Legal Helpers Debt Relief
Date: Fri, 12/24/2010 - 07:43
Wanted to post about my experience with this group. I signed up with this group because they were supposedly touted by ABC, CBS morning shows, Better Business Bureau, blah, blah. Prior to starting with them I tried negotiating on my own and got absolutely nowhere with my credit card companies. I never had a late payment for anything - PERFECT CREDIT - but went through a divorce. The interest rates all went to 29% due to debt to income ratio and my property taxes doubled with my home value tumbling. I was barely making it and my health was suffering due to stress. This company promised relief and a pay-off program, etc. I understood my credit would go in the toilet, but the stress relief was worth it.
Chase is now taking me to court. Legal Helpers does not represent you in court. They help you with answering a court summons, which I filed. They ask for the court date so they can negotiate and try to avoid it by settling. My court date is in less than a month and I have gotten no helpful updates or information. They won't share any of the supposed communications. So far this is what has hapened in 6 months:
This group has front-loaded over $2000.00 in fees.
I have more stress. My credit is now in the toilet, I have been been served a summons by Chase Bank and have to go to court by myself if they are not able to settle. I regret starting the relationship mostly because they give you absolutely no visibility into their "processes."
Hi! Welcome to the forums! Did you enroll in a debt settlement
Hi!
Welcome to the forums!
Did you enroll in a debt settlement program? If yes, then you should know that it is illegal to charge an upfront fee prior to settling an account. So, this company has already violated federal law. This company really sounds fishy. Why don't they update you about the entire process? Do you really know whether or not they have paid any money to Chase? You should demand for an update from the company. Contact the customer care department of Chase and ask whether or not they have received any money. You should get legal help as early as possible.
@good.nelly
Could I bother you to provide a link or reference to the statute regarding charging and upfront fee? If the company is a law firm can they get around this by calling the fee a retainer and positioning themselves as "representing" a client?
