[scaredsillybydebt]

I received a call from these people yesterday. They said that for a $200 retainer they can put me in a debt management program and even consolidate my payday loans. Does anyone have any experience with them? Are they legit?

[imkimssister]

Hi Scaredsilly. I haven't heard anything about these people but I know theres other places that do debt consolidation that don't charge you anything--its totally free. Are you interested in these guys because its a law office? If you're really interested, I will see if I find anything on them for you shirley

[stanley]

scaredsillybydebt,

According to their website, they are specialized in credit counseling agency. They offer other services also. I did some research on the net and it appeared that they are a reputed company. So you can deal with them.

The offer also seems very attractive. Very few companies are there who are willing to consolidate payday loans. So if you accept their offer, it will give you relief from the headache of payday loans as well.

Always discuss all your problems with your counselor. If you have any doubts get it clarified with them. debt management is an interactive process, so you should be involved in it too. All the best and keep us updated.

P.S. Also check your PM, I have sent you some information.

[imkimssister]

Heres what I came up with---very very interesting.
I did a check on the law offices of Richard A. Brennan with the BBB to see if they are members. They are not. I put in their phone number in the search. The phone number that the law office has on their website, in their headlines on their home page---(checking through the BBB) is the number to Credicure, Inc. They are not on the BBB list either. Here is what BBB said about them.



hope this has helped in your decision. shirley

[stella]

I did not have any problem dealing with them. They were very much prompt to respond to my queries and clarified all my doubts very well. It was a good experience to work with them.

[imkimssister]

heres their website:
credicure.org

I have read some good things about them. What I'm wondering is if you decide to go with these people, why not go straight through them and cut out the law office and having to pay $200? They're free, they do ask for donations but you don't have to donate at first or even at all if you can't afford to.
anyone care to comment on this? what would be the point in paying the lawyer $200 for them to set up an account with credicure when you can go straight to the source yourself??

Just wanted to let you all know that I have been a client of Credicure (the law offices of Richard A. Brennan) since October. Since my Credit has fallen to a POOR rating and I have filed a complaint with the better business bureau. I am now out approx $800 as of April 1st. The Law Offices of Richard A. Brennan is the same as Credicure/Ameridebt/USA Debt Management/United Christian Financial. STAY AWAY FROM THESE COMPANIES. They are not not-for-profit like they say. I actually had one account go into collections because they were not being paid by Credicure.Here are some links:
http://www.dc.bbb.org/report.html?co...404&national=Y

coeinc.org/AllSections/AmeriDebt-WashingtonPost.htm

This law office took over the company that I had gone to for debt counseling. I have been trying to get questions regarding my account answered for almost two months now. Both my phone messages & emails have not been returned at all. Not even a call or email to let me know they received my messages and would look into my inquiries. There message says that emails will be answered within 24 hours, but that isn't the case. I would strongly suggest looking elsewhere. Do your research...Over a year and half ago I went to debt counseling. The company has changed hands twice now and none of them have been very responsive.

Don't do it! I was transfered by a previous debt counseling agency to them (without my permission) and I made a payment to them... IT NEVER showed up to any of my credit cards. They STILL have not resolved the issue and this is MONTHS later!

I was with another company also. They have $954 of my money that has not be paid to my creditors. I have not spoken to a human yet and none of my e-mails have been answered. But I am not giving up!

[stanley]

Which company was it? Charlotte, it is always suggested to do business with a reputed company. You can register with this site to get in touch with a good consolidation company and know your option now. The registration is free here.

[mgbaker68]

Please be advised that this firm will do nothing for you. I signed up last year in Oct., have been paying the fee $260/month and have recieved absolutely poor service. They didnt even send out limited power of attorney forms until 4 months later! This is what stops the creditor phone calls. They didnt know who I was when I called twice! Now Im in the process of trying to get my money back-good luck right! I have been forced to file a small claims case, because they will not return my money. Beware, these people will steal your money. Everytime I call, the staff was inattentive, like their primary purpose was to get you off the phone. Ignored e-mails, phone messages, I finally got enough. The thing is I probably lost that money, and my credit is worse. STAY AWAY from Richard a Brennan!!!!!

I started with Nexum which was a great company. They handled everything promptly and efficently. I cancelled my bank draw today and finally talked to a human and told them they would not be pulling money from my account any more. They could still not tell me where my last two months of payments were and were very rude when I questioned them.

I put a stop to bank withdrawals on Friday. Called all my creditors and they worked with me. I know have 0% interest on 2 of my 3 cards. I will be paying less on my own then with Richard A. Brennan aka Credicure.

Upon reading the recent posts upon this site, I find it disturbing, the insinuation and misinformation. As an attorney, I have represented many non profit credit counseling agencies, for profit debt settlement companies, and debt consolidation companies. Having been in on legislative actions for new regulations, and I have defended individuals in bankruptcy and against IRS actions for years. I represented CrediCure at one point, and years ago I also represented AmeriDebt. In both cases the individuals there attempted to provide the best credit counseling available with the tools they had. Now I am angered that my name is being mixed into their dealings, as I do not have anything in common with those prior entities.

In regards to debt, my law office now provides individuals with the protections of a law office. Most creditors will temporarily work with any individual. However, they are still permitted by law to pursue legal actions against the debtor. Most consumers do not know this and unless the creditor moidifies your original credit contract in writing, they are under no obligation to extend any consumer any benefits, whether it be through credit counseling or on their own.

My law office charges reasonable fees to assist consumers. I am able to provide protections that for profit companies, non profit credit counseling agencies, and debt consolidation shops cannot. In fact, through my legal travels, I have discovered that most agences and for profit companies operate either illegally, or in grey areas of the law in which the consumer bears the risk of loss.

Nexum agreed to shut down in connection with a settlement agreement with the IRS. Unfortunately, and not due to the actions of their Board, which I represented, they were tied to AmeriDebt.

All of the agencies that Andris Pukke originated: Ameridebt, Nexum, the Credit Network, Neway, Debticated, A Better Way, Visual credit counseling, CrediCure, and three others, have been ordered to alter their operations, shut down, or divest of their portfolios. Through DebtWorks, Inc., Pukke caused all of the agencies to enter into service contracts which functionally took all of the money from the non profits. Pukke also made sure that most of the agencies were also dependent upon his or his associates' for profit marketing: DebtSaviors, 1-800 Credit Card, and several others. Although many of the Boards of Directors had no involvement in the wrong doing, all the agences were punished. In fact, when CrediCure attempted to get away from Pukke's for profit Ballenger Group, Ballenger Group attempted to destroy CrediCure by interfering with all of CrediCure's clients' debt management programs. Ballenger Group caused 41 people to lose their jobs as credit counselors and bankrupted the Board members.

Ballenger Group also did the same for Nexum and its Board.

Unfortunately, much of this has not been made public so the consumer can only assume the worst about the companies, without knowing what really went on. When the unhappy clients complained, Ballenger Group "saved the day" by swooping in with other agenceies it controlled to "restore" those clients.

More to follow: