Getting calls from a debt collector while juggling bills, work, and family can make you feel trapped. If Caine & Weiner is contacting you, you’re dealing with one of California’s oldest collection agencies—operating since 1930 with sophisticated technology. But longevity doesn’t mean they’re playing by the rules.
Two class action lawsuits in 2017 and 2018 revealed how C&W’s collection letters violated federal law by discouraging consumers from exercising dispute rights and failing to properly identify creditors. If you’re experiencing similar tactics, you have legal options.
Who Is Caine & Weiner and Why Are They Calling Me
Caine & Weiner operates differently than most debt collectors. They run both 1st party outsourcing (acting as an invisible extension of your original creditor) and 3rd party collections (buying debts outright).
As 1st party: They call on behalf of your original creditor (within 30-90 days of delinquency), appearing to be part of that company’s credit department. You may not realize you’re speaking with an outside agency.
As 3rd party: They purchased your debt and now own it, making them more aggressive in recovery.
Company Details:
- Founded: 1930 (over 90 years)
- Location: 5805 Sepulveda Blvd Fl 4, Van Nuys, CA 91411
- Phone: (818) 226-6000
- Other numbers: (818) 256-4266, (818) 251-1717
They maintain specialized divisions—separate teams for commercial (B2B) and consumer (B2C) debt. If you’re a consumer, you’re dealing with collectors trained specifically in FDCPA regulations.
🔗 Related: Action Collection Agency Debt Harassment
The Technology Making Caine & Weiner’s Calls So Persistent
C&W uses:
Columbia Ultimate’s Collector System: Tracks every interaction across channels Quantum II Predictive Dialer: Automatically calls based on algorithms predicting when you’re likely to answer Acumen’s algorithmic scoring: Scores your likelihood to pay, determining how aggressively they pursue you
If you’re getting multiple calls at specific times, it’s because their AI determined those are your vulnerable moments. The system doesn’t account for job loss, medical emergencies, or family crises—it just knows you haven’t paid.
Two Class Action Lawsuits Exposed Caine & Weiner’s Illegal Tactics
Garcia v. Caine & Weiner (2018) – Georgia
The violation: Collection notices threatened to label disputes as “frivolous” if consumers challenged the debt, improperly discouraging people from exercising their legal right to dispute.
Why this matters: If C&W’s letters made you afraid to dispute a debt, they violated your FDCPA rights. You have an absolute right to dispute without intimidation.
Graham v. Caine & Weiner (2017) – New York
The violation: Collection letters used “Re: ANTHEM” without clarifying whether Anthem was the actual creditor or just a reference code, preventing consumers from understanding who they owed.
Why this matters: If you received vague letters that didn’t clearly identify your creditor, you couldn’t properly validate the debt. Federal law requires clear creditor identification.
These weren’t isolated mistakes—they were systemic practices affecting thousands. If you experienced similar tactics, you may have grounds for legal action.
🔗 Related: Credit Services Debt Collection Harassment
Is Caine & Weiner Legitimate or Will They Sue Me
C&W is legitimate, but their 90-year history includes over 100 federal cases for harassment and illegal tactics. The Better Business Bureau reports 113 consumer complaints.
Can they sue? Yes, if the debt is within your state’s statute of limitations and they have proper documentation.
Can they garnish wages? Only after suing and obtaining a court judgment. Threatening immediate garnishment without court authority violates federal law.
Many lawsuit threats are designed to scare you into paying quickly. If you’re frightened, that’s what their system is designed to do. But fear doesn’t create legal authority.
What Caine & Weiner Can and Cannot Do
We know you’re stressed. Here’s what federal law actually allows:
C&W CAN:
- Contact you to request payment on valid debts
- Call between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. your local time
- Send letters about the debt
- Report unpaid debts to credit bureaus
- Sue if debt is within statute of limitations
C&W CANNOT:
- Call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
- Contact you at work after you say your employer prohibits it
- Use profane, abusive, or threatening language
- Threaten actions they cannot legally take
- Discuss your debt with family or coworkers
- Continue calling after cease-and-desist letter
- Discourage you from disputing debts (Garcia lawsuit)
- Send vague letters that don’t identify creditors (Graham lawsuit)
If they’ve done any of these, they violated federal law—regardless of whether you owe the debt.
🔗 Related: Action Financial Services Harassment
How Do I Know If Their Calls Are Really About My Debt
Request written validation: Within 30 days of first contact, send a written request (certified mail) asking C&W to prove you owe the debt, the exact amount, the original creditor’s name, and their legal authority.
Check for red flags: Legitimate validation includes account numbers, dates of delinquency, and creditor documentation. Vague responses or threats to continue without validation violate the FDCPA.
Verify authorization: Request proof they’re licensed in your state and authorized to collect.
Don’t feel pressured to pay before receiving validation. Federal law is on your side.
My Family Is Getting Calls About My Debt
This is one of the most embarrassing experiences consumers face. Your family shouldn’t receive calls about your financial situation.
What the law says: C&W can contact third parties only to locate you—not to discuss your debt or pressure payment. Even one call discussing debt details with your family violates the FDCPA.
What to do:
- Document who they contacted, when, and what was said
- Send C&W written notice they violated federal law
- Inform family members to refuse further contact
- Contact The Wood Law Firm at +1 844-638-1122
This violation alone can entitle you to $1,000 in statutory damages. You don’t deserve this treatment, and they don’t have the right to humiliate you.
🔗 Related: Comenity Bank Debt Collection Harassment
Can I Settle for Less Than I Owe
Yes. C&W’s settlement flexibility depends on their role:
If 1st party (representing original creditor): Settlements of 60-80% are common.
If they own the debt (3rd party): They bought it at steep discount. Settlements of 40-60% are realistic.
What works:
- Get everything in writing
- Request “pay for delete” (credit report removal)
- Lump sum offers get better discounts than payment plans
What doesn’t work:
- Partial payments without written agreement
- Providing bank account information over phone
- Accepting verbal promises
If you’re struggling financially, you’re not a bad person. Don’t let their technology make you feel like a number.
How Long Can They Legally Chase This Debt
Statute of limitations: Most states allow 3-6 years from your last payment. After this, C&W cannot sue—but might still call.
Time-barred debts: If debt exceeded statute of limitations, C&W must disclose this. Threatening lawsuits on time-barred debt violates federal law.
Credit reporting limits: Collections remain on credit reports for 7 years from first delinquency.
Important: Making even a small payment can restart the statute of limitations. Consult an attorney before paying old debts.
If C&W is pursuing a debt from 5+ years ago, check your state’s laws before responding.
🔗 Related: Collection Agency Harassment
How The Wood Law Firm Stops Caine & Weiner
We’ve helped hundreds facing C&W’s sophisticated collection machinery. We understand their 1st/3rd party model, AI-driven systems, and FDCPA violations.
Our approach:
- Investigate whether C&W violated federal law
- File cease-and-desist demands to stop harassment within 24-48 hours
- Pursue damages for violations (up to $1,000 per violation)
- Challenge debts lacking proper validation
- Negotiate settlements from legal strength
- Sue C&W when they break the law
You pay nothing unless we win. Cases are contingency-based, and C&W pays attorney fees if we prevail.
We’ve seen the Garcia and Graham lawsuits. We know C&W’s patterns. If they used those tactics on you, we can help.
Call +1 844-638-1122 for a free consultation. We’ll listen without judgment and explain your options clearly.
🔗 Related: Why Choose The Wood Law Firm
Frequently Asked Questions About Caine & Weiner
1. Why does C&W sometimes sound like they work for my original creditor?
C&W operates as a 1st party outsourcer for some clients, acting as an undetected extension of the creditor’s credit department.
2. Can their AI-powered dialing system legally call me multiple times per day?
Technology doesn’t override federal law. Repeated calls intended to harass violate the FDCPA.
3. What if C&W sent me a letter threatening to call my dispute “frivolous”?
Document it immediately. This mirrors the Garcia lawsuit where they illegally discouraged disputes. Contact The Wood Law Firm—you may have grounds for damages.
4. How do I know if they’re collecting as 1st party or 3rd party?
Their letter must disclose whether they’re collecting on behalf of another company or own the debt. Vague disclosures violate federal law.
5. Can they track all my contact information using their technology?
Yes. Their sophisticated system tracks phone numbers, addresses, employment, and contact history. But using this to harass you still violates the FDCPA.
6. What if my debt is from before 2015—can they still collect it?
Depends on your state’s statute of limitations. They can’t sue for time-barred debts, though they might still call. Making any payment can restart the clock.
7. Will settling for less hurt my credit more?
A settled account may remain on your report, but it’s better than unpaid collection. Request “pay for delete” in writing.
8. Can they take money from my bank account without warning?
Only after suing and obtaining a court judgment. Threats of immediate bank levies violate federal law.
9. Does 90 years in business mean they follow the law?
No. They have over 100 federal cases for violations and two class action lawsuits for illegal practices.
10. What’s the difference between their commercial and consumer divisions?
Separate teams are trained in different regulations. Commercial (B2B) debt isn’t covered by FDCPA. Consumer (B2C) has strict federal protections.
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