Can anybody find Sifxpert?

Why are you wanting to do business with someone who won't return your calls ? There are other good company's out there you can shop with . Century Negotiations , Superior debt relief , New Beginnings debt settlement to name a few. Shop around with lots of companys and be sure to look them up on the BBB.

I had the same problem. It has been almost a month since I first e-mailed him, he responded once and never again since. I think I am going to go with Superior Debt, they seem like a pretty good straightforward company to do business with.

I've had email correspondence with him several times over the last 2 weeks. Sending off the agreement papers today.

MD

Why would he e-mail SOME people, several times, and not return OTHER people's e-mail at all? Or.return calls? Sounds crazy to me.

He has his own forum you might want to check there.

Why does this guy carry a "F" rating from the BBB in spite of zero complaints? I am curious why anyone would do business with a person who is unreachable.

I'll tell you whats crazy, there are people on this board who constantly rag on this guy without offering up any solid evidence or proof that he is bad at what he does. Accusations that there are people planting messages for him etc. In my opinion, if this board is worth its space on the web, why doesn't a MODERATOR get to the bottom of this and check IP addresses to see if the postings are coming from the same place (I'm in Chicago by the way) This can be easily done and would help people looking to do business with this guy. Also, maybe try and call the guy up? Find out if sifxpert is the real deal. Offer some help to your community instead of being typical internet message board whiners and sitting around and complaining all day long. When someone posts a success story, they get bashed.... whatever. I made my choice and guess I'll be gambling with a $500 retainer fee. I have a couple AMEX accounts that need to be fixed. If this is successful, I WILL post a message here for everyone who deserves an unbiased honest opinion. If the guy screws me over, I'll post that as well.

Am I skeptical right now? Sure. How could you not be with all the negative propoganda here. But, I'd be skeptical with any settlement company right now. debt settlement is the dark underbelly of the credit world. It's just shame that there is no un-biased place to go for honest information.

Go ahead, flame away. Just keep in mind you'd be better served researching your own debt solutions than ripping apart this post. Personally I hate internet message boards and gave them up a long time ago. Just figured I'd chime in here to offer another opinion on this to those that are having trouble sifting through the lack of info on settlement companies.

MD

gee madawg,did we offend?i too am in illinois and find your post the biggest oxy-moron i have seen yet today.i gave up chat boards but will go on rant against you guys and your negativity.so you get negative,cajun,mobile,and the others go by the BB.he has an F rating.tells me all i need to know.

He e-mailed me quite a bit over the weekend but will not answer me this week. I have called and faxed him. Yes, I am leery and this is not a good way to do business.

I have been told that all ds companies in CA have an F rating with the BBB because of the unethical doings of a San Diego based company. They are punishing all the companies for the actions of one of them...so I am told

Maddawd,you are real funny with your remarks.Search my posts if you have the stomach for it. I am not for any of these companies & my posts are using public knowledge as sources.

Listen, I'm not here to start an internet war. All I'm saying is that its a given that there seems to be a clear bias against sifxpert. Yet there are no clear cut cases against him where he has done a disservice to his clients. Sure there was one if you dig deep enough in the history here where he allegedly "stole" someone's retainer fee. The complaint sounded fishy to me. regardless.

Anyway, I too have researched the debt settlement co's in cali. Yes his business does carry an F rating with the cali BBB. But I would caution to read the generic BBB definition of F Ratings as follows. This is the BBB definition of an F Rating. Not a dialogue on sifxpert or anyone else's business dealings:

"F We strongly question the company????????s reliability for reasons such as that they have failed to respond to complaints, their advertising is grossly misleading, they are not in compliance with the law????????s licensing or registration requirements, their complaints contain especially serious allegations, or the company????????s industry is known for its fraudulent business practices."

Now, if a company has no complaints listed on the BBB site, would it not be logical to assume that the F rating is NOT from complaints? Well then, read further in to the BBB rating definition. One could assume that his rating has taken a hit for not being in business very long. Fair enough. One can also assume that he has been given such a low rating "because the company's industry is know for it's fraudulent business practices" So in this case, and F rating does not necessarily tell you all you need to know. A complaint free settlement company in cali could carry an F rating while a settlement co in Florida could carry a B rating with a whole list of complaints waged against it. So is the B rated company better? Maybe, Maybe not... Think, don't just accept someone else's words as truth.

As far as the other stuff. No you did not offend. I could care less what faceless internet people think about me.

Honestly, I DO hate message boards. But just because I decided to post an opinion does not define an oxymoron. Maybe a bit hypocritical, but not an oxymoron. Anyway, I have gathered information from this site. It's not all bad and I apologize if it was implied. My specific point is that there is alot of bashing of a guys business that has no registered complaints with the BBB and does indeed seem to get results. Again, I'll do the right thing and post results, good or bad with this. I'm no different than anyone else here. I'm in debt up to my eyeballs and have collectors breathing down my neck too. But it is not in the best interest of anyone who this board is trying to help by dicrediting someone's business without solid facts.

MD

You still haven't come up with a reasonable explanation of why he won't return phone calls, reply to e-mails or faxes. He did manage to send me the agreement but now I can't contact him regarding some questions I had. Too strange for me...

leery,that is why I am concerned. I know this guy from another credit board before he went on his own.His methods do seem to work,but I am worried about the lack of communication with his customers.

OK. For the millionth time, if you do some research on sifxpert, he is notoriously difficult to get ahold of. I'm not offering excuses. I have no answers. I don't work for the guy. All I'm saying is that he has acknowledged that he may not get back to people in record time, but trust the fact that he is working on your case as needed. If you are not comfortable with that, don't retain the man's services. All I care about are results. I don't need someone to spoon feed me and rub my belly and tell me everything is going to be ok. He says he'll be able to settle my accounts. If he does he will get my praises, if does not, then he will not. Simple as that. Go with who you feel you should. I do like the fact that there is only a $500 retainer fee upfront and his fees are paid after the settlement.

MD

Here's the bottom line on Sifxpert as I see it and I considered using him before I decided to go thru the debt settlement process on my own.

Pros:
-Gets some of the best settlement rates out there.
-Very reasonable fees. $500 initial retainer and then 20% on the amount saved during settlement.
-Willing to take on difficult cases.

Cons:
-Can be very difficult to get a hold of thru email, phone, and fax. Sometimes up to weeks at a time.
-BBB rating is a F.

If your looking for someone to hold your hand and reassure you throughout the process than Sifxpert is not for you. Debt settlement can be a very stressful and nerve racking experience. If that is the case you are better off calling the toll free 1-800 number on the right and getting a free consultation where they can recommend someone that fits your needs.

In closing this is a neutral post and I am neither encouraging you nor discouraging you from using Sifxpert. This is just one man's opinion.

Okay, I don't need my belly rubbed or my hand held but I DO appreciate being able to get in touch with someone I may do business with. A week is an awful long time to go without responding to a potential client. Does anyone know if he has a staff of any kind

Madawg, you certainly are defensive of this guy. What's that about?

I am not defensive at all. Just have done my homework extensively and in my opinion he has gotten a bad rap for reasons that seem unfair to me. Like I said, I don't work for him, not related to him. I'm not even signed up yet for his services. I do have the paperwork filled out and ready to be sent though.

BUT, we are in the worst credit crises this country has ever seen right now. There are millions of people in trouble. From what I understand, he does not have a big staff. I'm sure he doesn't need to take every client he can get his hands on. I don't know this for a fact, but maybe he is cherry picking clients based on odds of success, ease of settlement, amount of fees, etc. Who knows. All I know is I posted on his board a few weeks back, bumped my request, AND sent 2 emails. James called me up personally about a week or so after my posting and we had a few email exchanges in the next week/10 days. Good enough for me.

I think that tysundostie's post summed it up best. All I wanted to do was offer a counterpoint to those that insist he is bad to deal with solely on the BBB rating, which in his case gives you no reason behind the rating, and the fact that he is hard to get ahold of. In my opinion, it's like getting a test in school returned to you with a failing grade but no marks on the pages as to what answers were wrong.

MD

His contact info from government sources:

SIFXPERT LLC
Number: 200630810131 Date Filed: 10/4/2006 Status: active
Jurisdiction: CALIFORNIA
Address
70 PALATINE #410
IRVINE, CA 92612
Agent for Service of Process
JAMES LOMBARDO
70 PALATINE #410
IRVINE, CA 92612

I was neither against James Lombardo or for him,I don't need him to hold my hand or rub my belly either. But its pretty difficult to do business with someone who does not bother to contact you. I can't get a response for what he charges, forms I need, Whatever? I went on his posts. I am glad someone is able to get a hold of this guy, but for the rest of us who have had problems he is definately appearing to be chery picking his clients or he just doesn't need the business. I wanted to get started right away too, but when you can't get any information for weeks at a time on how to even get started, then the only option is to find someone else.
I didn't feel that anyone was bashing him on here at all. Just letting everyone know the truth of how he operates.

I don't suppose you can report someone to the BBB for something like this?

He is not a member of the bbb,but yes you can file complaints for lack of response.His contact info I put above is from the Secretaty of State in California.

If he's NOT a memeber of the BBB, than how can he have an 'F Rating' with them ( read that earlier). I don't think anyone is 'bashing' him. People are just giving their 'positive' or 'negative' feedback about their experiences.

The BBB can give ratings to members or nonmembers based on complaints or their own risk analysis program. The rating means nothing if the company does not use them for mediation.

As I'm reading the posts here, some people are saying Sifxpert have e-mailed them constantly. Some are saying " lack of communication." Such a ;diversity' of opionions. Seems like it's a 'pick or choose' thing..who Sifxpert will answer and who they won't. I have nothing to do with him, either. Just my '2 cents' from what I've been reading.

Some also may be giving good opinions as his employees or under his personal request.The bad part about guest posts is no one can know who they really are.

I never asked about a loan...wrong post.

Wow-I could be away for weeks at a time and come back to see the same question posted over and over again..."has anybody heard from sifxpert?".

Hmmm? Please...anyone considering doing debt settlement-do your research on the company before you sign up with them.

This is also a neutral post. I have nothing negative or positive to say about Sifxpert. I just would like to remind everyone to do their homework before signing up with anyone.

I never said I signed up with him and I am doing my homework...that is why I asked the question in the first place. The guy talks a good talk though. I am just going to stay with DTS...I hate the monthly fee but they ALWAYS return e-mails and calls within hours. How does Lombardo stay in business with such horrible customer service skills??

I am doing my homework...that is why I posted the question to begin with. I have not signed up with him and I really don't get how anyone can with his lack of communication. It is a shame though because I liked what he had to say the time he did e-mail me back. Guess I will just stay with DTS...I hate their fees but at least they respond to questions/concerns the same day. You get what you pay for, I guess.

I post as a guest only because it will not take my sign in name. I joined this site, but everytime I try to post something using my sign in name, it tells me that the name is already taken. not sure why it won't let me post under my sign in name?

Yes, I do agree with you on that. I have read that he has gotten some great results with settlements and that was a major reason I considered him too. Lack of communication is a huge problem for me though-especially with financial matters. I wish I could recommend someone or a company for you but I can't. I am glad I was always too skeptical to sign up with anyone.

Now going through what I am-I realize you CAN do it on your own. You do not need any DS company.

I have heard the same complaints about Sifxpert on here from day one. We decided to go with him anyway last Fall and am very glad we did. We have settled 4 of 9 accounts, have 2 pending, and will be done sooner than expected. We were told up front what to expect. James has sometimes been hard to get ahold of but anytime there is anything to report, he does. He doesn't email me to tell me that nothing has happened. I have spoken up for James on this site more than once and every time I do, I get bashed and it's always by the same people. I highly doubt they have even used his services or done business with him. I have been accused of working for him or being married to him. Neither is true; I have never seen the man and wouldn't know him if he walked in my office door. I just know that we were headed for certain bankruptcy and he had taken an almost impossible set of circumstances and turned them around.

I have no doubt that he does a good job but I wouldn't know because after a few e-mails from him, we were ready to send in the agreement but he would never contact me as I had a few questions for him before I plunked down another retainer fee. I don't need someone to contact me to tell me nothing is happening but it is very unprofessional to totally ignore a potential client whose business he was after two weeks ago. You defenders of him are missing the point. It is not his results some of us are frustrated with...we can't even get a hold of this guy to sign up with him.

I have been with him for 3~4 month now. He does not repond well at the end of each month. However he reponds well by e-mail. If you are kind of person need daily afirmation from your agent, he is not the right guy to hire. But if you can leave him alone to do what he suppose to do ( settling accounts), he does his job very well. Half of my debts are gone for good now.

do you have to have a certain amt of debt to work with him? Does he work with Cash Call?

Okay...I will say this ONE MORE TIME...I don't need to hear from the guy EVERYDAY, or hold my hand, rub my back, WHATEVER. YES, Ihave e-mailed him many times, called, and faxed. I would like for him to respond in one or any of those methods. I am sure he is the best negotiator the free world has ever known but he sucks at communication. We aren't signed up with him because I am not about to send $500 to someone who won't answer questions and appears to vanish when the spirit moves him. The IRS got back to me with an answered question quicker than this.

imale

I think he likes big balance on Each Accounts. But I do not know exact minimum amount. As nation wide credit crisis we are having now, I think that he can pick & choose the clients by size of accounts or whatever.

Last month of May I recieved total of 5 or 6 emails from him but I know he is working on my case because my un-loved collectors did not make usual amount of call atempts. On somedays phone was completely dead!

I don't know about the balance thing. The day he actually did answer my e-mail he said he usually takes high balances, like $50-100,000 but he makes exceptions for cases like mine when the company didn't do right by the client. Maybe he re-thought that or something. He asked me to send a list of my creditors and I did. It has been 2 weeks since I have heard from him. I have sent him about 5 e-mails, left two phone messages, and a fax. I even asked him to please just let us know if he wanted our case as we are "only" about $20,000 in debt. If he didn't want to take us on, we would move on and find someone else. Never heard a word. I guess we are staying with DTS because I don't want to lose the retainer fee and they are great about addressing questions and concerns. One of their VP's wrote me a huge e-mail regarding why they have an "F" rating with the bbb in California and it actually sounded believable. If you notice, Mr. Sifxpert also has an F with no complaints (that may change soon), so the rating system in that state makes no sense.

We've been with James since January, he's e-mailed several times, but it does take a while! Left numerous messages, marked them urgent, have personally spoken to him once. The first 3 weeks of May, e-mailed over and over, he finally responded because of a post on his site, then e-mailed me and said he had been out of the country and didn't get any of them. I hit 'reply' and send my info and collection letters again, and have now not heard whether he got them this time or not. This is so stressful 'not knowing'... the collection calls have stopped and I'm wondering if it's because he's in negotiations with them now. But without hearing from him, I just don't know what to think... For anyone who's working or worked with him, can you tell me how delinquent your accounts were when he began negotiations? And how long it took? I could really use some reassurance!!!

Good luck with that. I am really starting to think he gets his jollies NOT responding to people and seems to want them to beg for his services. I had my retainer money ready to go but I refuse to send money to someone who will not respond in any way,shape, or form. He may be the cheapest around but there seems to be a reason for that...you get what you pay for. I would rather pay a little more and have someone to answer my questions in a timely manner than put up with his crap. My next move is to report him to the California BBB and I honestly don't know why nobody has before. If he were in any other field, nobody would put up with this lack of response.

My blood pressure just went back to normal... Thanks for working on our accounts, James...

We'll I'm still waiting for his response, I gave him power of attorney back in April to settle two of my BofA accounts. I have attempted to contact him via e-mail, phone, fax, forum and no response in nearly a month.

Last contact he told me...

"I will have this resolved by early next week [May 13th]. This has not been easy but I know for certain I will close this account directly with BofA for 20%. I have 1 of the 2 already settled. I am just waiting on my contact to confirm the second."

Well, I just pulled my credit report and found out that one of the two BofA accounts has charged off, my accounts were assigned to him pre-charge-off.

I'm trying to keep the faith in the hopes that he was truthfull in our last communication, but this has certainly been a rough road.

James...please get in touch with me and help me rest easy.

Stay tuned for an update.

Removed by Shazzers
Reason: Solicitations are not permitted per TOS rules.

UPDATE...

Well, still no contact from James Lombardo (sifxpert). I'm at a loss, feeling hopeless. Not sure what to do. I want to contact the CA or BofA directly but don't want to do more harm than good. If he gave up on my accounts, I certainly would like to that so I can make other arrangements.

James...PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE contact me!!!

Regards,

Martin
aka: SinkingFast

James is no affiliated with this web site so why are all of you leaving messages for him on a board he has no ties with! He has a forum board tied to his web site where you can contact him. We welcome discussing experiences with different companies,but we are no tied to him in any way.

Why does any one want to do business with him anyways. I believe one has a better chance of getting ice water in hell than actually getting in contact with him. I have heard he does good work but it sounds like his company is severely understaffed.

Please understand the intent of my post.

I'm merely providing the information to others based on my experience with sifxpert, stating the facts to date, so that they may make an educated decision when choosing a debt settlement company, isn't this the purpose of this firum...educate. I'm in no way affiliated with sifxpert, simply telling my story, whether it be good or bad, and as far as I'm concerned the jury is still out on that one.

I understand that DebtCC is not affiliated with him, however I know that he frequents this board, and was attempting to get his attention. My mistake.

In the future I will not address him directly but simply state the facts about my dealings with him, which to put it bluntly I currently I have a bad taste in my mouth but I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Please advise if this is unacceptable, and I will halt all discussions about him.

discussion is fine by me I just wanted to make it clear that we are not him and he has his own board for messages.No problem on my end with discussing his service or even lack of service.