Stenger and Stenger Review: Who They Are and What to Do If They're Contacting You
A letter or a lawsuit from Stenger and Stenger tends to come with a knot in your stomach, mostly because it's a law firm and not just another collection agency. If you searched the name to figure out what you're dealing with, you're in the right place. This page lays out who they are, why they're contacting you, and what you can actually do about it.
The one thing to fix in your head first: Stenger and Stenger is a debt collection law firm hired by creditors. They aren't the original lender, and how you respond matters, especially if there's a court date attached.
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Who is Stenger and Stenger?
Stenger & Stenger, P.C. is a collections law firm based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, established in 1994. They represent banks, creditors, and debt buyers in collection matters across a long list of states, including Michigan, Indiana, New Jersey, Minnesota, Kentucky, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, Nebraska, Montana, and Tennessee.
Their client roster is broad: banks, credit unions, finance companies, hospitals and healthcare organizations, retailers, wholesalers, government entities, and businesses. When one of those clients has an unpaid account and wants to escalate, Stenger and Stenger is the kind of firm they hand it to.
Why is Stenger and Stenger contacting you?
Because a creditor or debt buyer retained them to collect on a balance with your name on it. In a lot of cases, the firm gets involved specifically because earlier collection efforts didn't work and the creditor is ready to pursue it legally.
Their function is to collect, and when that means going to court, to sue people who haven't responded to collection efforts. So a letter from Stenger and Stenger is often a signal that the account has moved past friendly reminders and into the pre-litigation, or actively-litigation, stage.
Can Stenger and Stenger sue you?
Yes. Suing on behalf of creditors is a core part of what they do, and they're licensed to litigate in more than a dozen states. If you've been served with a summons and complaint, that's an active lawsuit with a filing deadline, usually somewhere between 20 and 30 days depending on your state.
Ignoring a summons is the worst move available. Go silent and the court can hand Stenger and Stenger a default judgment, which is a court order that you owe the money. From there, depending on your state, they can pursue wage garnishment, a bank levy, or a lien. Answering on time keeps every other option, including settlement, on the table.
If the debt belongs to your business, or you personally guaranteed a business obligation, the response strategy isn't the same as a personal account. Commercial debts fall outside many consumer protections, so it pays to understand which bucket your account is in before you do anything.
Your rights when a collection law firm contacts you
For a personal, consumer debt, Stenger and Stenger has to play by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, same as any collector. Attorneys who regularly collect debts don't get an exemption. That gives you some real tools:
- Debt validation. Within 30 days of their first written contact, you can demand in writing that they verify the debt, forcing them to show they can prove the account and the balance.
- Protection from abusive, false, or misleading collection tactics.
- The right to hold them accountable if they cross the line. Over the past several years the BBB and the CFPB have logged complaints against the firm, mostly about billing and collections practices.
Business debts usually don't get FDCPA coverage, so if this is a commercial account, your leverage comes more from the negotiation and the numbers than from consumer statutes.
Settlement as an option
Most collection cases resolve through a settlement rather than a trial. The creditor often prefers a negotiated payoff, lump sum or structured, over the cost and delay of litigating all the way to a judgment. That opens a door for you.
Business Debt Adjusters works that door for business owners. We're a debt settlement company, not a law firm, with 11 years of negotiating business balances down and more than $500M resolved. When a business debt or personally guaranteed account lands with a firm like Stenger and Stenger, we figure out the realistic number that closes it and handle the negotiation so you're not on the phone with a law firm alone.
Learn how business debt settlement works →
When you need an actual attorney
If you've been served and the answer deadline is near, that's a job for a lawyer, not a negotiator. A consumer-defense or commercial-litigation attorney can file the answer, raise defenses, and test whether the plaintiff can actually prove its case. Once you're in litigation, that's who you want in your corner.
These two paths often work together. An attorney defends the suit and challenges the paperwork, and then a settlement gets negotiated from a stronger spot. Settling and fighting aren't either-or. What's right for you depends on the facts and how far the case has gone.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stenger and Stenger legit?
Yes. Stenger & Stenger, P.C. is a real, licensed law firm in Michigan that's been operating since 1994 and practices in multiple states. Being a legitimate firm doesn't mean the balance they claim is automatically right, or that they can always prove ownership of your specific account.
Why is Stenger and Stenger calling me?
A creditor or debt buyer hired them to collect on an unpaid account tied to your name, often because earlier collection attempts didn't produce a payment. They may be preparing to, or already have, filed suit.
Can Stenger and Stenger sue my business?
If your business owes the debt, or you signed a personal guarantee, yes. Business debt lawsuits follow different rules than consumer cases, so don't assume the response is the same as it would be for a personal credit card.
What happens if I ignore Stenger and Stenger?
Ignoring a lawsuit lets them win by default. A default judgment can lead to wage garnishment or a bank levy, sometimes without another hearing. Responding to the summons on time is what protects your ability to negotiate or defend.
Should I just pay what they're asking?
Not automatically. There may be room to settle for less, and if the account is past your state's statute of limitations or the paperwork is weak, paying in full might be the wrong call. Get a clear read first.
Talk it through before you respond
If Stenger and Stenger is contacting you about a business debt or a personally guaranteed balance, a short conversation can keep you from a costly mistake. We'll look at what you owe, whether it can be settled, and whether you need an attorney on the litigation side. Free to find out where you stand.
Dealing with more than one collector? See our guides to Weltman, Weinberg & Reis and Cavalry Portfolio Services.
Browse other lender and collector reviews →
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Business Debt Adjusters is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized to represent Stenger & Stenger, P.C. Company names are used for identification only. If you're facing an active lawsuit, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Where to go from here
If MCA payments are squeezing your business, start with how MCA debt relief works, run your numbers through the MCA true-cost calculator, or get a free consultation on your specific file.
