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My Response to Tripoint Statement Below
A big Kudo is owed to Michael Barsoum, the CEO of Alleviate/TriPoint. You can read his statement below. Tripoint reacted as a great company should. They admitted the issue, dealt with it, and addressed concerns raised. You absolutely can’t ask for more than that.
From my point of view the mark of a great company is not if issues may happen, but how they deal with them. Michael took the time to fly out to see me and after several hours of talking to Michael, face-to-face, I think he is an honorable businessman with good intentions who eagerly wants to do the right thing.
I would expect any TriPoint or Alleviate customer who may have an issue to find satisfaction with the company. And if an issue should happen and the customer isn’t satisfied with the company response, then ask to speak to Michael directly and give him a chance to rectify any unhappiness or frustration.
Michael and I had a very extensive conversation about the need for exceptional customer service and his approach to dealing with issues is a welcome and rare breath of fresh air when compared to the junk I typically see.
As far as the concerns I had about the original mailer I wrote about, I don’t believe that Tripoint was trying to get away with anything sinister but that they fell into a marketing effort that is similar to what other more problematic companies are using.
A big hat tip is owed to the company and Michael for the response.
Response from TriPoint March 12, 2019
Hello Steve and Respected Readers,
There are many loan offers that come in the mail that can appear to be called B.S. and raise concerns for consumers. . . At first glance, Tri-Point Lending can appear to be one of those companies. However, the truth is that Tripoint Lending has and still is a licensed CFL company registered with the DBO and has already funded millions of dollars in loans.
As advertised in the TriPoint Lending mailer, the interest rates offered to the consumer can be received. However, that will depend upon the applicant’s qualifications at the time of the application. TriPoint Lending strives to be transparent and takes compliance very seriously. That is why the company has the integrity to disclose all the true range of possible interest rates in our marketing materials even if it is not beneficial to them.
Tripoint Lending is a registered DBA of Alleviate Financial LLC, not to be confused with Alleviate Financial Solutions LLC. I would like to add that Steve, the Get Out of Debt Guy, rightfully found a discrepancy in the address of the business. The necessity for an address change with the DBO was, in fact, an oversight, and has since been updated.
Sincerely,
Michael Barsoum MBA/JD
Chief Executive Officer
Alleviate Financial LLC. DBA Tripoint Lending
Original Post
A big thank you to a great reader that sent in a mailer they received from TriPoint Lending.
At first glance the company, TriPoint Lending mailer has no identification on it to indicate where the company is located. But I did find a company using the same logo at tripointlending.com.
The fine print on the TriPoint Lending website says TriPoint Lending is an alias of a company called Alleviate Financial, LLC in California. And guess what, Alleviate Financial is a debt relief/debt settlement group. This certainly appears to be yet another example of a persona loan mailer leading to a potential pitch for debt settlement services.
Keeping in mind that Alleviate Financial is really TriPoint Lending and the TriPoint mailer is silent on who is behind the mailer, I had to laugh out loud when I read this on the Alleviate Financial website. “We promise complete honesty and transparency so that you can feel comfortable and have peace of mind. There will never, ever be any hidden costs or ulterior motives in our business practices.” – Source
The fine print on the TriPoint Lending website says, “TriPoint Lending is a Marketing Lead Generator” so I suppose they could certainly be generating leads for themselves as Alleviate Financial.
Alleviate Financial, LLC, the debt settlement company is a registered lender in California since 2-2-2018. They list their business address as 780 West Town and Country, Building E, Orange, California 92868. The State of California says they are located at the same address and Michael Barsoum is the CEO. – Source
TriPoint Lending is not a registered lender name. – Source
So the name on the mailer offering a loan is TriPoint Lending, which is not a registered lender name in California but is an alias for Alleviate Financial, which is a registered lender but not identified on the mailer. Not very transparent.
The back of the mailer does confirm the tripointlending.com website I found is theirs. It also says the interest rate of any loan may be 5.49% to 30.00%.
The listed address for Alleviate Financial was also the address of a group called US Legal Services that I wrote about in 2010.
A Michael Barsoum is or was associated with Student Debt Assist, US Financial Options, United Settlement Group, US Financial Options, and Solstice Support Services.
If you want to call me out for being too critical and maybe you think I’m being a bit too picky; that’s fine. Maybe it’s just me but I like to try to look at mailers and claims from the point of view of the average consumer and what information may not be apparent to them.
It does raise some concerns for me when a company that claims to be transparent is almost anything but transparent on the mailer being sent to consumers.
I do have an issue with the examples of payments being made on the mailer. The mailer says your new interest rate will be 5.49% but it is not until you get to the fine print that you see it could be up to 30%. It would be nice to know what the average rate people get when they actually get a loan and what percentage of people end up being denied a loan and pitched debt relief or debt settlement services instead.
If we look at the sample repayment using the TriPoint mailer it would take 96.69 months to repay a $49,000 loan at $628.25 a month at 5.49%. The same loan for the same time period would be 1,348.91 a month. and wind up costing a total of $130,426 over the 96 month period. The claimed original debt would cost $65,238 at 16% because payment of $1,470 would repay the balance in 44.38 months.
Let me be clear here. I’m not saying you should not do business with TriPoint Lending. I am saying that it might be worth doing your own look around and check the company out to make sure you are comfortable before you give up any sensitive information.
- The Ultimate Consumer Guide to Checking Out a Debt Relief Company Before You Sign On the Line
- How to Check Out a Business or Company to Avoid Getting Scammed or Ripped Off
An educated consumer is always the best customer. Educate yourself.
- Lexington Law Credit Repair Gets Hammered in Lawsuit Settlement. If You Sell Credit Repair – Wake Up! - August 28, 2023
- People That Got Scammed by Robocall Debt Relief Company Life Management Services of Orange County to Get Money Back - July 7, 2023
- Consumers Charged Illegal Student Loan Relief Fees to Get Some Scratch Back - July 7, 2023
Got the letter in the mail. TriPoint in the simulation check with a phone number that does not lead to TriPoint, also http://www.MyTPLoffer.com DOES NOT exist it takes me to another website that does not ask for the supposedly “Benefit ID”.
Sccaaammmmm be careful who you call to give your information before researching the company.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Tripoint lending was a waste of time , the mailer I received was a lie they do not help those in need at all.
Thank you for your feedback.
I was fired for telling clients the absolute truth. It is a good program and I have watched negotiators in action. I had a slight problem when my daughter was my supervisor, because she used me as an example and even made up incidents in which she targeted me as, an example. I never argued but she would call me in after work and apologize. The new manager who took over, had no previous experience in management, but lied her way into management. She had a little over two years experience, and still came to me for guidance. Michael Barsoum CEO, know little about loyalty.
I gave 120% to this company. Trained over 35 employees and did my job at informing and calming down upset clients. Never lied to them…never ever. 7 1/2 years of loyalty and dedication. Born in South Central LA, then moved to South Gate, where I moved to the top of the class from 3rd grade to Junior Huigh, excelling in sports and breaking records. I only left because I was jumped and beaten 5 times by students bussed in for us to reform, one of which was my best buddie Carolyn Scott. Carolyn was told if she didn’t throw the first double fisted kidney punch, she would suffer an attack. She was in tears when she asked me to stay home the next day. Having not missed a day of school, I ignored the warning. I changed schools that day and 3 of my teachers cried when I went to gets my grades and told them what was happening. I graduated in 1975 from Lynwood High School with Honors from the California Seal Bearers, and for being a 6 year member of the Natiobnal Honor Society. While accomplishing that I was Cheer Captain and help two part time jobs. Also, was crowned Miss Congeniality in the 1975 Miss Lynwood Beaty Pageant. Not to mention having fought 5 fights defending my younger sister who had been harassed because she wouldn’t join the Hispanic group, because she was 100% Scottish. I did not wish for her to experience the same fear and beatings I suffered. Then to experience racism again, after training so many people, one stood out. Only because, she didn’t understand what all the others took in immediately. I attributed it to her age and just tried to explain in more simple terms. She bragged about her position at Grace, Inc. When in fact she owned it from money gained by marrying a wealthy mid-eastern dignitary and divorcing him, seeking financial gain. After having written Michael Barsoum, CEO, regarding the racial intimidation and comments made by Shaleen Washington, in an effort to intimidate me, he made Shaleen manager over me and gave her my grievance against her. After almost 8 years of dedication and loyalty to Michael Barsoum, and the hundreds of clients I had saved by changing their mind and having them stay enrolled in the program, Michael Barsoum had the subject of my complaint fired me. My respect for Mr. Barsoum was now covered with hurt that he did not have the nerve to fire me himself. I can say I feel sympathy for anyone dealing with any of Michael Barsoum’s many (up to 10) operating or bankrupt companies. This is because honesty and loyalty, knowledge and dedication were thrown out, in order to facilitate a woman with less experience and only claimed position was a company she owned and made herself CEO.
I call BS also….TriPoint Lending and Alleviate Financial Solutions one in the same business managed by the same CEO. Alleviate Financial Solutions is a scam and everything they tell you is a lie.
Just received a letter today saying I am pre-qualified up to $37,000, but in the fine print it states max loans are $21,000. Appears scammy to me.
Oops.
I worked there. I saved clients daily. I was passed over because I did not have a college degree. I handled 38 marketing specialists and 28 service representatives. No one asked. Clients appreciated my honesty, but I was fired, because I refused to hang up on a recently widowed client. At which time, the phone was forcibly yanked from my hand from behind. I was then physically pushed aside, almost falling from my chair, for her to hang up on the client who was still speaking. I was forbidden to call the client back with an apology. The next workday was Monday. As I came to clock in, I was forcibly stopped. I was told to follow this aggressive manager, to her office. As I had trained this manager in the program, I found her to be a slower recipient of the information regarding our procedures. I spoke to the owner and explained that I feared going into work and that I was told to lie to the clients. This information was reversed on me and included in my termination after 7.5 years, and once being the only representative in the department. Client have since searched me out with their complaints, at which I still defended the companies.
Thank you for posting your comment and insight.
I just received my letter today.. Is this legit?
What does legit mean to you?
Steve, I got the mailer, too. I would want to know if it’s one of those deals where I pay them and then they pay whoever the lender is OR are my payments going directly to the lender? I know the former is a scam where your payments go to the servicer, the actual lender is never paid and you’re ultimately liable for the entire amount. Thanks
Those are great questions to ask them. But remember, the most important place to look will be to see what it says in the actual client agreement they ask you to sign. https://getoutofdebt.org//44985/ultimate-consumer-guide-to-checking-out-a-debt-relief-company
Has anyone shared their experience after they contacted Tripoint?
Just got one of these in the mail a couple days ago and the website on the mailer is incorrect! It says to visit myTPLoffer.com which I did…but it is a company named “Salt Creek”. How am I supposed to take this company seriously?
Steve this is great bit of insight on TriPoint. Got the same mailer . Don’t know if I’ll dive in but it may be an option . Good information !
Sent in mailer.
Mailer posted.