This is a copy of the letter my wife and I sent to Consumer Law Center after finding out they had done nothing on negotiating our credit card debts and after they breached their own contract with us. All calls take days for a return, the refund we were promised after complaining through the BBB never was honored and the receivership attorneys "assigned" are in-house hoods.
AS FOLLOWS:
Joanne Picciano
Account Executive
Consumer Law Center
210 North University Drive, Suite 900
Coral Springs, FL 33071
RE: Account ID 11-10079
Dear Ms. Picciano:
This letter is to complain about the service that the Consumer Law Center has provided to date. On June 8, 2007, we contacted the organization, the Attorney Network, in regards to our debt situation and the services that could be provided on our behalf. We were extremely nervous about taking this route, but Marilynn LeTourneau at the Attorney Network reassured us that if we were not completely satisfied with the results, we would be able to receive a 100% refund even after the initial 45 days as well as a year later. She explained to us that as soon as the process was started that our credit situation would improve because creditors could not report anything to the credit bureau other than that the accounts were in dispute.
To date our situation stands:
Our credit score has worsened as the debts are still on our reports as charged off.
We have had credit cards in excellent standing closed due to the outstanding debts on the accounts forwarded to your firm.
Interest rates have increased on accounts in good standing due to the outstanding debts on the accounts forwarded to your firm.
We have received no communication from the Consumer Law Center in regards to our account status.
We are now facing a chapter 7 bankruptcy for your actions with our credit.
In April, we received a newsletter from your firm stating, We are not immediately paying your credit card bills with the money you send us. We take our fees out of the money that you send us and then after we receive our fees we hold the balance for future settlements. However, there are no guarantees that we can settle your debts. The letter also stated, You may be sued by your creditor by participating in our program and your credit may be adversely affected by participating in our program. These statements are very discerning as this is a direct contradiction from what we were initially told by the Attorney Network when we originally signed up for this service. This information was provided to us in your April newsletter, 10 months after we were assigned your services via the Attorney Network.
Today, we received another newsletter for July stating, Be advised that we have changed your address listed with the creditors from our office back to your original address for all accounts enrolled in the program. This now indicates to our creditors that we are no longer represented by an attorney to settle our debts. This action will cause the creditors to contact our family members and other personal contacts we may have including employment. We are paying the Consumer Law Center to represent us on our behalf and now our creditors will no longer be in contact with the firm that is being paid to do so.
The last activity that we have seen on our account with the Consumer Law Center was on October 29, 2007 with a letter that was sent to us notifying that the Attorney General was sent a complaint for two of our creditors based on the call logs that we had provided to your office. Since then, we have not received any status on the progress of our account with your firm. To read the April and July newsletters, it appears that no progress has will be made until your firm receives payment for your fees.
We sought local legal advice as to the validity of this contract per original terms and to the effect of recent changes enacted by CLC (re: moving addresses back into our home addresses). Our attorney mandated breach of contract per this and prior actions on your behalf. Additionally you have violated the trust of the contract by:
1. Providing an internet website for up to date status of the account has never been done.
2. BBB score now an F large number of complaints for non-service.
3. No monthly contact or updates to the disposition of the debts.
4. Newsletter contradicts recorded verbal statements made by the Attorney Network call center staff that full refunds are available at any time, that CLC only takes 25% of monthly payment with rest going in escrow to immediately settle accounts.
As of 7-7-2008, we no longer accept legal representation from Consumer Law Center, the Attorney Network, and entities in their behalf. We revoke the right of Consumer Law Center from debiting funds from our bank account and we have notified our bank to stop payment of such.
We plan to contact the Better Business Bureau (BBB) as to this situation and will be filing a complaint to recover 75% of the $11, 544.26 fees that you have collected without providing any services to the disposal of our credit debt. As we were told by The Attorney Network we were entitled to a full refund at any time minus the 25% fees for your service.
Additionally, you will be receiving additional notice via our attorney to this effect, and to cease this contract.
Phillip
Fort Worth, Texas
U.S.A.