Utah Debt Collection Law: This Is Still The Right Place

Greg Constantino,
Constantino Law Office, P.C.

Today, The National List published the white paper on debt collection law in Utah, written by Gregory M. Constantino, founder and president of Constantino Law Office, P.C. Mr. Constantino has extensive experience in civil litigation, commercial collections, retail collections, replevin actions, foreclosures, creditors’ rights in bankruptcy and construction claims. He has regularly collected debts for major credit card companies, banks, large national debt buyers, local Utah hospitals and collection agencies. He has been a member of The National List since 2006.

Gregory graduated from the University of Utah, cum laude, with a B.S. degree in Political Science. He received his J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law. Since 2005, he has focused his practice, exclusively, on debt collection. He has worked in the debt collection industry for 18 years. One hundred percent of his non-charitable work is devoted to collections.

Gregory has served on the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (1996-99) and the Governmental Relations Committee (2012) of the Utah State Bar.  He is the former Chairman of the Collection Section of the Utah State Bar during the 2011-12 term. He regularly speaks on FDCPA and Collection Law matters and is a regular presenter for Continuing Legal Education events sponsored by the Utah State Bar. He is an active and longstanding member of the National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys (NARCA) and the Commercial Law League of America (CLLA).

Work in the debt collection industry has taught Gregory “the central importance of organizational health to firm prosperity. If the firm can maintain an environment of minimal politics and low turnover, and if you add to that clear communication and a consistent method to measure results, then problems get solved and goals are achieved.” The thing he enjoys most about his job is “building and leading a team to achieve results.”

Gregory begins his paper by telling us, “Utah’s legal and regulatory environment is unapologetically “pro-business.” Utah is a state that believes in the summary enforcement of contract rights. Utah’s laws reflect that belief. For example, Utah does not have any usury laws, and will enforce any agreed upon rate of interest.” It would seem that the state slogan, “This Is Still The Right Place,” could easily apply to debt collection.

Gregory gives this tip to creditors: “Seize the Guns. Per capita gun ownership is the highest in Utah of any State in the Union. Utah’s KSL.com website runs the largest ‘private seller to private seller’ gun market in the country. As a result, Writs of Executions directed to seize and sell guns can be a source of wealth to get judgments paid.”

Gregory and his wife live in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, with their four children, ages 13, 11, 9 and 7. Outside of work he enjoys playing golf and basketball, and rooting for the Utah Jazz basketball team. He serves as Treasurer for the non-profit corporation, For His Glory Adoption Outreach. The purpose of the organization is to assist an orphanage in Haiti called Maison Des Enfants De Dieu in its efforts to find, rescue, feed, house and care for orphaned, abandoned and neglected children.

The National List thanks Gregory for submitting this paper and for telling us something about himself and his firm. You can access the paper at http://www.nationallist.com/white_papers/utah.