- Report: #449300
Complaint Review: Liberty Settlements - Houston Texas
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Liberty Settlements
10333 Harwin Dr Ste 180 Houston, 77036 Texas, U.S.A.
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713-8008130
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Liberty Settlements Another victim of their ripoff schemes charged for services that were not rendered.... Houston Texas
*Author of original report: UPDATE on "Another victim" in Indianapolis
*Author of original report: still waiting...
*Consumer Comment: I too feel that Liberty Settlements has scammed me
*Author of original report: My hopes of a fair settlement have been dashed....
*Author of original report: My hopes of a fair settlement have been dashed....
*Author of original report: My hopes of a fair settlement have been dashed....
*Author of original report: My hopes of a fair settlement have been dashed....
My family like so many today was struggling in debt. We considered bankruptcy, but I didn't like the idea of stiffing people who had extended us credit in good faith. When Liberty Settlements said they could settle our debts for 40% of their current balance and have us debt free in three years or less, it seemed almost too good to be true! Sadly, like most things that seem too good to be true, it wasn't.
Early on I started worrying because the company takes their commission upfront instead of waiting until the debt is settled and taking the commission along with the payment. I tried to ease my concerns with the knowledge that I was "guaranteed" that if they didn't settle the bills, I didn't have to pay them. How could I lose???
The smallest of the bills I filed with them was only a few hundred dollars, so as soon as my account balance at Rocky Mountain was enough to pay off this bill, I started calling Liberty. I was told that in order to be effective, they needed to wait until they had enough money to settle the largest bill so that they could force the companies to 'bid' for a payment (company A is willing to take a 60% settlement, so unless you want to come down to 50%, they will get the money instead of you. company B went down to 50% but company C agreed to 45% so they get paid first, etc...) I didn't really get it, but I figured that they were the experts and I trusted them.
When the first summons arrived, I freaked out! I called and spoke with George Roberts (only now finding out that isn't his real name) and was admittedly screaming hysterically. I told him that getting mixed up with Liberty was the biggest mistake of my life and from where I sat, it looked like they were going to take their commissions then close up shop before a single bill got paid. I asked what reassurance I had that they weren't going to blindly rip me off, at which point he got quite defensive and rude. OK, so I'd basically called the man a crook; I guess I understand him not being my biggest fan, but my concern was legitimate. I asked Mr. Roberts if he would terminate my contract and allow me to 'walk away'. Give back the monies they had taken other than the bank account fees ($10 a month) and we could both forget this unpleasant experience. He refused. He said that they had 3 years to settle my accounts and I was unreasonable to expect them to be settled in less than half that time. If I had realized that I could have just stopped the autodebit authorization thru my bank, I'd have done it at that point, but I was led to believe that they had a legal and binding contract that required me to allow the debits. I thought I was just inviting Liberty to sue me along with my creditors, so I did nothing.
Currently, my family is 2 years into the 3 year death sentance. We've been able to settle 3 of the 5 accounts listed with Liberty, but the only substantial settlement discount offer that we received was the result of a wonderful creditor that I spoke with and negotiated a deal myself. Had I followed Liberty's advise and refused to speak with my creditor, I would still have that bill hanging over my head along with the 2 other accounts that have been granted summary judgement and may soon be garnished against our wages.
Liberty "graciously" allowed us to withdrawl the accounts that we were sued on, but neglected to tell us that they were not going to refund the fees. The new director of client services, Andrew Davis, who evidently replaced George Roberts, says that we can not be refunded the fees because we chose not to allow them to do the job they were contracted to do; in other words, they want us to continue paying them monthly for another year claiming that they will miraculously accomplish in the next 10-12 months what they have been unable or unwilling to do during the past 20+ months.
I am still corresponding with Mr. Davis, and nothing would please me more than to update this report with the news that Liberty has refunded the $1200 in fees that were collected even though they didn't honor their commitment to us. I will post again within 10 days and let everyone know if there have been any changes.
Angela
Indianapolis, Indiana
U.S.A.
Early on I started worrying because the company takes their commission upfront instead of waiting until the debt is settled and taking the commission along with the payment. I tried to ease my concerns with the knowledge that I was "guaranteed" that if they didn't settle the bills, I didn't have to pay them. How could I lose???
The smallest of the bills I filed with them was only a few hundred dollars, so as soon as my account balance at Rocky Mountain was enough to pay off this bill, I started calling Liberty. I was told that in order to be effective, they needed to wait until they had enough money to settle the largest bill so that they could force the companies to 'bid' for a payment (company A is willing to take a 60% settlement, so unless you want to come down to 50%, they will get the money instead of you. company B went down to 50% but company C agreed to 45% so they get paid first, etc...) I didn't really get it, but I figured that they were the experts and I trusted them.
When the first summons arrived, I freaked out! I called and spoke with George Roberts (only now finding out that isn't his real name) and was admittedly screaming hysterically. I told him that getting mixed up with Liberty was the biggest mistake of my life and from where I sat, it looked like they were going to take their commissions then close up shop before a single bill got paid. I asked what reassurance I had that they weren't going to blindly rip me off, at which point he got quite defensive and rude. OK, so I'd basically called the man a crook; I guess I understand him not being my biggest fan, but my concern was legitimate. I asked Mr. Roberts if he would terminate my contract and allow me to 'walk away'. Give back the monies they had taken other than the bank account fees ($10 a month) and we could both forget this unpleasant experience. He refused. He said that they had 3 years to settle my accounts and I was unreasonable to expect them to be settled in less than half that time. If I had realized that I could have just stopped the autodebit authorization thru my bank, I'd have done it at that point, but I was led to believe that they had a legal and binding contract that required me to allow the debits. I thought I was just inviting Liberty to sue me along with my creditors, so I did nothing.
Currently, my family is 2 years into the 3 year death sentance. We've been able to settle 3 of the 5 accounts listed with Liberty, but the only substantial settlement discount offer that we received was the result of a wonderful creditor that I spoke with and negotiated a deal myself. Had I followed Liberty's advise and refused to speak with my creditor, I would still have that bill hanging over my head along with the 2 other accounts that have been granted summary judgement and may soon be garnished against our wages.
Liberty "graciously" allowed us to withdrawl the accounts that we were sued on, but neglected to tell us that they were not going to refund the fees. The new director of client services, Andrew Davis, who evidently replaced George Roberts, says that we can not be refunded the fees because we chose not to allow them to do the job they were contracted to do; in other words, they want us to continue paying them monthly for another year claiming that they will miraculously accomplish in the next 10-12 months what they have been unable or unwilling to do during the past 20+ months.
I am still corresponding with Mr. Davis, and nothing would please me more than to update this report with the news that Liberty has refunded the $1200 in fees that were collected even though they didn't honor their commitment to us. I will post again within 10 days and let everyone know if there have been any changes.
Angela
Indianapolis, Indiana
U.S.A.
7 Updates & Rebuttals
Anonymous in indiana
Fairland,Indiana,
U.S.A.
My hopes of a fair settlement have been dashed....
#2Author of original report
Wed, July 01, 2009
I had truly hoped, trusted, and believed that when Liberty Settlements asked that I send the documentation a second time, that they intended to "do the right thing". Even when my consistent phone calls and emails were not answered, I thought it could all work out. I should have that when a situation that was suppose to be resolved within 7 days had not been resolved after a month, I was just wasting time and spinning my wheels. After several unreturned phone calls, today I spoke with Andrew Davis who has basically stated that since my family is not being garnished (yet--note that we have a court date in 2 weeks which is, no doubt, for that very purpose), and also because we are not willing (or able) to take down our report on this site (which he claims is "disparaging" while I maintain that it is simply the truth), they will not refund the $1000+ undue commissions. This has been an expensive lesson for my family. I hope and pray that before others seek the services of this organization, that they thoroughly review the reports and comments that are available on the web. If, after considering these reports, they choose to continue with a contract with Liberty Settlements, my only response would be "BEST OF LUCK!"
Anonymous in indiana
Fairland,Indiana,
U.S.A.
My hopes of a fair settlement have been dashed....
#3Author of original report
Wed, July 01, 2009
I had truly hoped, trusted, and believed that when Liberty Settlements asked that I send the documentation a second time, that they intended to "do the right thing". Even when my consistent phone calls and emails were not answered, I thought it could all work out. I should have that when a situation that was suppose to be resolved within 7 days had not been resolved after a month, I was just wasting time and spinning my wheels. After several unreturned phone calls, today I spoke with Andrew Davis who has basically stated that since my family is not being garnished (yet--note that we have a court date in 2 weeks which is, no doubt, for that very purpose), and also because we are not willing (or able) to take down our report on this site (which he claims is "disparaging" while I maintain that it is simply the truth), they will not refund the $1000+ undue commissions. This has been an expensive lesson for my family. I hope and pray that before others seek the services of this organization, that they thoroughly review the reports and comments that are available on the web. If, after considering these reports, they choose to continue with a contract with Liberty Settlements, my only response would be "BEST OF LUCK!"
Anonymous in indiana
Fairland,Indiana,
U.S.A.
My hopes of a fair settlement have been dashed....
#4Author of original report
Wed, July 01, 2009
I had truly hoped, trusted, and believed that when Liberty Settlements asked that I send the documentation a second time, that they intended to "do the right thing". Even when my consistent phone calls and emails were not answered, I thought it could all work out. I should have that when a situation that was suppose to be resolved within 7 days had not been resolved after a month, I was just wasting time and spinning my wheels. After several unreturned phone calls, today I spoke with Andrew Davis who has basically stated that since my family is not being garnished (yet--note that we have a court date in 2 weeks which is, no doubt, for that very purpose), and also because we are not willing (or able) to take down our report on this site (which he claims is "disparaging" while I maintain that it is simply the truth), they will not refund the $1000+ undue commissions. This has been an expensive lesson for my family. I hope and pray that before others seek the services of this organization, that they thoroughly review the reports and comments that are available on the web. If, after considering these reports, they choose to continue with a contract with Liberty Settlements, my only response would be "BEST OF LUCK!"
Anonymous in indiana
Fairland,Indiana,
U.S.A.
My hopes of a fair settlement have been dashed....
#5Author of original report
Wed, July 01, 2009
I had truly hoped, trusted, and believed that when Liberty Settlements asked that I send the documentation a second time, that they intended to "do the right thing". Even when my consistent phone calls and emails were not answered, I thought it could all work out. I should have that when a situation that was suppose to be resolved within 7 days had not been resolved after a month, I was just wasting time and spinning my wheels. After several unreturned phone calls, today I spoke with Andrew Davis who has basically stated that since my family is not being garnished (yet--note that we have a court date in 2 weeks which is, no doubt, for that very purpose), and also because we are not willing (or able) to take down our report on this site (which he claims is "disparaging" while I maintain that it is simply the truth), they will not refund the $1000+ undue commissions. This has been an expensive lesson for my family. I hope and pray that before others seek the services of this organization, that they thoroughly review the reports and comments that are available on the web. If, after considering these reports, they choose to continue with a contract with Liberty Settlements, my only response would be "BEST OF LUCK!"
Yep, Me Too
Playa Del Rey,California,
U.S.A.
I too feel that Liberty Settlements has scammed me
#6Consumer Comment
Sun, June 21, 2009
I have been in Liberty Settlements "debt settlement" program for over a year. They have had enough money to settle one or two accounts for about six months now. Yet, there has been no settlement. Their fees have almost been paid in full and there has been zero action. I am very interested in what happens in the case of the gentleman from Indiana. Perhaps if we can get a few more people to surface, the Texas Attorney General would be inclined to provide assistance. Please advise.
Anonymous in indiana
Fairland,Indiana,
U.S.A.
still waiting...
#7Author of original report
Mon, June 01, 2009
It has now been two weeks since Liberty was provided the documentation they said was needed to process our refund. As I haven't heard a peep out of them, I phoned the office this morning but was only able to reach Mr. Davis' voice mail. I've left a message, so let's see if I hear back. More updates to come within 10 days.
Anonymous in indiana
Fairland,Indiana,
U.S.A.
UPDATE on "Another victim" in Indianapolis
#8Author of original report
Tue, May 26, 2009
Although Mr. Davis was in no way pleased with my decision to post with "Ripoff Report", he indicated that his initial inclination was to "work on my refund". He was now hesitating as he seemed to believe that I had taken a hostile and slanderous action against the company in generally and possibly even himself personally. I encouraged him to read my posting and if in fact there was ever an intention to refund my monies, than there was no reason to refuse on this basis. At Mr. Davis' request, I have faxed paperwork relating to the two court cases directly to his attention. He has requested 7 days to take action on these documents. Although the 7 day period expired yesterday, in light of the holiday and as a good-faith gesture, I am allowing an additional 48 hours. I will post an additional update this week with reference to Mr. Davis' current response and the status of our refund. In the event that the requested refund is or has already been issued, I will have to concede that Mr. Davis is striving to provide a legitimate service for which the company collects only the fees that they initially agreed to. Although I have found that an individual can effectively negotiate their own settlements to a more positive end than using a debt settlement company, I will not hold the company at fault and will agree that they lived up to their commitment despite some major road bumps. I am still hopeful!!!!
