Beware of Unscrupulous Debt Consolidation Companies

In recent months, more and more consumers have approached me with questions regarding consumer debt consolidation services. While legitimate, non-profit companies do exist and are often able to help a debt-straddled consumer get a handle on payments, many other less scrupulous companies hide behind the internet and prey upon unsuspecting people to make a quick buck.

In one recent case, a client was told by a debt consolidation company to quit paying their credit cards and to instead pay their company directly. The client was led to believe that the company would collect a lump sum from them each month and begin disbursing the money evenly to each of his creditors. After paying the company more than $1,500.00 with no action or assistance from the company and no payment toward the delinquent debt, the client contacted me for help. Through my investigation, I determined that the company was not properly licensed to do business in Florida as a debt consolidation service. Upon presenting this evidence and making a demand on the company, I was able to obtain a 100% reimbursement for the client. This case is an exception, however, and not the rule because so many of these companies operate in a 'fly by night' manner. Once they have the consumer's money, they frequently disappear. The office of the Florida Attorney General has received many inquiries and complaints about companies providing these questionable "services" within this state.

If you are considering seeking the assistance of one of these companies, please first consider these tips:

TIPS:

1) Before engaging the services of any debt consolidation or credit counseling service, check to see if they are a not-for-profit business. You can check the status of a business operating in Florida for free at: http://www.sunbiz.org/ -- the website maintained by the Florida Secretary of State, Division of Corporations;

2) Prior to signing on the dotted line, call the Florida Attorney General's consumer hotline at(866) 966-7226 and the west central Florida office of the Better Business Bureau at (727) 535-5609 to find out whether other consumers have logged complaints against the business; and,

3) Read the entire agreement or contract that you are presented with and make sure you fully understand your rights and obligations. Of course, speaking with a licensed attorney to review and explain the contract before signing it is a great idea.

Debt consolidation companies are also engaging in highly deceptive advertising in order to lure consumers to their businesses. Many of these companies are suggesting that the Obama Administration has enacted a law that provides a grant that may be applied to reduce credit card debt. This is absolutely false information. In their advertising, they plead with consumers to take advantage of the "Obama Credit Card Debt Relief Act." The consumer often believes that they are dealing directly with the government and applying for federal aid, only to find out after registering online that it is, in fact, a private company that is attempting to take their money.

A little investigation will often reveal these companies for what they are: con artists.