"other neighbors who live on the same street

have been contacted by this law firm asking questions about my son"

Evidently she knew how to contact you. She could have mailed a letter. Why ask your neighbors anything about your son?

"left numerous messages on our machine and he had not bothered to return the calls."

Why the big lie? This you know is so untrue. This stranger and the "law firm" she works for or with, cannot be trusted. Law Firms usually have private investigators working for them. Was this lady a PI?

Something just doesn't feel right. If it were me, I would be very annoyed and worried. Perhaps you should file a police report and let the police investigate this law firm and this unknown lady.

You do not have to answer these questions. Just think about them and notify your local police today. This way you'll have something on file. If these people can contact your neighbors, you can contact the police.

[myscoresawful]

I believe that unless they disclose personal in nature information to these neighbors, then they are not doing anything illegal.

Of course when she straight out lied to you, then I would question their ultimate goal here. If they are looking for him as a witness to something, they would have no reason to lie, I think.

On the other hand, their actions could border harrassment if it is causing him problems with his neighbors..(etc: if they are bagering people for information and such).