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OK guys,
Here's my situation. I got caught in the pdl trap this year, and I really wish I could go back in time and slap some sense into myself to avoid this. In lieu of a time machine being invented, I've got to deal with it. I live in Texas and am currently dealing with the following pdls (some of these numbers are as close approximations as I can figure), they're all internet based =

1. CashnetUSA = Borrowed 500 still owe 502.05 paid 482.71
2. Ameriloan = Borrowed 300 still owe 325 paid back 75
3. UpFrontMoney = Borrowed 200 still owe 289 paid back nothing
4. mtefinancial = Borrowed 300 still owe 390 paid back 75
5. acc (The Cash Spot) = Borrowed 300 still owe 375 paid back 75
6. AmOnlineMktgEnt = Borrowed 300 still owe 390 paid back 90
7. loan point usa (centruion) = Borrowed 400 Still owe ? paid back nothing
8. Pay Co = Borrowed 200 still owe 289 paid back nothing
9. Zip 19 = Borrowed 500 still owe 657.90 paid back nothing

To deal with this mess, I signed up with PDL Assistance. I closed my checking account and have opening a new one. The PDL deductions have stopped. PDL Assistance have got my $200 enrollment charge are set to take my first $432 payment on Jul 1st for a six month program. Seems fair enough to me, still a lot less than what I'd be oweing...

But now I'm NERVOUS.

Why? Because I'm hearing mixed things and don't know who to believe. I saw some negative stuff posted on this forum about PDL Assistance, but I've seen positive stuff posted about them, too. The stuff that really scares me is this =

All of the pdls have since told that me that either 1. They don't deal with third party companies or 2. The company will have to contact them and set up a proposal, not vice versa. I tell this to PDL Assistance and am told ""They all say that, don't worry, they'll deal with us eventually." I have faxed cease and desist letters to all the companies I could find, but two have called me back since then (one TODAY, on a SUNDAY). MTE Financial left a message saying "We received your fax, we advised you before that we don't deal with third party companies, call us back or there's nothing we can for you." Cashnet USA called today and left a message to return their call.

So who do I believe? Are these companies really bluffing me like PDL Assistance says, or does PDL Assistance not know what they're talking about? Also, here's an email I got back AOM after telling them twice that I was dealing with PDL Assistance:

"Again, we do not do that so if a proposal is not send to our company and no payment is received,we will sent this account to collections and report it for non payment. Any legitament debt consolidation always sends out a proposal. We have been in this business for many years and know just how this works. We do not go by he said she said. It you your past due debt, not ours.

Customer Service
AOM Internet Cash
Phone: (800) 285-8781
Fax: (800) 307-0987
info@aomdirect.com"

So? Who do I believe? I would really prefer to stay with PDL Assistance if what they've told me is accurate, and these companies are just trying to scare me. But I need some kind of reassurance. I am calling them tomorrow morning and seeing if I can get some - I particularly want reassurance that they have dealt with these specific companies before.

Any and all feedback is welcome.

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 8:05 am Subject:

I have not dealt with PDL Assistance but I did speak with Langhorne. Personally, I didn't like what they were telling me. You have to educate yourself, go with your gut and do what is best for you. Many of us have done this ourselves and successfully. I am sure that someone who is more knowledgeable about the laws governing PDLs in your state will be along to advise. I don't feel comfortable interpreting those laws and I don't want to give you wrong advice. For myself, I live in New York and PDLs are prohibited. I enlisted the help of the processors but I am still not clear on how they play into legal states. Hang in there. Help is on the way. . .and. . .don't beat yourself up, we have all been there, done that. Chin up.

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 8:50 am Subject:

If it were me, I would go through the process of dealing with these PDL companies myself. I have heard pro's and con's about pdl assistance, and am not quite sure what is true and what isn't. This is a fairly new company, and I can see by reading your post you have a few companies which are not licensed/legal. They are a royal pain to work with [some of your pld's], and due to the fact that some of these are not licensed/legal, PDL Assistance has very little legal ground to back them up. That alone would indicate to me that their [PDL Assistance] negotiation power is slim to none unless these illegal/unlicensed pdl's are willing to work with them. Will they work with PDL Assistance? It's had to say and basically falls upon their decision to do so, or not. That's just my opinion and doesn't mean that you shouldn't pursue what is best for you. Very Happy

Good luck !! We are here for you either way!!

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 9:38 am Subject:

Well, these are my immediate plans:

I'm calling PDL Assistance in the morning and I will explain to them that I really WANT to stay on their system, but am going to need some kind of reassurance in order to do so. I'm leaning towards asking for a supervisor. HOW can you reassure me of the following:
1. That you deal with the specific companies I mention. Someone isn't telling the truth and I don't want to believe the wrong person
2. You're a fairly new company, how can you reassure me that you know what you're doing?
3. WHY DO THE COMPANIES HAVE TO CALL YOU INSTEAD OF YOU CALLING THEM?!?! (that one really gets me, it wasn't explained that way when I signed up).

If my warning signals start going off, I'm going to cancel, try getting my money back, and deal with these myself; which brings me to this:

How do I go about doing that?

I've already closed my checking account, so they arn't getting any more money out of me at the moment. What would be next... and really... what CAN they do?

Guest · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 9:45 am Subject:

I'm with Shazz on this one. They are going to do exactly the same thing that you will do. . .negotiate. You've already taken the first step by closing your bank account. Send out your C and D letters and trust me, that will set the wheels in motion. Good luck with your decision.

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 9:50 am Subject:

The first thing I didn't like about the PDL consolidation companies was the fact that they would "hold" my money until "they" had enough to pay the PDL. I am willing to bet that their "fees" were being deducted up front and when the remainder showed up that would go to the PDL. It just seemed all too sketchy and creepy for me. I was done dealing with creepy groups and I had just got back control of my money. I wasn't about to give it over to a different creepy group that I really didn't know anything about.

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 1:10 pm Subject:

Kellerwerks, you can do it yourself! I too was looking into going with PDL Assistance but soon became fustrated and turned off with their customer service practices. You can do it yourself believe me! I had 11 PDLs and now have 1 I am dealing with. I did it all on my own and only did it in 2 months time. I saved tons of money too! This forum helped me out tremendously and I am still working on getting my much deserved refunds from these loan sharks! It does get a little fustrating at times, but when you have the LAW on your side. Why pay some one money for something you can do yourself for free. Like I said PDL Assistance is a counterpart of Fidelity Reserve Corp, so you can look them both up on the BBB. I have heard of them helping customers in the past, so they DO work! But if you taken measures on your own with these PDLs already. What's to say you can't take it further and settle them on your own? Think about it! Best of luck in your decision!! Smile

Here is some more info on PDL Assistance if you need it:
http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/paydayloan/about46883.html

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 3:36 pm Subject:

I don't know much about this company but what I would do is research what others have to say about them on the forums, taking heed of the positives and the negatives. And as for doing it yourself, it works well for some and others feel better going with a company. I went with Langhorne to become PDL free--but you have to do what works for you.

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 5:50 pm Subject:

i am with everybody else...i would really try to do it yourself....there is lots of help here...i am a non confrontational person and hated doing it myself...but i did and it doesnt even phase me to call them out anymore...

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 5:55 pm Subject:

I did not go through a "program" in order to pay off my pdl's but there are many that have and I am sure it helped. I recieved my infomation that I needed from this website here and put it to use and it worked for all 5 of them and now I have been Payday Loan free for about a year now.

I say lets start a PDLA group. Pay Day Loan Annonymous Group so that we can help each other and share what we have learned. Maybe that is what we are already doing just without the name.....Am I making sense?

Thanks,
Luke

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 7:44 pm Subject:

Luke you make MUCH sense! This forum is great and we need to help as much folk as we can.

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 3:49 am Subject:

Very true anyaroberts, very true. I am glad to be a part of this website/forum for over a year now and I would not be where I am now which is a much better place if I was not here.

Luke

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:47 am Subject:

Well, I called them this morning (talked to a young lady named Rebecca)- for the time being I'm going to stick with them. They assured me that they DO deal with MTE, Zip19 and CashNetUSA, who were the big three I had worries about, and also told me if any of these went to a third party collection agency then I could just refer the collection agency to them - and no collection agency had refused to deal with them so far.

I was told the parent company had been around for four years and the pdl division was about a year old.

They said they don't contact companies themselves (most of the time) because the companies think they're getting some kind of loan, when in actuality its my money that they're getting from a stored up savings account, and they won't get it all at once.

AOM they had not heard of before, they said that they would contact them and make them aware that they were dealing with me. That made me feel better.

I'm playing this by ear. I probably could do it for myself, but would prefer to do it this way if it works due to my busy lifestyle. We'll see how it goes.

Comments are still welcome.