Halo Debt Solutions Fraud Alert!! Scam!! Beware of Halo Debt!! Allen Texas
Beware of Halo Debt Solutions!!!
I am an "EX" client of Halo Debt Solutions. I also fully believe that this company is a scam. My debts, $30, 000 were estimated to be settled in 3 years. However, after 1 year of faithful payments not a single debt of mine was ever settled, negotiated, or even addressed by Halo. Many false promises were made to me during my enrollment. I was lead to believe that this would be a simple process. Quickly I realized that the creditors do not stop calling, do not stop pursuing, and do not care of your enrollment in Halo's program. Kemarie McMinn was my "Enrollment Specialist" and Deenie Daley was my "Service Rep".
So my outcome of this experience is, all of my accounts enrolled in the program were referred to attorneys. An Arbitration Claim was failed against me which could have resulted in wage garnishments. I have decided to file bankruptcy instead and when I informed Halo that I wished to cancel the program they informed me that I would not be refunded a penny!!! After I have paid them over $3000 and they accomplished absolutely nothing for me in return!!! Their contract states that the "enrollment fee" is nonrefundable but it does NOT clarify that every penny you ever pay them is theirs to keep. I have involved my bank and they are investigating fraud and I may have to take them to court to resolve the rest of the money they are keeping. What kind of company refuses to refund money that was paid to perform a service that was never performed???
On a side note, during your enrollment process the Representatives will site laws regarding debt collection practice etc (ex. wage garnishments and house leins) that pertain specifically to their state of Texas. However, they accept clients across the country (I live in California) and we are all bound by different laws.
Point in short... DO NOT TRUST HALO DEBT SOLUTIONS!!!
Victim
Orange County, California
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
John
Louisville,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
RE:
#4Consumer Comment
Wed, February 25, 2009
Common sense here....deliberately defaulting on credit cards to attempt settlements...either done on your own or if you've hired a debt settlement firm to do it for you...is a risky move that can land you up in court. Think: judgements and wage garnishment.
Stefenys
Orange,California,
U.S.A.
Situation Update
#4Author of original report
Wed, February 25, 2009
At the request of the VP of Halo Debt Group I am posting this update. Halo Debt has refunded me the service fees I paid them, an amount of $1,398. I filed a claim with the Better Business Bureau to get this result and they are still keeping the enrollment fee I paid them in the amount of $1,498.
My situation and opinion of Halo Debt and their service remains completely unchanged. I am glad that I was refunded my money, but never the less am still extremely disappointed in the end result. As mentioned in my original post, all of my accounts are in extreme default and after just over 1 year I have 2 lawsuits pending and a credit score of 511 (before the program I had a 712)! How did they think I could stay on the program for 3 years??? Anyways, bankruptcy has become my best solution and I look forward to putting this all behind me!
Here is my advice to anyone considering help from a company like Halo... first, get educated on ALL of your options. If you feel debt settlement is your best bet, consider doing it on your own! You will be able to save and settle much quicker on your own, and creditors PREFER to work with you directly! Buy a book on the subject, try "How to Settle Your Debts" by Norman Perlmutter (only $13 on Amazon). If you decide to invlove a company like Halo anyways, do yourself a favor and READ THE CONTRACT very very very thoroughly and question anything which is unclear and get those answers IN WRITING! Do NOT trust anyone's words!
Best of luck! -Stefeny-
Billcoll01
MESA,Arizona,
U.S.A.
BEWARE
#4Consumer Suggestion
Tue, December 23, 2008
THESE COMPANIES CHARGE A RETAINER FEE ON TOP OF THE ENROLLMENT FEES THAT ARE USUALLY 15-20% OF THE DEBTLOAD IN YOUR CASE AT LEAST 4500.00 WHICH MEANS YOU WOULD HAVE PAID ANOTHER HALF YEAR JUST TO PAY THE RETAINER!! ALL DEBT SETTLEMENT COMPANIES ARE RIPOFFS...PERIOD