How can I get out of the mess created by Freedom Debt Relief?

For those that are for Freedom Debt Relief, you obviously have not done your research with FDR or perhaps work for them and that's why you're defending them. They are a rip off!!! Who charges a service fee before they work for you? That should be a big red flag for those who are considering joining this agency. They take your money for as long as they can and they only settle your small accounts. Your big accounts are the ones that end up in a courtroom and they settle your account for the same money you owed in the first place. To make matters worse these judgements stay on your credit report for at least 7 years or until you pay the debt off. So what does FDR really do for you? I'm not talking because I'm a jealous competitor as many of these comments say, I was simply a victim and I don't want others to be sold a dream of your credit being in good standing after 3 years of dealing with them....It's pure BS!!! I wish I would have found out sooner what a scam this agency is, but it took a year before I realized what was going on. FDR is being sued left and right, their latest lawsuit was in Colorado (March 2009). If they were such a great agency as some of these commentators say...then why are they being sued? I'm taking drastic measures and even writing to the State attorney of New York. I HOPE FREEDOM DEBT RELIEF ROTS IN HELL!!!! How dare they take people's money knowing the rough times people are going through! For those that feel stuck if you're in the program...ur not. Speak to a Banruptcy lawyer for "free" and they will help you.

FREEDOM DEBT RELIEF VICTIMS? GOOGLE "ELEVEN DEBT MANAGEMENT COMPANIES SETTLE WITH COLORADO A.G. POSTED MARCH 12, 2009. SO FOR THOSE STILL DEFENDING THIS AGENCY...WHAT ANSWERS DO YOU HAVE FOR THIS?

Eleven debt management companies settle with Colorado A.G.
By Larimer, Rob
Publication: The Colorado Springs Business Journal
Date: Thursday, March 12 2009

Eleven debt management and credit counseling companies have settled investigations withthe Colorado Attorney General office under credit and consumer laws that went into effect last year.
The companies will refund a total of $923,370 in program fees to 912 Colorado consumers.
Debt management companies generally work with unsecured debt such as credit cards and medical bills. As of last year the companies are required to register with the Attorney General's office.
Since that time the Attorney General's office received 27 consumer complaints about debt management companies. The most common violations were failing to be registered, charging illegal fees and failing to allow consumers to cancel contracts.
As a result of these investigations and settlements, debt management companies have refunded
"In this current economy, consumers need to be particularly careful about offers to eliminate debts and erase negative information from credit records," Attorney General John Suthers said. "Consumers should avoid paying large amounts in money in return for promises that sound too good to be true."

The eleven companies include:

Century Negotiations, Inc., a Pennsylvania debt settlement company (TASC Accredited member)
Clearone Advantage, LLC dba Clearone Debt Relief, a Maryland debt settlement company (TASC Accredited member)

Credit Answers, LLC, a Texas debt settlement company(TASC Accredited member)
Debt Relief of America, a Texas debt settlement company

Financial Freedom Resources, Inc., a Florida debt settlement company

Freedom Debt Relief, LLC, dba Freedom Debt, Freedom Debt Help, Freedom Debt Reduction, Freedom Debt Relief USA, Freedom Financial Network and Debt Resolution Partners, a California debt settlement company (TASC Accredited member)

National Foundation for Debt Management, Inc., a Florida credit counseling company

New Beginnings Debt Settlement, LLC a Florida debt settlement company

New Life Debt Relief Corp., a California debt settlement company

PDL Assistance, Inc. dba PDL Eliminators, an Alabama debt settlement company

Pemper Companies, Inc. dba Curadebt, Curadebt Systems and Banks, Schwarz & Levitz, a California debt settlement company (TASC member)

More companies under the so called consumer protection shield of the TASC. Go to the TASC site, look up the companies and you will find nothing mentioned about this. More evidence that the TASC is BIAS, USELESS & an INCOMPETENT organization.

Good Post Guest. Very, very good post.

BBB writes: It has come to the BBB's attention that
Freedom Debt Relief has continued to operate despite a desist and refrain order issued through the Department of Corporation on May 29, 2008

This what they are talking about:

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.

The State of California, Department of Corporations has asserted that FDR should be classified as a "prorate" which is a statutory term commonly applied to credit counseling agencies that receive and control consumer funds. FDR disagrees with the Department of Corporations' interpretation and hope to resolve our differences without resorting to a law suit. FDR believes this lawsuit affects only California-based customers, and then if only FDR cannot reach an agreement with the Department of Corporations.

You were ORDERED to stop business in CA. You continue to ignore that. You use deceptive names to fool people. You were sued....What? How many times? How many places? Please stop. You have been exposed for what you truly are.

"The State of California, Department of Corporations has asserted that FDR should be classified as a "prorate" which is a statutory term commonly applied to credit counseling agencies that receive and control consumer funds." According to the Law suit. THIS IS WHAT YOU DO!!!

Freedom Debt Relief Program is run by Stanford idiots (trust fund babies with no real business skills) that tell people to stop paying their bills, and charge outrageous fees to allegedly help clients out of debt. In reality, all FDR does is put debtors in a worsened financial situation by taking money that can otherwise be used to pay settlements. Actual services rendered only takes a few minutes on the phone with a third party debt collector years from when you stop paying (the longer your debts go unpaid the less valuable they become). Essentially, all FDR does is wait for your debt to be sold to third party debt collector (third party debt collectors buy your debt from the original creditor for .15 cents on the dollar) and then attempt to negotiation a “settlement deal” once they believe you have enough funds built up. Anybody can get .50 cent on the dollar settlements. It’s simple as that. If you need more information just search for “how to settle your own debt”, and save yourself a shitload of money.

Oh BTW, it looks like New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has it in for Freedom Debt Relief

latimes.com/business/la-fi-debt-relief8-2009may08,0,3964386.story?track=rss

FDR is a huge company servicing 100s of thousands of clients. Rise above is a small company trying to throw rocks at the "big kid" because for every client they assist, freedom probably helps 100. Freedom is an Earnst and Young winner, #3 in Fortune Magazine hot 100, and in the INC 500. The owners proved they know how to run a good business. I am very impressed they have as few complaints as they do given they serve so many people. For every person that complaints, there are 1000 others that are happy.
Rise above- how bout spending your time marketing and helping your clients rather than trying to get new clients by defaming a much better company than you.

jay m ummmmm we don't work for Rise above. FDR has government law suits on their back and several complaints. You do know this right?

Nice try pal.

This tom guy really needs to find something better to do with his time.

These posts are crazy, anyone can post anything on here?

Yes idiot, they can.

This Tom guy must be really bored to put all these posts

No. He's just really passionate about this. Why do you care?

Can I ask him out on a date?

I can do more than one thing at a time. I can multitask. And yes I am Bored at times but Nascar is 100% right. I am passionate about it. It's funny how you can get behind a cause when it actually happened to you. I'm amazed about how much knowledge I have obtained about this topic in the past year. There is so much of it. It's a hot topic now considering the economic times. Even family members and friends are asking me for advice about it. I've learned alot.

It's funny how some people have (thousands) of comments on here but you single ME out...LOL. I'm not even close to that. I must be PO'ing someone.

Thanks for backing me up Nascar Devil!!!!!

And ummm..... you can ask me out on a date but I need to see what you look like first....LOL. No uglies for me. How about on our first date I'll treat you like you guys treat your customers......LOL. That's only fair right?......LOL.

What can I say I just like to help.

I have been using Freedom Debt over year now and they have successfully closed 3 of my accounts for half of what I owed. I also checked my credit report each time and one of the companies..wells fargo..who claimed THEY DO NOT Accept offers ever...was the first to accept. They also reported on my credit report paid as agreed.. so Freedom Debt was worth using.