debt settlement scam

Any more information? BBB lists over 200 companies when I search for "New Beginnings Debt Settlement"

You do have to be careful, there has been a few companies whom I think want to be good, they just don't know what they are doing. Make sure to ask what their policy is if you get sued. There seems to be a rash of companies who will actually cancel you if you get sued! They lead you down the path then just abandon you at the first sign of trouble.

I looked around and found New Beginnings debt settlement, LLC located in Florida. If this is the company, they have a B+ rating with the BBB.

That being said, I caution anyone going with a debt settlement company. (Although I did not use this company, I wasted thousands of dollars with another company) Do your research, read and make sure you understand everything before you sign on (especailly there refund policy). Ask questions and see how they respond, this is usually a good indication of their customer service. What will they do for you if you are sued. And if they are pressuring you to sign on -- run as fast as you can in the other direction. Check around on this forum to see if anyone has had experience.

Lastly, sign up for the free consult on this site. They may be able to steer you in the right direction.

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Company\\My company is AA
Rating

Rating Explanation:
The rating the Better Business Bureau assigns a business is determined by our composite score of such factors as its type of business, length of time in business, compliance

Removed, by Shazzers

Could anybody tell me if they found that New Beginnings debt relief Company from Florida is a legitimate company? They sent me an attachment to sign and a posting for the BBB. I am very uneasy about their rates. For a $27, 000 debt they want $4000+.
I know that my credit rating may suffer, but as a couple we are just getting by.

Just becareful. For myself, I went with Superior debt relief they have been so awesome for me. After starting the debt settlement with a law firm which hurt me a lot, i left them and went with Superior Debt. My counselor Teresa helped me so much that she awesome. Began with a 3 year program but i'm going to be done in less then 30 months. So impressed with how they helped me and saved me tons of money. Do your research because you want to make sure that you aren't going with some company that is going to hurt you more than help you. I did that first now i'm in agood place. Research and if it does not feel right keep looking.

MELBEN......I called SDR in the past and gave them some general information. They said they would do an "evaluation' on my situation" and would call me back. I thought they were very nice on the phone, but.......the problem I had was I was trying to tell them what I needed, according to what I caould afford with the income I have. the rep, on the phone just kept saying the same thing over and over...."this is what we have..and so forth." I told her I would call her back. A few days later, a different rep, from there, called and said they have "my contract written up and they would mail me something to sign." I never told them I would go with their program. They were a bit pushy, I think.

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SDCHARGERS, wow i just dont understand that. I signed up with Superior Debt Services and it took me at least a month to figure out what I wanted to do. Teresa also helped me and she was not pushy and never had another person call me. The only time she ever said that she was sending the papers was when i was ready to start the program. If your income was limited and could not afford the program then it would seem the program was not going to work for you. Did you tell the counselor you were speaking with that you could not afford the payments? Wow just does not seem like this is the same company i signed up with; everyone has been great and the level of service is awesome.

Melben, I agree with you about Teresa, she is our angel that helps us get out of this credit mess. I have referred my friends and family to her without hesitation. My mom also loves her, too! Superior Debt Services is very lucky to have her, she is a blessing to us all.

Hey Sdchargers,

I don't know anything about the company but I saw a couple posts not to long ago that accused Melben1 of being a plant. Make sure you check them real good if you decide to use them.

Dollars and Since, What are you talking about. I'm a client that is sharing a positive experience with Superior Debt and NOW you have the gull to say I'm a plant. You have got to be kidding.

I can see this site has lately turned into a bunch of haters, disrespecting each other. I have signed up to be a member of a site that I thought would be good to have my experiences shared. And now I'm being accused of being a plant.

WHY first of all would anyone take my word or your word for anything without doing their own research. All I am doing is providing my experience. Again there are way too many haters on this site. If you point the finger maybe it should be pointed as yourself. Anyone that makes accusations are usually the ones that are at fault for doing what they are accusing others. I have always said to do research and becareful. If you look at my posts there are questions of others but I do not disrespect anyone on this site.

Gosh I am very offended and upset by the whole thing...some nerve you haters have!

I am not trying to hurt your feelings Melben. I am sorry if I am wrong here but Re-read my post. I did not accuse you of anything. I said OTHERS had accused you of being a plant and then told Sdchargers to fully investigate Superior Debt if he decides to use them. I even admitted that I don't know anything about the company. I suppose I could dig up the various threads I saw it in but I don't feel like it right now. Also I think you would find it to be a very difficult challenge to find even one debt company I have ever advertised for. Thinking back through all my post I can only think of three non-related companies I have spoken highly of. Two of them are grocery coupon websites of which one is free. The third company was actually a lawyer in my area that I previously used because somebody asked about it.

Well.................I guess you have to becareful on who you go through. I've seen a few of those posts, myself. Alot of positive and negative posts about different companies. It seems like you can't trust anyone. But.......with SDS, they wanted to send me a contract before I deided anything. I call that a bit pushy. I told them, again ( at that time..) I never made a decision about what I wanted. They just hung up.

I was also accused of being a plant, by the same person that accused Melben and several others. This person has never had one good thing to say about anything, and accuses everyone that has a positive experience with debt settlements of being a plant or bogus. Which raises issues in my mind of what kind of game is afoot with him, not us. I am also in a program with Superior (my rep is Priscilla, not Theresa) but have so far had a very good experience with three accounts settled in 10 months. They have never been pushy, in fact, after their first call to me, when I had time to mull it all over and do more research, I called THEM back to begin the program. I suppose, sdchargers, that you could have gotten a bad apple as far as employees, every company has one. Just keep plugging away at it and you will find something to suit your situation.

The posts I saw did accuse a few people of being plants for various companies. I assume those posts were by a few people that did not like those companies for whatever reason. That was the reason I said to investigate them. Like any choice in life you will always have people taking both sides and different views.

I just signed up with Superior debt relief Services. Kenny Flood is my counselor and Melissa Smith is my customer service rep. It took me several months of research to decide to go with them and I must say that they were very patient and answered all my questions. They were very professional and did not push me at all. They touched base with me about once every week or two to see if I had any further questions or concerns. Prior to signing up, they outlined everything about the debt settlement process very clearly to me.

I for one like seeing other people post their experiences with Superior and other companies--both good and bad. I have been monitoring this site for several months and only recently--since Tom321 starting posting--has this negativity began. I am disappointed to see the personal attacks. In my opion, as consumers, we are responsible for validating the information presented here before we sign up with any settlement company. Folks should be able to share their experiences without being attached. Thanks to SusieQ, Melben1, Mobile0311, and everyone else here who has shared information and their experiences. I for one have found it to be extremely valuable.

Does anyone know if Freedom debt relief or debt free Management Group are legitimate companies?

I've never heard of New Beginnings. Where can I look them up? Do they serve ALL states? Is it a debt settlement program or Debt Consoladation program?

New Beginnings debt settlement LLC is located in Jupiter Florida. They are Members of USOBA and the BBB and have an A- Rating. It believe they also have a settlement guarantee of 55% or better or they refund the fee they would charge to settle that debt. They are by no means the only reputable settlement company but certainly one of the better ones.

That's a better rating than alot of the other companies. However..............nothing is ever guaranteed. What if you go through a company, with a good rating? You get half way through it ( hypothetically..) and you find out this is 'not for you.' You just wasted your time...ya know?

Well if you decide to go the debt settlement route you had better commit to it. Its not the kind of program you want to drop from because you changed your mind. Make sure you do your homework and make sure your mind is made up to do the settlement program if you choose to go that route. This is not the kind of thing you want to make an impulse buy.

LOL....Debt Pointer web site and Superior debt relief have the SAME EXACT web site just different name on top. Superior Debt Relief AKA Superior Debt Services changed their domain name to debtfreeasseenontv.com. I wonder why they did that? They are in here reading these posts. And their mopes. It's so obvious to spot them. They don't sound like consumers they sound like a COMMERCIAL. You know who you are.

STAY AWAY

New Beginnings debt settlement LLC, Stay away it shares content at yourcleanslate.com and awayout.com word for word.

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ AND INSPECT THESE WEB SITES. For the most part they are all set up the same with the same section breakdown. Google content and see it will show up on another web site.

Tom , How does them having a web site with similar info on it in any way discredit that company ?

You're kidding right? It's not SIMILAR content It's the SAME EXACT content. WORD FOR WORD. You don't find it weird in anyway that TWO or should I say a DOZEN so called completely different companies have the SAME EXACT content?

SDS AKA SDR has the same EXACT web site as Debt pointer. TWO different companies so they say. The only difference is the name on the heading. That does not raise any red flags for you?

I'm sorry there are so many bogus sites even I get confused sometimes. SDS AKA SDR has testimonials that are on Debt Pointer word for word. They both have Robin S. making testimonials but they are different.

Do you find that weird that she uses two different debt settlement companies?

Debt Pointer and Debt special ist have the same exact web site word for word.

An ABOUT US statement should be a statement that is personal to the company. You don't find it fishy that on some sites it is repeated word for word and the name of the company in the paragraph is the only thing that is different?

What they are doing is fishing for consumers. Put a ton of web sites out and see which one catches the most flies. Plus if you actually READ the sites it is the HESS KENNEDY model. And we can all agree that the Hess Kennedy model is a SCAM.

Oh and plants are easy to find in this forum. If you read all their posts you will notice that they repeat themselves OVER and OVER again. It's like reading a commercial. Plus they say things that are completely stupid at times.

If you can not walk into a company office for debt settlement DO NOT go with them. AG's states this time and time again. That's just one rule in many everyone.

SO, Tom321, in your opinion, EVERYONE with something positive to say about a debt settlement program is a plant? I notice that a lot of posters repeat their stories because new people entering the forum keep asking the same questions over and over, instead of going back through hundreds of pages and old posts. Sometimes very similar questions are asked even on the same day. Many people tend to not read older posts. IF SOMEONE'S OPINIONS SHOULD BE DISCOUNTED BECAUSE THEY REPEAT THEMSELVES, YOU OUGHT TO BE THE FIRST ONE DISCREDITED, because we hear the same crap out of you over and over and over and over and over. Everyone with a different opinion than yours is a plant. Every settlement company is a scam. Every website is a fraud. A few (resolved) complaints indicates a company is bogus. If this were true, this site, which is here to help people, wouldn't be putting information on debt settlements out there. Unless, of course, you feel this whole site is a scam.

Stupid statements like this plant above. Ignore this person at all cost. Read my info and choose for yourself. Don't let this person distort my posts and obviously put words in my mouth.

Oh I forgot...plants ignore the FACTS that I post and pick and choose what they want to rebut with me. Classic dodge, evade and distort tactic. If anyone wants to debate with me on what I post, talk about the FACTS and leave opinion at the curb.

Thank You

Interesting you would call me a plant. I have never, ever, revealed the name of my settlement company, for this reason. You are a bitter person, probably having made some stupid decisions of your own at one time, and taking it out on everyone who's had success (and LOTS of people have had success with debt settlements. Oh, wait, I forgot, according to Tom321, they're all liars or plants.). Typical. Talk about picking and choosing information. People have asked you polite, legitimate questions, and you have either ignored them or called them names. You are a one-track Charlie who can't see beyond your own perceived crusade. I don't post a lot on this site, I usually just read. But I feel it's important for people to research their situations with EVERY possibility, and look at both sides to EVERY argument so they can make informed decisions. Not just the one-sided rants of someone so obviously disgruntled and immature.

I have been reading Tom321's posts for awhile, and do think they are interesting but difininetly slanted one way. Are you saying tom, that all settlements are bad? let us know the good ones, with all the research you have done, you must have come across some real successes. If not, to say they are all bad isn't showing the real facts either.

Jack Black Fan find anywhere on my posts where I said ALL are bad. If you are going to state it have the quote please.

As far as I know Novadebt is a good company.

Thanks, I will check them out. I just never saw you recommend one. Maybe I missed it.

I try to stay away from recommending any company. People need to make choices for themselves. Someone else posted in this forum that if you recommend one and all of the sudden they decide to go rogue you wind up looking like a idiot. That's not a quote but it was something like that but I agree totally. But I will tell you which ones are obviously bogus though.

My husband and I have just signed on to New Beginnings. They have answered all of my questions with satisfaction. I have not ever had a problem contacting them. So far I am content and trusting that they are going to help us. I am out on disability and would like to hear from others that have had satisfactory results from these people. Thank you

I do wish you luck Suzanne . New Beginnings is one of the better settlement companies out there so I am sure you will be fine. With you being on disability it should be very easy for them to settle for very low amounts being that you don`t even have to worry about the possibility of garnishment. Good luck and take care :)

I fell victim to New Beginning debt settlement. After about 6 months of making monthly payments to them, they finally settled my capital one card for 60% of what was originally owed. Seems good right.... but what they don't tell me was the fees i had paid them over that 6 months ended up making me pay 125% of what my original balance was. My recommendtaion is to deal with the companies yourself. set aside 50-100 dollars a month, while making minimum payments on your lowest balance card. once that card is paid off, use that additional 50-100 dollars you've been setting aside and move on to the next card. and so on. it's easier to work directly with the credit company than using another company. It is ILLEGAL for ANY DEBT SETTLEMENT company to collect ANY MONEY UP FRONT. DO NOT FALL VICTIM LIKE I DID. after thow 6 months, i closed my account and have not contacted them since.

REmember..... filing a complaint with the BBB will not do anything.. the Better Business Bureau USED to be a government run agency, until they cut the funding. The company was THEN SOLD to a FOR PROFIT company. it's the same as posting on rip-off report, which is all a BIG SCAM against companies. anyone can post stuff about a company, and most companies do have unsatisfied customers, or customers who their product did not work for. Not everything works for some people. If you want to report them, I suggest either the FTC or your local government office. The BBB and Rip-Off Report does nothing, as they charge businesses looking to "clear" their name obscene amounts of money and then don't even remove these supposed negative marks.

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I am a debt consultant.. I will be honest and tell you this... DO NOT go with a company if you do not feel right about them. There are allot of scams out right now. You really should do your research on the company you consider. ALways ask them what your total fee is and how much of your monthly payment is going towards the savings for your creditors. You should understand that debt settlement does NOT stop the creditors from calling you, your accounts do go past due and will be sold to a collection ageny, The collection agencys do NOT have the same rights as the original creditor therefore your debt settlement company should be sending out the "Limited Power of attorney" letter you signed to those collection companies, the nuisance phone calls should stop at that point. Customer Service is very important, if you are getting the run around and not getting Direct Answers then you should be worried. NEVER ignor legal letters that come in the mail. Your negotiator should have told you to alert them ASAP if this happens. Debt Settlement Co cannot keep you from being Sued, what they do is try to negotiate with the creditor which usually ends up with a small payment arrangement. over all... I strongly believe in Debt Settlement and I do believe it is a great resource compared to BK or CCC. Your credit is tarnished only temporarily. Just research dont let the consultant convince you into enrolling the 1st time you speak to them. The bottom line is you should choose your debt settlement company by the Customer Service and the knowledge they protray to you.
Good Luck.

Bottom line, run to a lawyer. If you have more than 25K+ in debt, do NOT use New Beginnings. They take the money and then change the rules. I complained to the BBB and they even lied on that. After I posted my reply, they changed theirs and said they would refund my money. That WAS NOT the way the conversation went. I learned two lessons, save my pennies and if it sounds too good, it is. Several of the staff are nice, but...they are not the ones you deal with in the end.

Has anyone dealt with Debt Remedy Advisors?

maybe SD is the plant???????

It's sad to see the amount of immaturity on here. Some of us are just looking for help with these issues...I don't want to read these stupid cowardly fights between adults. I'd be embarrassed if I was arguing with people I don't know on a friggen website...