SPECIAL UPDATE April 4 2011: Freedom Debt Relief remains committed to 100% customer satisfaction and has drastically improved their business processes over the years to better serve their customers. Freedom Debt Relief is truly dedicated to making sure ALL customers are happy with their coverage. Freedom Debt Relief continues to show customer service is of the utmost importance and they currently have no complaints!
To date, Freedom Debt Relief has addressed and resolved all reported complaints, which have always been resolved to the complete satisfaction of their customers. Freedom Debt Relief proves to be among the top members of the Rip-off Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction Program, as a Verified Safe Business.
Over time and since becoming a member, Freedom Debt Relief has remained actively engaged and improving the way they address customer service complaints. Rip-off Report has confirmed that Freedom Debt Relief is no fraud, is not a scam and is of the highest integrity. As an active and current member of the Rip-off Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction Program we are happy to report that now more than ever Freedom Debt Relief remains committed to customer satisfaction and gets our top Verified Safe endorsement.
Rip-off Report Investigation:
Editor's UPDATE: Positive Rating and Recognition has been given to Freedom Debt Relief for its Commitment to Excellence in customer service.
Rip-off Report's investigation of Freedom Debt Relief (FDR) uncovers continuous commitment to ongoing improvements in customer service with the goal of total client satisfaction. This means that clients can expect the company will always work towards finding a mutually satisfactory resolution to any complaints or concerns. FDR's primary concern is to get their clients debt free in 2-3 years with the best possible client experience.
Freedom Debt Relief's CEO stated "We understand that the only way to grow as a company is by recognizing that we can and should get better every day and then committing the resources necessary to achieve excellence". He then added, "We have a terrific business committed to excellence but we also know that we have made mistakes, all businesses do, but it's how we react to those mistake and fix them that makes us a better company ".
As a sign of their commitment, Freedom Debt Relief recently conducted a customer and employee survey with a the commitment to continual improvement and customer service excellence. As a result of this survey Freedom Debt Relief has implemented new processes centered around a superior customer experience. An executive told Rip-off Report that Freedom Debt Relief's corporate mantra is clients first, employees second and profits third if you take care of the first two the third will follow.
Rip-off Report has confirmed that Freedom Debt Relief's approach to business includes company-wide quality assurance initiatives. The result of which, leads to continual dedication to client focused processes, customer outcomes and employee relations. Rip-off Report was pleased to learn that the company's past and current approach to business is focused on its pledge to total commitment towards client satisfaction. Rip-off Report also learned the company has won an award as Best Places to Work in its market in addition to a prestigious award by Ernst & Young as Entrepreneurs of the Year in northern California.
A senior Freedom Debt Relief executive commented "We're at a time in our country's history where the average American family is saving less than $450 per year and has a mountain of debt compounding at very high rates. We do our very best to get our clients out of debt and have a track record of settling debt for 49% of what is owed but this is not a silver bullet, there are no free lunches". Rip-off Report feels it should comment that when a consumer assumes credit card debt it can often become a very difficult process keep up with interest and to pay back the full principal owed. In addition there are the aggressive collector calls and stress. In the business that Freedom Debt Relief operates they understand the pain associated with unsecured debt spiraling out of control and they have built a team around reducing that pain to the extent it is possible
It is our opinion that individuals experiencing financial difficulty can feel confident in the fact that Freedom Debt Relief has worked with thousands of customers and has successfully settled tens of thousands of accounts. FDR has over 450 employees dedicated to providing the best possible customer service and client outcome.
FDR recognizes that complaints posted on Rip-off Report (true or not) are issues that need to be addressed and if handled correctly can be valuable learning opportunities. With the feedback generated by Rip-off Report's Investigation FDR has made organizational changes allowing their clients a more streamlined approach to problem resolution and a total overall commitment to customer experience.
In summary, after our investigation, which included discussions with Freedom Debt Relief Senior Management, Rip-off Report is convinced that the company has been and is committed to quality delivery of services resulting in total client satisfaction.
Read more about FDR Freeodm Debt Relief's Commitment to Excellence and Total Consumer Satisfaction and why consumers should feel safe, confident and secure when doing business with a member of Rip-off Report's Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program. ..yes, a long name for a program that does a lot for both consumers and businesses alike. Read about Rip-off Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program,..A program that benefits the consumer, assures them of complete satisfaction and confidence when doing business with a member business. this program works.=====================
NOW TO THE ORIGINAL REPORT THAT WAS FILED =====================
Freedom Debt Relief They misled us into believeing that they were going to pay off our debts.We SAN MATEO California
We went into a contract thinking that this company was going to pay off our debts and we would in turn repay them. We have payed into a fund set up to repay them and they have not paid one cent to any of our creditors.
We have sent them a grand total of over 3,500.00 and now they tell us that we only have a little more than 500.00. they have not paid anybody. where is our money?
My credit score has gone from 697 to less than 400 in less than 6 months. They are not helping at all, only ruining me and my wife. We cannot even get a loan now to pay off the bills they were supose to because of our low credit scores.
What can be done about this company. I do not want to see anyone else ruined by them. Please help if you can
Revjmo
Vero Beach, Florida
U.S.A.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Joey
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Consumers need help
#7UPDATE Employee
Fri, May 02, 2008
I talk to people all day long who need help with credit card debt. The average consumer has no clue where to start. If you were convicted of a crime you have the right to defend yourself in a court of law. Most people with common sense would prefer to hire an attorney who has spent years in school studying the law.I think it is ignorant to underestimate the power of knowledge.
You Made A Huge Mistake!
Springfield,Missouri,
U.S.A.
Some of us are NOT experts!!!
#7Consumer Comment
Sat, November 10, 2007
A good lot of you appear to be educated experts. I am not and that is why I came to FDR. I hired them to assist in getting my family out of the UC bind we are in. It has been over six months and now the over-the-phone FDCPA-violating debt collectors have made relentless attempts to make over-the-phone deals with us. I have ignored every attempt they have made, per the advice of FDR.
I was referred to an attorney through FDR that was supposed to get the illegal debt collectors off of our backs, but two days passed and the attorney that initially stated that his firm could assist us backed off donning the excuse that the state I resided in was not a state in which he was licensed. So here I sit retaining my own local attorney to sue the lawbreaking debt collectors...
I hope that FDR settles our accounts before we get sued. I certainly could use some positive words from FDR and can only pray that the future will include my writing a letter of praise on the behalf of my family and I concerning FDR's progress on our situation.
In the meantime, the relentless calls of debt collectors continue to keep us prisoners of screening every call that is made to our residence. We are in a virtual purgatory expecting to be sued at any given moment. "Hang tough" says FDR...well, we are doing our best and hope not to be bankrupt as a result.
I will report in the future with whatever becomes of this situation. I hope that FDR helps us...
Robert
Buffalo,New York,
U.S.A.
Why pay any of these outfit?
#7Consumer Comment
Wed, November 07, 2007
I would like to know just ONE thing any so-called 'FIX MY CREDIT' outfit such as your Freedom Debt Relief can do that the consumer debtor cannot do for himself/herself.
Make a budget? Nope, debtor can do that without you.
Fix errors on a credit report? Nope, debtor can do that without you.
Come up with a 2 year payment plan (or longer if needed) to pay off all existing creditors? Nope, debtor can do that without you.
Negotiate a MUTUALLY agreeable written settlement with a creditor? Nope, debtor can do that without you.
Relieve the consumer debtor of monies that could be used to pay down their existing debt quicker? YUP! THAT is something the consumer debtor CANNOT do without you!
It is about education! There are plenty of outfits online and in almost any community in the U.S where debtors can get FREE counseling and in many cases FREE assistance writing letters, setting up a budget, negotiating with creditors, etc!
NO ONE needs to hire any 'FIX MY DEBT' outfit! Especially one that tells the debtor to stop making payments while you folks 'negotiate' a settlement!
Brads_freedom
San Mateo,California,
U.S.A.
Response to complaint.
#7REBUTTAL Owner of company
Mon, November 05, 2007
The method for settling consumer debts involves time and patience. Freedom Debt Relief settled over 1,500 consumer accounts last month and saved over $3 million dollars for its clients last month.
FDR works very hard for every one of its clients, but the way that the program works is that funds accumulate over time and as funds accrue your settlements will be executed one at a time. Your fees and the fund accumulation must have been detailed in your contract, as is the fact that during the program your credit score will be impaired.
Just like a diet or a work-out, getting back to financial health is about discipline and perserverence... getting out of a serious financial problem is no different. Most importantly, you have hundreds of employees at FDR that are behind you and will work tremendously hard to resolve your debts, help you manage through the program and at the end of the two or three year program you will be DEBT FREE.
If you have (or had) the ability to pay off your debts, then that is the course of action that is best followed. FDR is for consumers that cannot afford their monthly payments, need help to get debt free and want to be debt free in 2-3 years... not 15 or more years.
I would be happy to discuss your personal situation at any time and make sure that we are still the right program for you. If FDR is not the best program for your financial hardship, then we will point you in the right direction. We are the best debt resolution company because we care about our clients.
Brad.
Robert
Buffalo,New York,
U.S.A.
Negotiate with the CREDITORS,
#7Consumer Suggestion
Tue, October 30, 2007
not the collection agencies.
As previously stated, always get any settlement in writing before you pay a dime, but do not negotiate with the debt collectors.
If you don't know who the current creditor (who owns the debt) is, you can write a certified, return receipt requested letter to the debt collector to DISPUTE and demand VALIDATION of the debt. The debt collector will be required to provide you with written proof as to whoe the creditor is.
Normally, a settlement with a debt collector only gets that particular collector off your back and the creditor is free to come after you later for the balance of the debt.
Read the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Good luck.
John
Louisville,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
RE:
#7Consumer Comment
Tue, October 30, 2007
Send a letter to this firm via Registered Mail with Return receipt demanding a refund. State that if they do not refund your money you'll file charges with the California Attorney General and the BBB.
If you get your money back, try to make offers to pay off your debt. You'll probably be dealing with collection agencies at this point.
Remember:
Before you pay a collection agency one cent, get all terms in WRITING FIRST before you give them one penny. If you don't do this, they'll come back for more money once you pay them what was agreed to verbally over the phone. Also try to negotiate how the notations will appear in your credit file.
Never pay collection agencies with electronic checks by given them your bank transit and checking account numbers. They'll raid your checking account and take out way more than you authorize.
Paying charge-off debt won't magically fix your credit. Resign yourself to having bad credit for awhile.
Good Luck!