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Review 5/1/2009
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We dealt with this company in Dec. 2008. We were trying to go through a credit counseling service located in our town. When I looked up the phone number in my phone book, there were 2 companies listed (both Consumer Credit Counseling), one with a local number and the other with a toll free number. I assumed the local number was the one downtown, so I called it. After speaking to the man about hours of operation, I realized there was a time difference. I found out he was located in Florida (about 2000 miles from me). I told him I thought I had called an agency in my town (after all, it was a local number). He said some people aren't comfortable calling long distance, so they had a local number for consumers to call. (He never made it sound like I had reached a different company). I felt a check in my spirit, so I said I'd call back. I drove by where I thought the local agency had been and did not see it. Again, I assumed something: that the local business was no longer here, and was working out of FL. So I called back and made arrangements to join their debt management program. After reviewing my debts I was transferred to a legal assistant who said he was with American Credit Counselors. He recorded our conversations and got verbal okays regarding information, debts owed, electronic withdrawals (including a $720 enrollment fee), bank info, etc. Then we were e-mailed the actual contract to read, initial, and sign. After receiving, but before FAXing it back, I happened to be downtown and passed the local business (I was a couple of blocks off from my first trip to find it). I went inside and was told that the local business is not affiliated with the one in Florida. Immediately I knew I was not using the Florida company. I felt I was deliberately deceived by them and that they knew from the start that they were not the local company I was trying to locate. As a result we never FAXed the contract back to them. My thinking was: no signed contract, not enrolled. What a shock to me when $720 was electronically withdrawn from my bank account on Dec. 16th by the Consumer Law Group. I had okayed it verbally during our conversation, but signed no contract. My account was overdrawn; I had many overdraft fees totally about $250 dollars. Christmas is one week away with no money to buy any gifts. I was furious. I called the FL Consumer Credit Counseling company. I talked to the original person I spoke to and told him I wanted my money back. He said I'd have to call Consumer Law Group. I called them and was told it was given to the Boston Agency, the agency I made the original arrangements with. I said, I thought it was called Consumer Credit Counseling. Now, I think I have been scammed!! I called Cons. Cred. Couns. (or is it really Boston Agency?) back and they said they did not have my money, the Consumer Law Group has it. Now I am crying. Someone calls me from Consumer Law Group having been given my situation. I tell him I'm too upset to talk (as I'm crying) and to call me back in an hour after I settle down. He calls me back. I tell him my side of the story (wrong agency, no contract, etc.). We had a few different conversations. He was very professional through it all, even though I was bordering on hysteria. He told me in the second to the last conversation that even though the contract was never signed and sent back, his people had already started working on my account. It was not fair for them to not be paid for their time. He would check to see how much time was spent and call back. Our last conversation: 2 hours had been spent on my account which cost $213.75. They would refund $506.25 out of the $720 that they took from my account. I needed to decide right now during this phone call. I would be e-mailed a contract stating I would not contact the Better Business Bureau or anyone else regarding this matter. BIG RED FLAGS POP UP IN MY HEAD!!!!! After receiving it back, it would go to some board for an okay. When will I get this refund? He said hopefully, in a couple of weeks, if all goes well. (After Christmas). I will call him back. No, I need to decide right now. Partial refund is only good on this call. I tell him I have to discuss this with my husband and you are not my husband. He gave me a number to reach him. I called my husband. He said $506 is better than $0. Remember we are overdrawn in our checking account by about $500. No money for Christmas. I'm crying. What to do? I pass my bank and pull in. I'm going to talk to them about it. I can't get my crying under control so I don't go in. Then I realize later I have to talk to my bank. I go to the bank. When I start to tell my banker what happened, I start crying and can't stop. She tells me they'll put a stop on the electronic withdrawal. She put $720 dollars back into my account as a loan. When Consumer Law Group deposited $720 into my account in January, the bank took back their loan and removed all the overdraft fees from my account. I really feel like it was a scam from the start. How many people gave up too soon trying to get their money back that were in the same situation. How many took the discounted refund and lost the portion that really was theirs. How many didn't pursue it after being told, you authorized us to take that $720. I hope this will save someone else from going through what we went through!!
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