Complaint Review: Debt Shield Inc - Columbus Maryland

I became handicapped in 2003, consequently I could not work and was unable to pay my credit card debt. I did not want to file bankruptcy and contacted Debt Shield. They said they could help me. I received a packet filled with information and procedures to follow. I completed my questionnaire, and a detailed list of my creditors. A few days later I was interviewed over the phone.

I was instructed not to speak with any of my creditors. I was told to have them call Debt Shield, and not to give them any information, or answer any questions. In addition I was told not to open any mail from my creditors, but to forward any mail directly to Debt Shield.

I sent Debt Shield $550 each month from October 2007 thru January 2008. I called them each week and was told that I had to build up my money account and then they would start negotiations with my creditors. After five months I was upset and asked why they were not helping me. They told me to increase my monthly payment to $1,200 per month. In February 2008 I was very upset and they told me in order to make a settlement they needed to show my money bank was growing and told me to deposit $4,000 immediately. I did and within two months they paid 2 of my 10 creditors approximately $2,000 each. I continued to pay $1,200 each month for a few months. Then they told me I had to deposit another $10,000. By December 2008, I deposited $34,260.00 and they paid a total of $19,323.94 to my creditors.

For 14 months I sent them every letter and every summons I received from my creditors. I called them at least once a week and asked why I was receiving letters from two courts. They assured me that it was under control and it was being taken care of. Once again telling me to ignore the summons and phone calls.

I continued sending them money each month but started taking the calls from my creditors. I was told by at least four of my creditors that they never received a phone call or letter from Debt Shield. I spoke to several people at Debt Shield, sent faxes to their offices, spoke to supervisors, and each person I spoke with told me that my creditors had no right to call or sue me. They insisted that I should not worry, they were taking care of it.

Finally, a summons was sent to my brother in NYC from Discover Card. Debt Shield said do not worry about it. Then, my bank contacted me and informed me that FIA had put a restraining order on my bank account in the amount of $10,000. Debt Shield stopped talking to me or confirming my messages and faxes.

When I sold my home in May 2008 there was a lien on it for $17,000. This was a complete surprise because months before I was told by Debt Shield that that particular company had been paid.

When I contacted Debt Shield my debt was $103,000. They collected more than $40,000 from me and paid approximately $19,000 of my debt. Hiring Debt Shield to help me costed me much more than my original debt. It cost me the humiliation of going to court, humiliation of having my bank holding my account due to a restraining order, the humiliation of my brother being mailed a summons, and my credit score went from over 720 to under 500.

What can I do? Please advise. Thank you, Lois Piermont NY