I went into contract with Fresh Start Financial Solutions, Inc. (also known as FSFS) on March 9, 2009 and have paid $21,263 to date for NOTHING! This fee included $3,000 to stop the trustee sale on the property in which I was residing at the time - The property was sold and I was evicted May 4, 2009. At this point FSFS was already in default of our contract. December 11, 2009, I lost the second house which I had moved into in May. After each forclosure, I was told that FSFS had fired the attorney that was handling my case due to their lack of performance. I was not permitted to contact the attorney at any time until the 17th month of our contract when a new attorney was finally assigned to my case. All the instructions I received during the forclosure proceeding was from my FSFS consultant, Kiwi Le-Compte. She would always clarify that she was relaying instructions from Art Lewis who had spoken with the attorney on my case at the time. I never received any official documentation from an attorney or FSFS till March 11, 2010.
The FSFS program is based on preditory lending practices. FSFS promised to get your mortgage erased as demonstrated by their flyer which states: "Your lender may have broken federal laws, laws enacted to protect you. Come to our FREE Seminar and discover how you may legally eliminate your mortgage and receive the deed to your home free and clear of your present lender! Regardless of your situation. If you are in foreclosure, pre-foreclosure or upside down in your loan there is help available to save your home! Even if the bank has already taken possession. Come find out about your rights and how you can regain your home and peace of mind. It may be the most valuable hour of your life!"
One of the reasons I decided to go with FSFS was their guarantee that the fees were refundable if the company was unable to deliver the properties to me mortgage free within 18 months. At 18 months, I requested a refund by certified return-receipt through the post office. Since my cancellation letter, I have heard nothing from Fresh Start Financial Services, Inc. nor the attorney with whom they had put my cases.
I have not received a letter of explaination, a letter of cancellation, a phone call, a refund - NOTHING!
They will not return my calls.
I have nearly 100 emails regarding our contract to support the promises that they made to me and the lack of their response when something was happening. I have at least 25 people that heard their guarantee at the same time that I did. I have a contract that states the guarantee and the items they were have accomplished for their fees, signed by Art Lewis.
They took money upfront and have done nothing. All I want at this point is to get my fees refunded.
Docbobby
Escondido,#2Consumer Comment
Sat, December 24, 2011
I am a private investigator working on aspects of Lewis and may have information for you as to locating him. Bob RMI Investigations 760-807-4410
Docbobby
Escondido,#3Consumer Comment
Sat, December 24, 2011
I am a private investigator working on aspects of Lewis and may have information for you as to locating him. Bob RMI Investigations 760-807-4410
Scammedhomeowner
Hemet,#4Consumer Comment
Thu, September 15, 2011
My story is exactly like yours. I noticed that you didn't mention the "attorney" Fresh Start supposedly "fired." The attorney told me that Fresh Start just collects "fees" and that they "don't do anything." Can you imagine that? I will be writing my own report, but I was scammed by all the people you mention in your report. I suggest everyone who has been ripped off by this unethical company, Fresh Start Financial Solutions in Bonita, CA, file complaints with the State AG's office, FTC and the California Department of Real Estate.
FSFS_IS_PATHETIC
Irvine,#5Consumer Comment
Tue, March 22, 2011
I'm so sorry Jan,
Kiwi came to my house as well. We just didn't have a good feeling about her or the company so we didn't go with them. We lost our home of course but at least we avoided this horrible scam. Here's an email Kiwi sent me on 11/25/2008:
Hi ______
I received your message.
I will get the docs back for you
next week
The info below is what I sent you...
I asked you whether
you wanted to keep your house. You said yes. I advised you that your loan doc is
illegal. You try to prove it is not and then we can have a conversation. You
will fail to do so as your contract violates Federal Law. In fact it is
considered a very bad loan. Ask yourself this-if the contract is illegal how can
it be enforced?
I advised you that by law your foreclosure can be
unwinded.
The law is the law. Your insistence that this is a scam
suggests that you have not read the Attorney General's website.
www.ag.ca.gov.
Your accusations about our company were really
unacceptable when you have done no research ______. I am a professional and your
suggestion that I am part of a scam was really out of line. Despite all the
horrible things you said about my company and my association with it I still was
prepared to help you both.
Know this _____-someone was here to help you.
You chose not to take that path. The consequences are you losing your house and
doing nothing about it. This is your choice. The law is on your side. However
you must do whatever is right for your family. If you and _______ are happy
with the choices that you have made to date in the past then why
change?
I will get the docs returned to you no problem.
You could
have take action to save your house but there is nothing more I can do. There
are so many people wanting help and you do not which is fine. I have done all I
can for both of you.
I wish you well.
kiwi
Can you believe that?! The arrogance and bold pressure is amazing. Here was my response to her:
Kiwi,
Thanks for your passionate response. I've stated my desires and I
appreciate you returning the docs asap. If this business practice of yours
really is legitimate then a reputable company will perform the same service for
no up front fee; I'll go with them. I will never purchase any product from you
or any company you represent. I don't say that in anger or out of malice; it's
just my conviction, that's all. Also, for your sake, make sure you remember to
disconnect from a phone call before you speak ill of someone to another.
Regards,
________________________
________________________, Inc.
____________________
_______________________
(Sent from my
BlackBerry® device)
And here was her final response to me when I demanded she send back my loan docs.:
ok will
do
FYI-we saved 11 homes before Christmas that were in
foreclosure...
take care
"Restoring the American Dream one
home at a time!"
Kiwi Le-Compte MBA, MMS
FSFS Professional-National
Mortgage Stabilization Program
951-587-1030 cell
[email protected]
www.freshstartfinancialsolutions.com
Postal:4364
Bonita Road, Suite 211
Bonita. Ca 91902
Once again, I'm so sorry. I hope you and the many others that were hurt by these people will be able to obtain a judgment and/or criminal prosecution for these crimes. I will be happy to help if I'm needed.
Take care,
_________
Victim
Carlsbad,#6Author of original report
Mon, December 20, 2010
I just received this email from MelindaKiwi Le Compte on 12/19/2010:
Hi Jan
Hope you are well
I have received a copy of your report on the above website. Can you please remove my name from it. I was told that you wrote it. You are correct in your statements andI support you and appreciate that you did not write any false statements about me but I do not want to be associated with Art in any manner. I have my own legal matters with him that I am pursuing. All I would like is my name leftout of your story.
Just to let you know consultants were hired 1099 and their compensation was based on a commission at the backend if a client is successful.
So of course consultants have worked the last 2 years for free other than a small commission paid for signing up a client.
Also Art has refused to communicate with anyone directly since January 2010.
I would really again appreciate not being mentioned in the report as I am trying to move on with my life professionally.
Please let me know if you will action this request. I am very disappointed in Art as he has hurt and negatively affected so many lives including my own friends who were in the program.
Thanks Jan
Kiwi.