Bill, it was my summons that pushed me to contact a lawyer. I didn't really want to take the route of bankruptcy. That's why I contacted Mezey in the first place. I found out that if I filed Chapter 13, it would put a stop to the lawsuit, and allow the court system to put together a structured repayment plan over 3-5 years. This I could live with. Yeah it'll put a bad mark on my record, but my credit rating is in the crapper anyway because of the non-payment because of paying Mezey to try to settle the debts.

I'll keep this forum posted as I go through this.

Tricam ---- that's where I am today. I have a lawyer, I'm going to do a Chapter 7, becausde of my situation. I just can't stand the idea that Mezey + is getting away with our $. I sure want to take some action to recoup some money.
Bill

I'm also a client of Mezey and Associates, and I am in for around $10K now, also with nothing to show for it. Customer service just disconnects me whenever I challenge them, and it seems not a single one of my creditors has been properly contacted or paid. It disgusts me that I could fall prey to such a scam. They blantantly lied to me, telling me before I signed up that all I needed to do was wait three months and then they'd start negotiating. After I signed the papers and find they did no such thing, they tell me I owe them their full fee of $10,000 + an additional amount. I don't know if there is no legal protection for me against a verbal agreement (I only wish I recorded the phone conversation), but someone needs to protect people against crooks like this.

I am going to be looking further into what action I can take, but by all means, we should form a class action suit if at all possible. We deserve our money back, and if we can't have that, we need to protect others from falling prey to these thieves. I had enough money problems before, but it seems that Mezey has amplified them tenfold.

Please everyone do keep in touch here, as will I.

I spoke with someone from Mezey just after posting here and was fascinated at what I was told. Once again, I wish I had recorded the conversation, but the guy actually said, "Why would you sign a contract that says there is no guaranteed outcome?" He was clearly insinuating that I was the one at fault for signing up with them. He also told me how they only negotiate with one creditor at a time, only after you pay them their total fee plus half of each account. For most people, this would take years. It would be amusing if not for the fact that he showed blatant disregard for doing honest business. "There must have been a disconnect between what you were told and what you signed." Of course, this wasn't intentional at all...

Surely there must be a law to protect the consumer against people like this?

I have been on this program for about 10 months and they haven't did squat for me. Tonight, I contacted all of my creditors and settle on my own. Don't use this firm if you don't want to get sued and play an enormous fee for worthless legal services. Creditors and their collectors are not going what 24 to 36 months to collect their monies. They will sue.

If anyone can put a class action suit together, I will gladly sign on.

Under no circumstances retain Mezey as an attorney. I have been in this money pit for five months now. I recieved a letter from a lawyer representing my creditor. They wish to sue. I called Mezey and was told that they would negotiate a deal with the creditor but this deal would come out of my pocket on top of what I am sending into them which is a nice car payment every month. You can not get Mezey's phone number from the customer service center either. You will only speak to a rep and never an attorney!

I closed my bank account after giving them $6k, and after only 1 day, my account login shows my account is closed. I think all they do is take our money, and when we realize it, they just close our accounts and laugh all the way to the bank.

If there is a lawyer in this forum, all of us who've been duped by Mezey would appreciate some honest legal advise as to the possibility of sueing these crooks.

Anyone reading this should IMMEDIATELY stop paying Mezey, inform them in writing and on the phone that they are no longer authorized to take your money, and try to recall at least the most recent payment to them. I was very lucky, and I expect this is rare, to be able to recall my last two payments to these crooks, making my financial loss much less than it could have been.

Which of course means that I have even more money to pay an honest lawyer who wishes to take these people down.

I spoke to a lawyer for one of my creditors today who told me that almost every one of these "debt relief experts" do nothing but rip off their clients. It totally disgusts me that such actions can be legal... or are they? As I find out, I'll post here.

Izgoblin,

I'm interested in how to go about recalling a payment to them. Is it something that I do through my bank (credit union)? I've paid them too much, and if there's a way to get some of that back, I want to try.

Keep us up to date as you go through this, I'm definetly interested.

I would recommend going to naca . net to see if there are attorneys who would be willing to take on this type of case. Naca is an organization of attorneys that handle consumer debt cases against predatory lenders consumer finance companies, including collection agencies. It's possible they may be interested in this case, or could refer you to another legal firm that would handle it.

__________________
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step...and becoming debt free is a journey!

Help we just signed up with Mezey in Jan. 2007. After reading all of the other posts I am very concerned and wonder if we should not continue with them. The CC companies have offered us hardship programs to close the accounts and make a payment to them with low interest. Has anyone done this?
If anyone has any positive or negative experience with Mezey please contace us.
Thanks! Amy

I have read the postings here, and am awaiting a contract from Mezey & Co. There are some good, but a great deal of bad here. They have already advised me to stop paying on this month's Credit Cards, as I would be "just putting fire to my money"... I have not yet received the contract yet, but should today. Please help me out here folks, I must have read these today for a reason, but is there anyone out there who is having any luck with this company?
HELP!
hr d

Mezey has helped me quite a bit. You just have to hang in there and let the program work for you. It took a year or so, but now my creditors are being paid very fast.

Nelly

Mezey & Assoc has helped me. I am in their program now and half my credit cards have been paid off. I do agree with Nelly, it does take a while, but when it starts, it keeps getting better.
JR

every thing must have changed. I am with them several months now excellent customer service, prompt response & prompt action any time i have had a question or request.

When i started I was told they had revamped their customer service systems because they had outgrown what was in place previously.

Much better idea than filing bk, which damages you for 10 years.

Tom