Debt Free League Blog http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog Valuable consumer and small business owner tips on debt settlement, debt consolidation, debt collection, bankruptcy, and credit repair. Fri, 15 Jun 2012 22:28:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 Debt Free League Mint.com Review: Great San Diego Debt Relief Budget Tool http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/06/15/debt-free-league-mint-com-review-great-san-diego-debt-relief-budget-tool/ http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/06/15/debt-free-league-mint-com-review-great-san-diego-debt-relief-budget-tool/#comments Fri, 15 Jun 2012 22:26:50 +0000 admin http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/?p=330 Read More >]]> Debt Free League recommeds Mint.com Debt Free League gives Mint.com 5 STARS as the best online personal finance tool for San Diego debt relief.

In our line of business, where on-time debt management is crucial, staff at Debt Free League has been giddy over Mint.com. Being well aware that education is the number one tool for the success of our clients, we praise the online software’s numerous virtues in our keeping clients abreast of their financial affairs. Debt Free League knows. The more informed that a consumer is the less pressure there is in making debt management decisions. And, Mint.com creates awareness to help consumers avoid pitfalls and losing control on the reduction of their debts.

Debt Free League has begun suggesting to clients Mint.com because it’s a totally free online personal budgeting tool that brings peace of mind. “I personally love using Mint with my Smartphone. I probably use it as often as I open my Facebook account”, states Ana Ariarte, one of Debt Free League’s San Diego Debt Relief clients. Ariarte especially likes the convenience of being able to manage all of her financial affairs in one place. Anywhere she goes, everything is easily view-able from her mobile phone.

In comparison to many other software products, Mint.com is a well-designed application offering its users many excellent capabilities. Unlike other budgeting apps, the software requires no online book-keeping. It conveniently connects you to virtually every banking financial institution with the ease of internet banking capabilities.

There simply is no better resource available in the free app world. Mint.com also saves you the hassle of tedious data entry, merging all of your checking, credit card, and retirement accounts, ALL into one place! It also allows all of our San Diego debt relief clients to automatically view all of their balances, transactions, and debt management payments under one roof, via the web or on their mobile phones.
Summarizing the benefits, Mint.com allows you to categorize and assign budgets, set up goals, track investments, and view ALL transactions from multiple financial accounts in one platform. Secondly, in an era of rampant identity theft, it has strong security measures, such as the same back-level encryption to protect your financial data that banks use. Thirdly, your access to Mint.com is read-only, which means it has no ability to actually move your money. It can only read the transactions and balances in your account. Additionally, Mint.com’s cool visual graphs and charts will put you in the driver’s seat while managing your finances.

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Debt Free League Law Firm Review: Zwicker & Associates, PC a.k.a. Zwicker and Associates http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/03/21/debt-free-league-law-firm-review-zwicker-associates-pc-a-k-a-zwicker-and-associates/ http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/03/21/debt-free-league-law-firm-review-zwicker-associates-pc-a-k-a-zwicker-and-associates/#comments Wed, 21 Mar 2012 06:42:54 +0000 admin http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/?p=325 Read More >]]> The following is a review of third-party debt collector, the collection law firm of Zwicker and Associates PC (a.k.a Zwicker & Associates):

Name: Zwicker & Associates, PC
Address: 80 Minuteman Rd
Andover, Massachusetts 01810-1031
Telephone: 800-370-2251
866-367-9942
Fax: 978-686-3538
Website: http://www.zwickerpc.com
President: Paul W. Zwicker (admitted to Massachusetts BAR in 1979)

DFL Review

Zwicker and Associates PC practices civil litigation and specializes in creditor lawsuit filings on consumers that are delinquent on their debts. The collection law firm represents various plaintiffs, including Chase, Discover, GE Money, and American Express. They incorporated in 1991 in Massachusetts, where they are presently headquartered and have branches in Alabama, Georgia, California, New York, Texas, Nebraska, and Utah.

WARNING: If you reside in any of the aforementioned states and received a collection notice from the law firm of Zwicker & Associates, you probably received a legal demand for payment or were served with a creditor lawsuit (summons and complaint).

Being that Zwicker & Associates has notoriety for filing collection lawsuits, their legal threats must not be taken lightly. However, as a third-party debt collector, they DO NOT have the same collection rights as an original creditor or debt buyer. Being a “third-party” debt collector, this law firm MUST abide by state and federal collection laws, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

Under the FDCPA, a third party debt collector CAN NOT threaten to sue you unless they follow up with a lawsuit. They CAN NOT make false threats against you, such as threatening to take away your property or garnish your wages. They CAN NOT harass you or use profane language. Furthermore, Zwicker must be licensed to practice law in the state in which they are attempting to collect a debt.

Company’s History of Consumer Complaints

On the Rip Off Report website at http://www.ripoffreport.com/Search/Body/Zwicker-_-Associates.aspx a total of 11 complaints were filed against Zwicker and Associates.

On 03/2012, on the BBB website at http://www.bbb.org/boston/business-reviews/attorneys/zwicker-associates-p-c-in-andover-ma-19172//complaints – the Better Business Bureau reported that in the last three years, a total of 80 consumer complaints were filed by consumers against the law firm of Zwicker and Associates PC. Additionally, 43 of those complaints were closed in the past 12 months and 65 were related to billing/collection issues.

The online BBB Customer Reviews Summary includes a consumer review posted on 9/15/2011 alleging that Zwicker “did not respond to a debt validation request for a mentally challenged family member.” The complainant also intended to “contact an attorney to protect a mentally challenged family member and get advice on how to sue GE Money and Zwicker and Associates for unfair debt practices and violating the FDCPA.” (See full review here: http://www.bbb.org/boston/Business-Reviews/attorneys/zwicker-associates-p-c-in-andover-ma-19172/customer-reviews).

In July 22, 2009, in the New York Attorney General website at http://www.ag.ny.gov/press-release/attorney-general-cuomo-sues-throw-out-over-100000-faulty-judgments-entered-against-new, Attorney General, Andrew M. Cuomo announced his office sued 35 law firms (including Zwicker & Associates) and two debt collectors in New York State to throw out an estimated 100,000 default judgments improperly obtained against New York consumers. The lawsuit against unlawful debt collection practices, which was filed in July 21, 2009 in New York State Supreme Court, Erie County, alleged that the defendants “failed to notify New York consumers that they faced debt-related lawsuits and failed to properly serve consumers across the state with legal papers, causing thousands to unknowingly default and have costly judgments entered against them without the chance to respond or defend themselves.”

Zwicker & Associates, PC has also been sued by consumers for violations of the FDCPA. However, the overall amount of consumer complaints and lawsuits filed against the law firm seems consistent with their size.

If you owe a legitimate debt and are being threatened or sued by a collection law firm, you may have been a victim of collection abuses. And, you should pursue whatever legal means necessary to protect your rights. You can also contact Debt Free League at (800) 213-9968 for debt relief assistance. Hiring a seasoned negotiator can help you convert a creditor lawsuit from a potential judgment into a satisfactory out of court settlement.

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Six Tips to Calculate if Debt Consolidation is Right or You http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/03/20/six-tips-to-calculate-if-debt-consolidation-is-right-or-you/ http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/03/20/six-tips-to-calculate-if-debt-consolidation-is-right-or-you/#comments Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:02:23 +0000 admin http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/?p=207 Read More >]]> Millions of people in the U.S. are overwhelmingly struggling to get out of debt. Many see debt consolidation as the most feasible debt relief option. It is true that debt consolidation can merge multiple unsecured debts into a single, more affordable debt repayment. This debt management strategy is essentially achieved by getting a low interest loan or entering in a debt repayment plan. But, the debt consolidation approach may not be the best approach for a number of financial situations.

The following tips will also help you determine whether if debt consolidation is suitable to your financial needs:

1. Before trying debt consolidation, verify the APR charge on your most recent credit card statement. If the interest rate is too high, approach the credit card company and ask them if they can lower the interest rate. Generally, credit card companies will consider lowering the interest rates if the cardholder shows an excellent payment history and has only used up 30% or less of their credit limit. But, if you’ve maxed out your credit line, negotiating with your credit card company will be a futile effort.

2. Before applying for a debt consolidation loan, see whether the average interest on your outstanding balances is at least 6% higher than the interest on the prospective consolidation loan. Note: if the interest rate reduction isn’t high enough, the new payment plan will barely make a dent on the existing credit card minimum payments.

3. To determine if you can afford to make the new debt consolidation loan payments, make a list of your income and expenses and see how much of your income can be applied toward the new monthly debt repayments.

4. Determine the duration of the prospective debt consolidation repayment. There are many online financial calculators that you can use to calculate the term and interest charges of the new repayment plan.

5. Compare the services offered by different debt consolidation companies. Before you hire a debt consolidation company, verify their fees as well as what they propose to lower your interest rate charges. This will determine your new monthly payments and the duration of the debt management plan. Some companies charge a monthly fee based on a percentage of the new payments being remitted to the credit card company.

6. A less consolidation option is to take out a home equity loan. This loan approach can pay off high interest debts via a much lower interest rate. Plus, the interest payments on a home equity loan are tax deductible. However, there are a number of variables to digest when trying this option. First of all, you must own a home with a great deal of equity. Secondly, the interest on the home equity loan must be substantially lower than the interest on your credit card accounts. Finally, you need to calculate the duration of the home equity loan repayments against the remainder of your credit card minimum payments. If the potential savings of the loan aren’t significant, it’s not worth the risk, for if you miss a loan payment, your home can go into foreclosure.

Wikipedia is another fine source to research the above topic as well as a Debt Free League financial adviser. You can call them at 1.800.213.9968 and for no cost, they can explain to you the “pros and cons” of debt consolidation and other debt relief options.

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Debt Free League Testimonial: Debt-to-Freedom Plan = San Diego Debt Relief http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/03/20/debt-free-league-testimonial-debt-to-freedom-plan-real-san-diego-debt-relief/ http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/03/20/debt-free-league-testimonial-debt-to-freedom-plan-real-san-diego-debt-relief/#comments Tue, 20 Mar 2012 07:00:53 +0000 admin http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/?p=316 Read More >]]> Debt Free League loves to help San Diego Debt Relief seekers with the Debt-to-Freedom Plan. Every month, we receive client testimonials talking about how we helped them avoid bankruptcy or alleviate creditor harassment. And whether we help people to liquidate their credit card debts, medical bills or business debts at a fraction of what they owe, what we truly give our clients “peace of mind.” That said, what makes a Debt-to-Freedom Plan client?

Debt to Freedom PlanTo determine if you’re a San Diego Debt Relief candidate, call 1-800-213-9968 and we’ll analyze your financial situation and explain to you the differences between credit counseling, bankruptcy, a consolidation loan and the benefits of the Debt-to-Freedom Plan. Then, if you’re pre-qualified, we’ll review your application, including your income and expenses and factors that contributed to your financial hardship. Below is a summary of our underwriting variables:

1) Financial Hardship (reason for being in debt; how long in debt; what other parties were affected by the hardship.)
2) Financial Profile (monthly income and expenses; assets; financial obligations.)
3) Creditors (how much is owed; type of debt; status on late payments.)
4) Miscellaneous Factors (type of employment; dependents; prior bankruptcy, etc.)

Upon approval, a verification call will be made to welcome you aboard as a Debt-to-Freedom Plan client. You will also be set up on a flexible payment plan. Then, our negotiators will go to work!

Our negotiators are the main artillery of the Debt-to-Freedom Plan. One of them will be negotiating a settlement or debt repayment plan with your creditor or the debt collector assigned to your debt. Generally, the greater your hardship is, the bigger your settlement. Below are real examples of some of our client’s financial hardships:

Client #1: This individual was unemployed and his only source of income was his unemployment checks and emergency savings, which was quickly being depleted in order pay bills. He also had to support a wife and two daughters that resided overseas.

Client #2: This individual lost work bonuses as a result of the real estate market slowdown. He also incurred considerable medical bills due to an illness that landed him in the ER. Due to the substantial drop in his employment income, he had to use his credit cards to pay for his medical bills.

Client #3: This individual was forced to quit working after acquiring thyroid cancer, which led to breast cancer. Having to rely on just her husband’s employment income, her family had no choice but to use credit cards to pay cover bills and living expenses.
All of the above people once saw doom and gloom not knowing how to get proper San Diego Debt Relief. However, the following Debt Free League Client Testimonial shows light at the end of the tunnel:
“March 16, 2012

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is Yamilette Martinez and I am writing this letter so that others can learn about the services that Debt Free League can provide in order to help those overwhelmed by debt. I’m so glad to say that I am finally a graduate of the program and although throughout the years it was rough sometimes, the customer service representatives were always there to try and help me, ease my concerns or answer any questions I was having about my account. They were always very professional, compassionate and understanding of what those of us with huge debt are dealing with. I say, if you’re tired of debt collectors calling and harassing, or just tired of feeling like your debt is uncontrollable, then you should try giving Debt Free League a call. I’ve learned a lot about managing my money now, and hopefully I will never have to go through anything like this again, owing anyone money just doesn’t feel good but at least I know that if I were to do it all over again, I could count on this program to see me through it. Like anything else, I’m not going to say that everything about the program was perfect or easy, but that pales in comparison to the fact that this program did what it set out to do, which was not only to help me get out of debt, but to save me lots of headaches and money in the end. To this I am forever grateful.”

Graduates of the Debt-to-Freedom Plan see there is life after debt. Feel free to Call Debt Free League to compare your San Diego Debt Relief benefits, the toll-free number is 1.800.213.9968.

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San Diego Bankruptcy Review. Should You File? http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/03/16/san-diego-bankruptcy-review-should-you-file/ http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/03/16/san-diego-bankruptcy-review-should-you-file/#comments Fri, 16 Mar 2012 06:12:04 +0000 admin http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/?p=301 Read More >]]> If you live in the San Diego or Imperial counties this Debt Free League Blog review will help you make a more informed decision on filing San Diego bankruptcy.

Court Venue: U.S. Bankruptcy Court
District: Southern District of California
Building: Jacob Weinberger U.S. Courthouse
Address: 325 West F Street
San Diego, California 92101
Telephone: (619) 557-5620

Chamber 1: Room 218
Judge: Margaret M. Mann
Telephone: 557-5848

Chamber 2: Room 118
Chief Judge: Louise D. Adler
Telephone: (619) 557-5661

Chamber 3: Room 129
Judge: Laura S. Taylor
Telephone: (619) 557-6580

Chamber 4: Room 328
Judge: Peter W. Bowie
Telephone: (619) 557-5158

Chamber 5: Room 318
Judge: James W. Meyers
Telephone: (619) 557-7642

San Diego BankruptcySan Diego bankruptcy can be a great step helping people in debt to gain a fresh start. But, observing the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA), the rules have become more rigid. The following information will help you determine if you should consider this debt elimination solution.

San Diego Bankruptcy (Chapter 7):

San Diego bankruptcy filers that can’t repay predominantly file for Chapter 7. Such bankruptcy discharges most debts and does not require filing a plan of repayment like Chapter 13. As such, attorney fees for a Chapter 7 case are generally lower than for Chapter 13 cases.

There are three main downsides of San Diego bankruptcy via Chapter 7:

1) To start a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, the debtor must first pass a means test, which determines to the bankruptcy court if the debtor can pay back at least a portion of the debt;

2) Chapter 7 requires surrendering your nonexempt property to a bankruptcy trustee to be liquidated and have the proceeds distributed to unsecured creditors;

3) Not all debts can be discharged in Chapter 7, such as alimony and child support, certain taxes, educational debt, and government-guaranteed loans.

San Diego Bankruptcy (Chapter 13):

Chapter 13 is recognized as the Wage Earner’s Plan because it is typically filed by San Diegans that are actively employed. You would file this type of bankruptcy in order to retain ownership and possession of assets. But, in exchange, a portion of your income must be dedicated to repay debts that you owe to creditors.

You must generally repay 30-50% of your debt through a court ordered debt repayment plan. The value of your property and income/expenses determines the amount of the Chapter 13 debt repayment plan and the repayment period, which takes 3 to 5 years.

A major downside of Chapter 13 is that you can’t miss any of your payments. Otherwise, the bankruptcy trustee is likely to motion San Diego bankruptcy court to dismiss your case.

Other “Should I File Bankruptcy” Concerns…

Don’t fall for the low-ball bankruptcy ads. In truth, aside from having to pay attorney fees, San Diego bankruptcy also has court filing fees. As required by the United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of California [28 U.S.C. §1930], effective 10/01/08 to 11/01/11, the Chapter 7 case court fee is $299.00 to 306.00 ($245 filing fee; $39.46 administrative fee; $15 trustee surcharge). The Chapter 13 case court fee is $ 274.00 to 281.00 ($235 filing fee, $39 46 administrative fee).

Another issue is that prior to filing San Diego bankruptcy, the new bankruptcy code also requires you to get credit counseling from an approved consumer credit counseling agency. Plus, you must get personal financial management education from an approved consumer credit counseling agency before your bankruptcy case can be discharged.

If you don’t qualify for Chapter 7, you don’t want to risk having to liquidate valued assets, or own a great deal of nonexempt property that can’t be discharged through bankruptcy, you ought to consider another debt elimination option. A good one is the Debt-to-Freedom Plan. Similar to Chapter 13, this bankruptcy alternative helps you repay a small fraction of what you owe. And, the massive savings can get you out of debt in a short 12 to 36 months. Best of all, unlike a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, it won’t force you to surrender nonexempt property.

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Chula Vista Lawn Care vs. Chula Vista Lawn Care Services (www.chulavistalawncare.com) Review http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/03/08/chula-vista-lawn-care-vs-chula-vista-lawn-care-services-www-chulavistalawncare-com-review/ http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/03/08/chula-vista-lawn-care-vs-chula-vista-lawn-care-services-www-chulavistalawncare-com-review/#comments Thu, 08 Mar 2012 22:31:21 +0000 admin http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/?p=274 Read More >]]>

Chula Vista Lawn Care business card

 

 

CAUTION:

If searching for Chula Vista Lawn Care,

YOU MUST READ THIS!

 

The Debt Free League Blog teaches people in debt how to fight back against the injustices of banks and debt collectors.  We also occasionally expose other unfair business practices, such as in this review of Chula Vista Lawn Care and Chula Vista Lawn Care Services (www.chulavistalawncare.com):

THE REAL COMPANY
Company: Chula Vista Lawn Care
Website:  www.chulavistalawn.com
Address: 642 Palomar St. Suite 406-109
Chula Vista, CA 91911
Phone: (619) 253-6263

THE IMPOSTOR
Company: Chula Vista Lawn Care Services
Website: www.chulavistalawncare.com
Address: PO Box 6261
Chula Vista, CA 91909
Phone: (619) 904-5296

About Chula Vista Lawn Care
The official website of Chula Vista Lawn Care is www.chulavistalawn.com. However, www.chulavistalawncare.com actually belongs to Chula Vista Lawn Care Services, which seems to be operating with an expired Chula Vista business license. Keep reading to get ALL THE FACTS…

Chula Vista Lawn Care officially resides in the city of Chula Vista and has been serving the South Bay since 2003. The sole proprietorship is owned by Charles A Ludwick.  The Contractors State License Board website confirms that  Mr. Ludwick has an active, C-27 contractor’s license (number 964077).  His company specializes in the following commercial and residential landscaping services:

• Lawn & garden
• Sprinkler systems
• Landscape lighting
• Gardening
• Water gardens
• Fountains & ponds
• Lawn installation service
• Landscape maintenance
• Lawn & tree care

Ludwick’s company has a recognizable client list, including Jack in the Box, Chevron, Union 76, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Dairy Queen, AM PM, and Motel 6.  According to the Better Business Bureau website, the landscaping contractor is a BBB-accredited member with an A+ rating and zero filed complaints.

******************************************************

About Chula Vista Lawn Care Services (www.chulavistalawncare.com)

Our review of Chula Vista Lawn Care Services dug up troubling information.  The first warning sign is that their website does not list a physical mailing address. They only list a  P.O. Box.  Secondly, their phone number, (619) 904-LAWN (5296) forwards to a recorded greeting from “Landscape Solutions.” At the time of this review, the city of Chula Vista found no business license records for Landscape Solutions and confirmed that the business license of Chula Vista Lawn Care Services expired since 2004.

We also learned that the “(619) 904-LAWN (5296)” is also on various websites of San Diego Landscape Solutions Inc. Again, the city of Chula Vista could  not find an active business license for San Diego Landscape Solutions Inc.

The Contractor’s License Board and Better Business Bureau recognize Brett Pieratt (also a C-27 landscaping contractor) as owner of San Diego Landscape Solutions Inc.  According to the Whois database on domain name registration records, Brett Pieratt is also owner and registrant of www.chulavistalawncare.com and all of the following domain names:

  1. www.sdlandscapesolutions.com         (Also advertises as Landscape Solutions)
  2. www.chulavistasprinklerrepair.com    (Also advertises as Landscape Solutions)
  3. www.sdlandscapesolutions.com         (Also advertises as Landscape Solutions)
  4. www.sandiegolandscapesolutions.com
  5. www.getmorelawnbusiness.com
  6. www.chulavistasod.com
  7. www.sodsandiego.com

THE BIG CONCERN…

Why does Brett Pieratt, owner of San Diego Landscape Solutions Inc., own www.chulavistalawncare.com? And, why is this licensed contractor soliciting business under the disguise of “Chula Vista Lawn Care Services”? Although the answer is not entirely clear, the following statement from the real owner of Chula Vista Lawn Care provides a plausible explanation:

“Various times, I’ve expressed to Mr. Pierrat that marketing the same domain name with an almost identical company name as my company name is hurting my business. Numerous people have told me that his website misled them into thinking they were doing business with Chula Vista Lawn Care. Repeatedly, I have asked Mr. Pieratt to sell me the domain name. But, his unreasonable asking price of $15,000 looks like he stands to lose a lot of profit”, declares Mr. Ludwick.

Note:  On their website, Chula Vista lawn Care services has no disclaimer that their domain name is not the same as Chula Vista Lawn Care, or the company is owned by and/or affiliated with Brett Pieratt or San Diego Landscape Solutions Inc.

YOU HAVE OPTIONS…

The above Debt Free League Blog Review warns that a domain name doesn’t always represent the actual company and that all businesses don’t represent their services to the public in total transparency. If you are in Chula Vista, National City, San Ysidro or any other city in the South County, San Diego and are seeking a BBB-accredited, C-27, licensed contractor, feel free to apply for a FREE ESTIMATE at the correct website of Chula Vista Lawn Care. You may also contact Charles Ludwick at (619) 253-6263 or email: charlesludwick@yahoo.com.

 

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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Probe May Cost Discover Credit Card Company Over $100 Million http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/01/27/consumer-financial-protection-bureau-cfpb-probe-may-cost-discover-credit-card-company-over-100-million/ http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/01/27/consumer-financial-protection-bureau-cfpb-probe-may-cost-discover-credit-card-company-over-100-million/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:43:59 +0000 admin http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/?p=244 Read More >]]>

Credit card debt settlement service

Discover credit card company, Discover Financial Services, faces a tough year ahead. The 6ht largest U.S. credit-card issuer by customer spending, estimates a regulatory enforcement probe on their marketing practices by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp may hurt their net income over $100,000,000.

Here’s the kicker – Discover may ultimately owe the government a lot of money in sanctions because of illicit marketing of “fees.” The company announced both the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. alerted Discover of a planned joint enforcement action against them over their marketing of fee- based products, including payment protection.

According to the Government Accountability Office, credit card companies collected $2.4 billion in fees for debt protection products in 2009.” Discover owns the nation’s fourth-largest payments network after Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, so who knows what the final sticker shock will be.

A regulatory and enforcement investigation of such magnitude could be devastating to Discover shareholders. It could dig deeper into Discover Financial Services practices, going well beyond the marketing of the Discover credit card. What if the feds also turn stones on the company’s electronic payment services, student and personal loan services, ant marketing of savings products and money market accounts? Discover Financial Services also operates a national automated teller machine (ATM)/debit network Shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) opened in January 27, 2012 below their pivot of $27.82.

The turmoil for Discover in defending itself against legal and regulatory issues started well before the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau probe. In 2010, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson sued the company, alleging “their telemarketers failed to tell consumers when they were agreeing to purchase optional, fee-based services, including payment protection.”

As a result, Discover entered into a consent judgment to settle the lawsuit. Earlier the Discover credit card company also agreed to a preliminary settlement of eight class-action cases that also attacked its marketing tactics. Thus, it appears that Discover had been bleeding at the seams for a number of years now. But, the carnage continues…

In the emergence of the CFPB, one thing’s for certain – many former illegal credit card practices will soon come to a screeching halt. On July 21, the new agency assumed federal consumer law enforcement on banks with more than $10 billion in assets. Unlike the FTC, it has complete power to write new rules and absolute jurisdiction over most credit card companies. The CFPB sanction can be as much as $1,000,000 per violation, per day!

Richard Cordray, former Ohio Attorney General, just became the CFPB top honcho and will be considering whether new rules are needed for debt protection products of the sort at issue in the Minnesota lawsuits. Being a new agency with a recently appointed director, credit card companies are in the clouds not knowing how the CFPB intends to exercise its regulatory, supervisory, examination and enforcement authority.

Discover also announced, “Should the CFPB discourage the use of products we offer or steer consumers to other products or services that it deems to be preferable, we could suffer reputation harm and a loss of customers.” Perhaps hearing it from the horse’s mouth will give you a clearer perspective of the might of the CFPB over rogue financial institutions.

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When Debt Consolidation Loans Fail… Debt Free League = Real San Diego Debt Relief http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/01/27/when-debt-consolidation-loans-fail-debt-free-league-real-san-diego-debt-relief/ http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/01/27/when-debt-consolidation-loans-fail-debt-free-league-real-san-diego-debt-relief/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:53:33 +0000 admin http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/?p=237 Read More >]]>
debt relief

Debt to Freedom Plan vs debt consolidation loans

Although we’re past a recession, countless consumers in California are still desperately struggling to pay off debts and mortgages. It’s appalling that while the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act gave hundreds of billions bailout money to U.S. banks, Californians were denied economic relief. Compounding the problem, already scarce debt consolidation loans aren’t giving needed debt relief to many debt-stricken families. But, if you’re drowning in debt, the San Diego debt relief story of Debt Free League client, Armando Gomez, brings hope.

Two years ago, Gomez, became unemployed, taking whatever odd jobs he could find to feed his family. He also drowned in credit card debt. Unfortunately, both debt consolidation loans and credit counseling plans were no match to his considerable loss in income. The painter used to earn over a $43,000 yearly salary.

NOTE: Consolidation loans, which consolidate multiple debts into one loan, give the borrower a combined monthly payment and lower interest rate, which is essentially the same benefit of a credit counseling debt management plan. However, 75% of consumers that take out debt consolidation loans go deeper into debt. Additionally, according to a Consumer Reports survey, “credit counseling debt management plans have a 79% consumer dropout rate.” Out of the dropouts, some couldn’t keep making the steep debt management plan monthly payments, which similar to or even higher than their minimum payments; others saw they weren’t getting much debt relief in just reducing their interest rates.

Gomez was upside down on his mortgage and couldn’t qualify for debt consolidation loans. Credit counseling was also out of the question. It would merely reduce the interest rate on his debt. This led to another problem, He faced the decision of not paying his credit card bill or skipping a mortgage payment. (According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, “more than 6 million homeowners were either delinquent on their payments or in foreclosure at the end of the third quarter of 2011.” )

Determined to save his home, Gomez defaulted on a $21,976 Bank of America credit card account. If you have ever been delinquent on your credit card bills, you’ll know what happened to him next…

Soon, the nasty collection calls mounted from bill collectors demanding full payment. When calls escalated into legal threats, he could no longer tolerate the unbearable pressure. Luckily, he found the Debt-to-Freedom Plan. Realizing the debt relief service provided by Debt Free League, he saw light at the end of the tunnel. Unlike a CCC debt management plan or debt consolidation loans, he;d be settling his entire debt and saving substantially on both principle and interest.

Gomez followed a debt repayment plan that fit his budget and within months, was able to negotiate a $4,650 settlement. That’s all it took to repay the credit card company and consider his total debt “paid in full.”

Gomez elates, “I learned from my experience not to get into so much debt and I thank Debt Free League very much for helping my family get out of it. I look forward to tell others in a similar situation about their services.” In January, 2012, Gomez completed a journey he thought he’d never reach. Thankfully, now that he’s debt free, he has a new lease on life.

Every person’s financial situation is different. But, graduates of the Debt-to Freedom Plan that complete all of the monthly program payments pay about 50% of their total enrolled balances before fees, or 65% including fees. When compared to repaying at least one and a half times your original debt as a borrower of debt consolidation loans or as a graduate of a credit counseling debt management plan, that’s a remarkable savings.

NOTE: The Debt-to-Freedom Plan provides debt relief for a variety of unsecured debts, including credit cards, signature loans, medical bills, and business debts. Debt Free League (1-800-213-9968 ) is a San Diego debt settlement company with highly skilled negotiators and bilingual (English/Spanish) customer service reps.

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Convergent Resources, Inc. (ER Solutions, Inc) Review – Bad Bill Collector or Decent Debt Collection Agency? http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/01/25/convergent-resources-inc-er-solutions-inc-review-bad-bill-collector-or-decent-debt-collection-agency/ http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/01/25/convergent-resources-inc-er-solutions-inc-review-bad-bill-collector-or-decent-debt-collection-agency/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:50:06 +0000 admin http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/?p=225 Read More >]]> For those of you that are digging for dirt to see if the following debt collection agency is a bad bill collector, we hope that thisinformation can help:

Alternate Business Names:
Convergent
E R Solutions, Inc.
E R S

Website:

http://www.convergentusa.com

Locations:
Atlanta HQ
Six Concourse Parkway, Suite 2920
Atlanta, GA 30328
Tel: 770.730.0015
Tel: 888.858.0116

219 Perimeter Center Parkway NE
Atlanta, GA 30346
Tel: 800.444.8485

1040 Stevens Creek Road
Augusta, GA 30907

125 Wolf Road
Albany, NY 12205
Tel: 877.251.7385
Tel: 888.511.7901

301 Yamato Road, Suite 4200
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Tel: 877.778.0662
Tel: 888.511.7901

3232 W Royal Lane
Irving, TX 75063
Tel: 866.390.9935
Tel: 888.511.7901

2550 West Shaw Avenue
Fresno, CA 93711
Tel: 800.576.6941
Tel: 888.511.7901

13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 300
Gainesville, VA 20155
Tel: 888.511.7901
Tel: 888.511.7901

10750 Hammerly Blvd., Suite 200
Houston, TX 77043
Tel: 800.444.8485

2400 Presidents Drive, 4th Floor
Montgomery, AL 36116
Tel: 800.444.8485

124 SW Adams Street, Suite 215
Peoria, IL 61602
Tel: 800.706.4357
Tel: 888.511.7901

10050 N 25th Avenue, Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85021
Tel: 800.444.8485

800 SW 39th Street
Renton, WA 98057
Tel: 800.444.8485

925 Westchester Avenue, First Floor
White Plains, NY 10604
Tel: 914.421.7900
Tel: 800.431.1262

Contact Information:

Steven J Hunter, President
Robert Newman, Complaint contact
Jeffery Hunter, Vice President of Collections
Anne Carlson. Director

Convergent Resources, Inc (Convergent) is a debt collection agency that specializes in commercial services, including contingent collections, outsourcing, letter campaign, and consulting services. The company has been confused by many as their no longer existent sister company, ER Solutions, Inc (ER Solutions), which was founded as early as 1950 in Kirkland, Washington.

ER Solutions was originally known as Eastside Credit Bureau (ECB). ER Solutions, Inc. operated as an accounts receivable management agency, providing receivables collection services to retail and telecommunications creditors and utilities industries.

Convergent became one of 5th largest companies in the collection industry, employing over 2600 employees in thirteen branches in 10 states. They are also one of the biggest receivables management companies in the United States, providing third party collections and first party outsourcing to a variety of industries, including wireless, telecommunications, banking, utility, cable, and satellite markets.

Convergent Resources, Inc (ER Solutions), cannot be compared to some of the most notorious bad bill collectors. However, according to their January 24, 2012 BBB Business Reliability Report, the debt collection agency had 189 complaints closed with the BBB in last 3 years. 90 of the consumer complaints were closed in the last 12 months.
Most of the BBB complaints filed (142) on the debt collection agency were due to billing/collection issues, 45 due to problems with product/service, and only 2 due to advertising/sales issues. The BBB also alleges that Convergent Resources, Inc (ER Solutions), “has received a pattern of complaints from consumers alleging that E R Solutions Inc continues to contact them after they have been asked not to.”

You can locate various other complaints on Convergent Resources, Inc (ER Solutions) throughout a number of online complaint portals. On December 18, 2011, a complainant reported at Pissedconsumer.com, “having reported the debt collector (Convergent) to the FTC, and the Texas Attorney General’s Office due to attempting to illegally collect zombie debts (old debts past the Statute of Limitations).”

On Nov. 8, 2011, Christopher of Boone of North Carolina reported at Consumeraffairs.com on the debt collection aency (Convergent): “I received a statement from ER Solutions, Inc. concerning a Regions Bank debt on an account that I have never owned. I have tried calling ER Solutions but they have hung up on me thrice when I tried to communicate that the account is not mine. I did have a Regions credit card which has been paid in full. ER Solutions calls and harasses my parents even though they have my correct contact information. This is showing up on my credit and is not correct. What do I do?”

Although the degree of complaints found on Convergent Resources, Inc (ER Solutions) are unsavory, based on the company’s size, again their number of complaints pale in comparison to some of the worse bad bill collectors.

However, if this debt collection agency pursues you to collect a debt, observing their pattern of complaints, look out for violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, including improper billing, continuing to call you after you requested that they not call you, use of harassment, or attempting to collect a debt that doesn’t belong to you.

If you suspect that Convergent Resources, Inc (ER Solutions) or any debt collection agency is acting like a bad bill collector and/or has committed an offense under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you may report them to the following state and/or federal agencies:

-Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov)
-Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (www.consumerfinance.gov)
-California Attorney General (ag.ca.gov)
-Alabama Attorney General (www.ago.state.al.us)
-Georgia Attorney General (law.ga.gov)
-New York Attorney General (www.ag.ny.gov)
-Virginia Attorney General (www.oag.state.va.us)
-Florida Attorney General (myfloridalegal.com)
-Illinois Attorney General (illinoisattorneygeneral.gov)
-Texas Attorney General (www.oag.state.tx.us)
-Washington Attorney General (www.atg.wa.gov)

As a frequent visitor to the Debt Free League Blog, you may have noticed that we also provide our readers with a wealth of resources to combat the abusive debt collection practices of bad bill collectors. You can also call a Debt Free League counselor at 1-800-213-9968 to get additional free tips and information.

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Winn and Sims APC aka Winn Law Group Review http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/01/17/winn-and-sims-apc-aka-winn-law-group-review/ http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/2012/01/17/winn-and-sims-apc-aka-winn-law-group-review/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:30:00 +0000 admin http://www.debtfreeleague.com/blog/?p=208 Read More >]]> Company: Winn & Sims APC

Website: http://www.winnlawgroup.com/

Address:
110 East Wilshire Avenue, Suite 212
Fullerton, California 92832

U.S Phone Numbers:
Phone: 714-446-6686
Fax: 714-446-6686

Head Collection Attorneys:
Brian N. Winn, Lawyer, CA Bar #86779
Ralph L. Sims, Lawyer, CA Bar #83880

ATTN: This news will be very helpful for you if you are being pursued by the above collection law firm and/or need debt settlement California assistance.

Winn & Sims APC (Winn and Sims), a.k.a. Winn Law Group, is a professional law corporation in the city of Fullerton, California. Admitted with the State Bar of California and active to practice law in the state of California (BAR license number: 86779), Winn and Simms is a general attorney specializing as a civil litigation attorney for creditors. They collect credit card debt and other types of unsecured debt settlement California accounts.

The company is privately held and is under the business category of attorneys and lawyers. They opened for business and incorporated in California in 1992. Recent reports indicate that Winn & Sims Law Group earns a yearly revenue of $3,700,000 and employes 30 employees. The company is an expert in Credit Union Law, FDCPA compliance, Claims and Deliveries, Commercial and Consumer collections, Financial Litigation, Creditors Rights in Bankruptcy, and Defense Litigation.

In layman terms, Winn and Sims is a debt collection law firm. Original creditors normally hire them a third-party collection agency that they outsourced to failed to collect an unpaid debt. If you reside in California and have received a collection notice from Winn Law Group, it may be a mini-Miranda demand for payment. Being that such notice comes in the form of a law firm letterhead can be very intimidating. However, the intent of their notice is to get you to repay a debt or to get a debt settlement California negotiation.

The real threat to be concerned about is receiving a Winn Law Group summons and complaint. This is a lawsuit issued by a collection law firm to a debtor to legally enforce collection of a debt for a creditor. Note: Creditor lawsuits normally happen after a debtor has ignored one or more demands for payment from a collection attorney and are generally filed to effect debt settlements or legally collect on unsecured debts ranging from $4,000 to $12,000 in value.

If Winn & Sims serves you a lawsuit, their objective is to pressure you to reach an immediate debt settlement or debt repayment. Otherwise, the intent is to take you to court and win a judgment against you. If you fail to show up to your court date, the court can also award a default judgment favoring the creditor. From there, the collection attorney can proceed by getting a garnishment order on your wages, or a lien on your home.

Unlike a lot of debt collectors, few collection issues or debt settlements complaints have been registered against Winn & Sims APC. According to a report found in January, 2012 at the website of the BBB of the Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties of Southern California, in a 3 year period, 19 complaints were filed against Winn & Sims. Mostly all were for billing/collection issues.

At the Bud Hibbs website (http://www.budhibbs.com/bh/), between 2007 and 2010, several people reported unfair debt collection practices complaints against the law firm. The website also warns that, “Winn and Sims may be attempting to collect on debts that are likely bogus, time barred by statutes, which cannot meet legal verification requirements.”

Beyond the courtroom, debt settlement California is one solution that you can consider if the above law firm is attempting to collect on your credit card debt. Trying this approach can certainly help you avoid judgment or wage garnishment issues with creditors.

To learn how debt settlements work, you can call a Debt Free League debt counselor at 1-800-213-9968 for free assistance. On the other hand, if this or any collection attorney has committed a Fair Debt Collection Practices violation, you may also contact the following:

* California Attorney General
* Federal Trade Commission
* State Bar of California (415.538.2000 / www.calbar.ca.gov)

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