Freedom Debt Relief – How good a company is it?

Freedom passed an audit by BSI Group, a third party industry compliance and standards auditor. Freedom is currently one of only 16 companies in the industry to undergo and pass BSI audit for formal accreditation, including client service standards and settlement standards. They prove that they do what they say and take care of clients.

All of the debt consultants at Freedom have passed International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA) certification, FDR is one of three Platinum certified debt settlement companies.

Check it out, they are the best.

Do your own homework, but Freedom appears solid... and they won best places to work, so they take care of their people too (I am a partner firm, but they've always been the best firm I have ever worked for and take care of all of my clients every day).

I myself recently looked into debt settlement and one of the companies I looked into was Freedom debt relief. The other two were RAM Finacial and Debt Soltions. They all provided plenty of information, but in the end I ended up going with RAM. The kicker for me was the fact that they pay for my credit repair program after the Settlement program is completed and the Consultant didn't try to "sell" me. They were also local to me, which I liked. I actually got to meet the person I was dealing with. Something else that we have in common is that I have the money upfront to settle the accounts. It should only take them about 4 to 6 months to settle everything for me. And then upto another 6 months for the credit repair program. Looks like I am going to save about $15,000 by doing this. Works for me!! Good luck to you! I hope it works out.

I looked at my paperwork for you to get the number for RAM Financial Services. It's 1.866.726.2122

Is Freedom debt relief the same as freedom debt help? I just had a really wonderful call with someone named Chris, who I think is freedom debt relief. They spent about an hour on the phone going over my options and my debts for free and they finally helped me understand that in my case I wouldn't be a likley successful candidate for debt resolution, so they helped me get in touch with an attorney, but I wanted to say that they were super honest and took the time (for free) to help me out. That means a lot to me when it seems like no one else will help me.

My credit is already as bad as it could get. All of my debts are already in collections and I don't have any large sum of $$ to negotiate with. Does anyone have any past experience with Freedom that is or was in a similar situation as myself?

yeah, I watch this forum sometimes but that is what my deal was and is. I was behind on my payments and was actually getting collection calls. I signed up with freedom and they basically did a budget session to help me save each month enough so that over time my debts get (or are getting, since they've settled five of my six accounts). On average I saved something like 60% of what I owed, but mostly I'm just happy to finally have this mess behind me, almost. They helped me pretty good.

HERE IS SOME INFO:

Freedom debt relief

Background


Freedom Debt Relief
1875 South Grant Street
Suite 400
San Mateo, CA 94402

Other Business Names: Freedom Financial Network, Freedom debt help, Bills.com, Debt Resolution Partners, FreedomDebt.Com, Freedom-Debt-Relief, FreedomDebtRelief, Freedom debt relief usa
Summary of Business: debt settlement & Negotiation, debt consolidation / debt management
Number of BBB Complaints as of 7/17/08: 125
Members of BBB: Yes
BBB Profile
Business Start Date: December 2002
Number of Employees: 133
Trade Organization Memberships: TASC (Trade Association of Settlement Companies)
Other Accreditations: Dunn & Bradstreet

Freedom Debt Relief is one of the largest companies in the debt settlement arena and go by a number of names such as Debt Resolution Partners, Freedom Financial, and more. They are also affiliated with companies such as DebtMerica who sign up clients for their company. They have two main locations - one in northern California and another in Arizona. They also have affiliates nationwide (including Texas). They place a great deal of emphasis on their BBB membership and the financial and education backgrounds of their founders, both of whom went to Stanford Business School. They also own the financial web portal, Bills.com, which aims to educate consumers about important financial decisions such as consolidating debt and getting a mortgage.


Fees


What is the total fee for the program?
15% of the total debt enrolled in the program. Fees are included in monthly payments.

Over how many months is the fee paid?
18-19 months

Do you have a set up fee?
Yes, there is a retainer fee that is paid over the first 3-4 months

Do you have a money back guarantee?
Yes, according to the website, Freedom Debt Relief's website states that "program completion if your total debt reduction is less than 3 times the Service Fees you have paid to us, we will refund a portion of those Service fees. The amount of the refund will be calculated so that the amount of Service Fees we retain is equal to only 1/3 of your total Debt Reduction. Please keep in mind that Retainer Fees are generally non-refundable."


Eligibility


What type of debt do you work with?
Unsecured debt

What is the minimum total unsecured debt one must have in order to qualify?
$500 per account

Does a client need to include all of their unsecured debt in the plan?
No, one small account can be left open for emergencies


Services


Do you do the negotiations yourselves?
N/A

If back end, who is the company you use for negotiations?
N/A


Creditor Calls


Do you send a Power of Attorney to notify the creditors that a client is enrolled in your program right away?
According to its website, Freedom Debt Relief contacts creditors once someone enrolls in their "Debt Reduction Program"

Look, I've worked in the debt settlement industry for about 6 years (making me a serious veteran in debt years).

Freedom is about the best. BUT - you got to understand that your savings and that low payment come with a price. You will have bad credit for a while. You might get collection calls.

But, having known about a dozen of these companies (from TASC, USOBA, and their predecessors) Freedom Debt is the best. They have clearly proven that they help people and they are ethical and have been through audits that have confirmed they are the real deal.

If you don't choose someone like them, you're really rolling the dice. Most debt companies just pop up and dissappear. Many of them are fraudsters and it's a tough and complicated bbusiness so if you don't pick the best one, you might get screwed.

Anyway, from a veteran that's the facts. Debt settlement America is good, and Able and DTS have proven that they are the real deal, but most people who know all know that freedom debt is one of the best.

Freedon debt relief has 140 complaints at the BBB and an unsatisfactory rating. But Hey they are good right? Here we go again people. C'mon see the light here.

Government Actions:

On May 29, 2008 The California Corporations Commissioner filed a desist and refrain order against Andrew Housser Founder and CO-CEO of Freedom Financial Network, LLC, and Bradford Stroh Founder and CO-CEO of Freedom Financial Network "FFN", LLC, and it's affiliated entities, Freedom Financial Network, LLC, Freedom Debt Relief, Inc.; Freedom Debt Relief, LLC; FDR; Alivio Holdings, LLC; Bills.com, Inc.;Bills.com, LLC; Bills.com; Freedom Tax Relief, LLC; Alivio Mortgage, LLC for being in violation of sections 12200, 22104, 22153 and 22154 of the Financial Code.

Without any admission of wrongdoing the complaint alleges that FFN engaged in the business as a bill payer or prorater as defined in the Check Sellers, Bill payers and Proraters Law, California Financial Code section 12200 without a license
BBB Definition:

license - A permit or accreditation required by the State, Province, County or Municipality where a company is located indicating competence or professional certification that allows the company to provide products or services related to their particular field or industry.
from the Commissioner and in violation of that law including overcharging consumers in violation of Financial Code sections 12314 and 12314.1. The order states that Alivio Mortgage, LLC a Delaware limited liability company that is affiliated with both Freedom Debt Relief and Freedom Financial Network failed to get approval from the Department of Corporations to move their place of business which is in violation of Financial Code section 22153. It is also alleged that Alivio Mortgage, LLC failed to meet the statutory net worth requirement which is in violation of Financial Code section 22104.
Alivio Mortgage, LLC, co-located with the other businesses of Housser and Stroh conducted business at a place in which business other than making loans is engaged in without either written notification to and the authorization of the Department of Corporations which is violation of Financial Code section 22104.

It was ordered pursuant to Financial Code section 12103 that Andrew Housser and Bradford Stroh, and their affiliated entities, FFN to desist and refrain from engaging in business as a bill payer and prorater unless and until they are licensed or exempt and from violating Financial Code section 12314 and 12314.1. It is also ordered pursuant to Financial Code section 22712, that Alivio Mortgage, LLC and any and all officers, directors, employees , independent contractors, agents, and affiliates operating on it's behalf to desist and refrain from the following: 1) changing locations without notification to and the approval of the Commissioner: 2) failing to maintain minimum net worth of 25,000: 3) conducting business at a place in which other than making loans is engaged in without either written notification to and the authorization of the department; 4) using advertising without prior approval from the commissioner.

WHAT MORE WILL CONVINCE YOU. STAY AWAY PEOPLE.

Stop taking their calls and save yourself money they have a horrible reputation and its not worth the risk.

LOL...Freedom debt relief has 140 complaints at the BBB and ZERO I repeat ZERO complaints at the TASC. WHY is that? Does ANYONE see ANYTHING wrong with that? Do I need to explain why that is strangely ODD? They have a government action against them and the TASC does not even mention that about Freedom Debt Relief on their site. Educate yourself people.

ANY RED FLAGS GOING UP HERE????? ANYONE???????

Anyone know complaints relative to how big a firm is? I see 140 complaints, but if they have 40,000 clients then that is a ridiculously good ratio, right? (like .00032 of their cleints)

Isn't that what I should look at? Paypal has like 10,000 complaints, but they are a good service. I think it should be relative to how many clients you have.

My fear is that some other company with no complaints has no history and might not know what do for me. I'm still choosing freedom.

I don't see how they can be certified by many groups and have thousands of happy clients, and be bad. Oh well. But let me know if you find anyone out there with that many clients and zero complaints (credit solutions is their size and has ten times the complaints).

I actually voted for them to be on the industry board (which they are). They were also voted to be on the founding board of USOBA. Trust me, even competitors think they are good and care.

Info on the TASC: Article clip.

One organization which claims to set standards for the debt settlement industry is TASC (or The Association of Settlement Companies). With 145 members as their claim on their member page this is the largest such group in the debt settlement field. Depending on who you talk to people feel that TASC is going to change the face of debt settlement or they feel that it is a complete scam and while claims that the industry is now ’self regulated’ are often heard it’s simply one more way for debt settlement companies to prey upon consumers looking for debt help.

So I say again: Freedom debt relief is not allowed to do business in CA and the TASC does not have this info on their site about them. Give me a break with all of this.

I a client of freedom and they told me the ups and the downs of the program. There was no other solution for me besides a horrible chapter 13. If my employer found out i was filing a bk, he would probably find a way to fire me because the court would garnish my wages. With Freedom- I get some calls from creditors, but they have settled most of my accounts.

I hate all these people who get themselves into debt and think they can just walk away from it or reduce it with a magic wand. Some of these people complaning were probably spoiled brats when they were kids..

I got myself in this mess just like if i ran a red light and hit a wall. I would have to hire a company to fix my car because of my mistake. A walk in the park? no. Free from debt in 2 years- yes sir!

They got me back on my feet. Whatever they told me upfront was about right, and I just got my graduation letters and finished the program in under three years.

They were good for me. If I hadn't done this a while back I'd probably still be just scraping by and have too many years ahead of paying bills and getting collected on.

They're cool and honest too.