If you are getting calls from a New Jersey number you do not recognize, or if a letter arrived about a credit card debt you thought was settled years ago, Cawley & Bergmann LLC may be behind it. According to BBB complaint records reviewed by our office, consumers have allegedly described representatives refusing to accept payment arrangements and calling from rotating numbers that do not match the firm’s listed location. If any of that matches your situation, call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review with The Wood Firm PLLC.
Key Takeaways
- Newark, New Jersey-based third-party debt collector operating since 1999; collects consumer credit card debt primarily on behalf of debt buyers, including Cavalry SPV entities
- Named as defendant in multiple federal class action lawsuits alleging FDCPA violations, including allegations of overshadowed validation rights and confusing settlement offer language, according to court filings
- BBB complaint records document consumers allegedly reporting rotating caller ID numbers, refusal to accept payment arrangements, and collection attempts on debts with no documentation provided
- The FDCPA requires a written validation notice within five days of first contact; if C&B called before any letter arrived, the sequencing is worth documenting
- FDCPA violations can carry up to $1,000 in statutory damages per consumer; class actions can extend liability across affected consumers
- The Wood Firm PLLC handles these cases on contingency: no upfront fees, and if C&B violated federal law, they pay the firm’s fees
Free Case Review: +1-844-638-1122
Who is Cawley and Bergmann?
Cawley & Bergmann LLC is a third-party debt collection agency headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, operating since 1999 under the ownership of the Goldberg family and affiliated with National Recovery Associates.
The firm collects primarily large-balance consumer credit card debt on behalf of debt buyers, with Cavalry SPV entities appearing in BBB complaint responses as a documented client. Their site is cawleyandbergmann.com, where consumers can make payments using a reference number or Social Security Number.
- Also Known As: C&B, Cawley & Bergman, Cawley Bergmann
- Address: 550 Broad Street, Suite 1506, Newark, NJ 07102
- Phone: 888-523-0856 | (888) 523-0856 | +1-888-523-0856 | 8885230856 | Also: 888-990-8100 | 855-650-0323 | 833-856-0293 | 833-410-2192
- Website: cawleyandbergmann.com
- BBB Profile: Cawley & Bergmann BBB listing
Phone Numbers Used by Cawley and Bergmann
Consumers searching for a number to identify who called them are likely looking at one of C&B’s documented outbound lines. The following numbers appear in BBB complaints and consumer reports:
- 888-523-0856 | (888) 523-0856 | +1-888-523-0856 | 8885230856. One of C&B’s most-searched numbers, appearing in consumer lookup traffic and caller ID reports
- 888-990-8100 | (888) 990-8100 | +1-888-990-8100 | 8889908100. Listed in prior versions of the firm’s contact information and complaint records
- 855-650-0323 | (855) 650-0323 | +1-855-650-0323 | 8556500323. Additional toll-free line reported by consumers
- 833-856-0293 | (833) 856-0293 | +1-833-856-0293 | 8338560293.
- 833-410-2192 | (833) 410-2192 | +1-833-410-2192 | 8334102192.
Cawley & Bergmann acknowledged in a BBB response that the company “may utilize multiple telephone numbers, including numbers with different area codes, as part of our outbound calling systems.” If a local area code appeared on your caller ID without matching any of the numbers above, document it: that pattern is relevant to FDCPA analysis.
Why Is Cawley and Bergmann Calling You
Cawley & Bergmann is calling you because a creditor or debt buyer assigned your account to them for collection. Based on their BBB complaint responses, C&B commonly works as a servicer for Cavalry SPV entities, meaning the debt may have been purchased from the original creditor and reassigned multiple times before reaching C&B.
A documented pattern in consumer complaints: calls arrive from numbers that do not match C&B’s listed location, and when consumers answer, representatives request identity confirmation before disclosing who is calling or why. C&B’s own BBB response acknowledged this practice as part of their consumer privacy protocol. If a collector refuses to identify themselves before asking for your personal information, that refusal itself is worth noting.
One complaint described a debt alleged to be more than five years old, with no prior written notice and no documentation of the original obligation. Under the FDCPA, a collector must send a written validation notice within five days of first contact; if the first contact you received was a call, that sequencing may be the starting point of a federal claim.
Who Does Cawley and Bergmann Collect For?
Cawley & Bergmann collects primarily for debt buyers, with Cavalry SPV entities named in multiple BBB complaint responses as the current creditor on accounts placed with C&B. This means the debt likely originated with a bank or credit card issuer, was charged off, sold to Cavalry, and then serviced by C&B for collection.
That chain matters legally. When a debt passes through multiple buyers, the documentation showing the original balance, the applicable interest rate, and the chain of ownership can develop gaps. When we open a C&B file, the chain-of-title records are the first thing we request, because purchased debt portfolios are where collectors most commonly lack authorization to collect the amount they are claiming.
Does Cawley and Bergmann Refuse Payment Plans?
Yes, C&B has a documented pattern of refusing payment arrangements, according to multiple BBB complaints. One consumer reported that a representative identifying himself as the general manager declined a biweekly payment offer and instead instructed the consumer to put the entire balance on a credit card, skip mortgage payments, or take out a loan. A second complaint described a representative laughing at a $500-per-month payment offer on a $25,000 balance and telling the consumer to “think about their options.”
Under the FDCPA, a debt collector who suggests that a consumer incur new debt to satisfy a collection account may be engaging in conduct that rises to an unfair practice under 15 U.S.C. § 1692f. In our practice, these conversations are often documented in the collector’s own call logs, which we request when evaluating a C&B file. If you saved any voicemails or took notes during a call where a representative made financial suggestions, those records are worth preserving.
Has Cawley and Bergmann Been Sued?
Yes. Cawley & Bergmann has been named as a defendant in multiple federal lawsuits, including proposed class actions alleging systematic FDCPA violations. Documented cases include:
- Muldowney v. Cawley & Bergmann, LLC: proposed class action alleging the firm sent collection notices that failed to include mandatory debt validation language and that aggressive payment demands overshadowed the consumer’s validation rights under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g
- Nolet v. Cawley & Bergmann, LLP: proposed class action alleging a 45-day settlement offer letter contained payment instructions that allegedly bypassed FDCPA consumer protections by creating confusion about the validation period
- Greifman v. Cawley & Bergmann, LLC: class action filing alleging the firm attempted to collect debts not actually owed by the named consumers
- White v. Cawley and Bergmann, LLP, No. 3:12-cv-04202-MEJ (N.D. Cal.): FDCPA violation claims
- Erickson v. Cawley and Bergmann, LLP, No. 2:11-cv-01467-JP (E.D. Pa.): FDCPA violation claims
In our practice, when C&B sends a settlement offer letter, we examine whether the letter’s payment instructions could be read to conflict with the 30-day validation window, which is the pattern alleged in Nolet. A letter that simultaneously offers a short-deadline settlement and describes payment methods may overshadow validation rights, which is a standalone FDCPA claim regardless of whether the underlying debt is valid.
Is Cawley and Bergmann a Scam
Cawley & Bergmann is a real, licensed debt collection agency, not a scam operation. Licensed does not mean every tactic is legal, however. The firm has operated since 1999, maintains a website with a functioning payment portal, and has responded to BBB complaints through an identified Director of Compliance. Consumers who received calls from rotating numbers or were asked to confirm identity before the caller identified themselves were dealing with C&B’s documented outbound calling protocol, not a spoofed number scheme.
What the complaint record does show, according to BBB filings and class action court records, is a pattern of collection notices that allegedly failed to preserve validation rights and collection calls that allegedly did not properly identify the caller. Those are federal legal questions, not fraud questions, and they can support FDCPA claims even when the underlying debt is legitimate.
Is Cawley and Bergmann Banned by the FTC?
No. Cawley & Bergmann has not been subject to an FTC enforcement action or ban. The firm operates as a licensed New Jersey collection agency and has not appeared in FTC enforcement records reviewed by our office.
What does exist is a federal class action litigation record spanning multiple cases, a BBB complaint history with 13 complaints in the past three years according to BBB records, and CFPB complaint data. Absent an FTC order, the federal court dockets and regulatory complaint databases are the primary enforcement signal for this collector.
If you are evaluating whether C&B has a documented history of the conduct you experienced, the Muldowney, Nolet, and Greifman class actions are the most directly relevant records.
What The Wood Firm PLLC Looks for in Cawley and Bergmann Files
When we open a C&B file, we look at four things first. We pull the chain-of-title documents to confirm C&B actually has authority to collect the balance they are claiming, which purchased portfolio cases frequently fail. Then we review the initial letter for whether validation language was present and whether a settlement offer conflicted with the 30-day dispute window as alleged in the class actions.
We check call logs for whether the contact came before a written notice was sent. And we look for the specific payment conversation pattern documented in BBB complaints: if a representative suggested the consumer incur new debt to pay the balance, that conversation may support a claim under § 1692f.
The Wood Firm PLLC represents consumers exclusively. The firm has never represented a creditor or debt collector. Cases are handled on contingency: no upfront fees, and if C&B violates federal law, they pay the firm’s fees. After you call, the firm reviews the file, requests the relevant documentation, and sends a written demand requiring C&B to cease contact during the review period. Call 844-638-1122 to get started.
If C&B called before sending a written notice, sent a settlement letter with a short payment deadline, or a representative suggested you incur new debt to pay a balance, those patterns are worth reviewing with an attorney. Visit our contact page or call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review. The Wood Firm PLLC handles these cases on contingency: if they violated federal law, they pay our fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Cawley and Bergmann
Cawley & Bergmann LLC is a New Jersey-based third-party debt collection agency operating since 1999, primarily collecting large-balance consumer credit card debt on behalf of debt buyers, including Cavalry SPV entities. The firm is headquartered in Newark and operates under the Goldberg family ownership, affiliated with National Recovery Associates.
Why is Cawley and Bergmann calling you?
Cawley & Bergmann is calling you because a debt buyer assigned your account to them for collection. The account likely originated with a bank or credit card issuer, was charged off and sold, and C&B is now contacting you as a servicer for the current owner of the debt.
Is Cawley and Bergmann a Scam?
Cawley & Bergmann is a real, licensed debt collection agency. That said, the firm has been named in multiple federal class action lawsuits alleging FDCPA violations, including collection notices that allegedly failed to preserve validation rights and settlement letters that allegedly overshadowed the 30-day dispute window.
Is Cawley and Bergmann a law firm?
No. Cawley & Bergmann is a debt collection agency, not a law firm. Despite the professional name, they are a third-party collector subject to the FDCPA, not licensed attorneys who can file legal actions on their own behalf in most jurisdictions.
Does Cawley and Bergmann sue?
Yes, C&B or the debt buyer they represent can file a lawsuit to obtain a court judgment. Only after obtaining a judgment can they pursue wage garnishment. If you have received court papers, respond before the deadline. Ignoring a lawsuit results in a default judgment.
Who does Cawley and Bergmann collect for
Cawley & Bergmann collects for debt buyers, with Cavalry SPV entities named in BBB complaint responses as a documented client. The original creditor on these accounts is typically a bank or major credit card issuer whose charged-off debt was purchased and resold before reaching C&B.
Can Cawley and Bergmann garnish your wages?
No, not without a court judgment. A collection call or letter alone gives C&B no wage garnishment authority. That requires a court order, which can only follow a filed lawsuit, proper service, and a judgment entered against you.
Can Cawley and Bergmann report to your credit?
Yes, C&B can report unpaid accounts to the major credit bureaus, but that reporting must comply with the FCRA. If a tradeline appeared before you received a written validation notice, or if the balance or original creditor name is inaccurate, that reporting may be a separate federal claim.
What to Do If Cawley and Bergmann Has Contacted You
The most useful thing you can do right now is preserve every piece of documentation you have: voicemails, letters, call logs showing dates and times, and any written notes from phone conversations. Pull your credit report at annualcreditreport.com and check whether any C&B entry appeared before a written notice arrived. Those two data points let the firm assess quickly whether an FDCPA or FCRA claim exists. The Wood Firm PLLC reviews C&B files at no upfront cost, represents consumers exclusively, and has never taken a case on behalf of a creditor or collector. Call +1-844-638-1122 to speak with the firm.
Consumer protection attorney with 15+ years representing consumers exclusively, never a creditor or collector. Admitted in federal courts across 9 districts, including all courts of AR, CO, NM, and TX. Based in Little Rock, AR. C&B files frequently raise the overshadowed validation rights issue documented in the Muldowney and Nolet class actions: settlement offer letters with short payment deadlines that conflict with the 30-day dispute window. Jeff Wood has handled cases where the initial letter itself was the basis of the federal claim.
