My goodness, truth is stranger than fiction and this story is a doozy.
So here it goes. The players in this story are:
Johnson Law Group, LLC, a Nevada company
The Johnson Law Group, PLLC, a Florida Company
Executive Settlement Services, Inc., a Florida company (ESS)
Consumer and Business Debt Counseling Services, Inc. a Florida company (CBDC)
Thomas J. Roland (Thomas Roland)
At one time the Johnson Law Group NV contracted with Consumer and Business Debt Counseling Services (CBDC) and Executive Settlement Services (ESS) to provide services for clients Johnson Law Group NV needed for clients it had received by paying groups for leads that eventually became clients of its debt settlement services. When CBDC and ESS could not assist the client, the client was then returned to Johnson Law Group NV for assistance.
In November of 2006 the Johnson Law Group NV and CBDC entered into a back office outsourcing agreement. In exchange CBDC would receive payment for each client it provided services.
In 2007 Thomas Roland approached Johnson Law Group NV and wanted to expand business. CBDC is run by Isaac Bobbe and Pablo Mendelson and is owned in part by Thomas Roland. Issac Bobbe and Thomas Roland own Elimidebt Management Systems, a company that is in trouble with the West Virginia Attorney General.
A lawsuit filed over all this stuff states that “During 2007, a large debt consolidation law firm in Florida (Hess Kennedy), was investigated for improper activity. Based on this change, Roland allegedly saw an opportunity to expend the rolls his companies played in Florida and an opportunity to set up a law form similar to Johnson law Group NV to operate out of the Florida market.” Source
Thomas Roland approached the Johnson Law Group NV about expanding to the Florida market and they decided to pass. Here is where it gets interesting. After Thomas Roland gets shot down by Johnson Law Group NV Thomas Roland was a part of opening up Johnson Law Group FL to provide debt relief and debt settlement services.
The plan appears to have been to essentially duplicate the services offered by Johnson Law Group NV under the new entity of Johnson Law Group FL. And as the suit states, with Thomas Roland’s knowledge of the inside of the relationship with CBDC, ESS and Johnson Law Group NV, it gave him an advantage in not having to reinvest the wheel to launch the new confusingly similar company in Florida to provide similar services. This all happens even though CBDC and ESS have agreements in place with Johnson Law Group NV and partners.
Johnson Law Group NV alleges that once Roland opened Johnson Law Group FL he encouraged debt settlement marketers to steer clients to Johnson Law Group FL instead of Johnson Law Group NV. And it is claimed that Johnson Law Group FL has received clients that thought they were going to Johnson Law Group NV.
Johnson Law Group FL is run by Clint Johnson (cjohnson@johnsonlawgroup.us). Interestingly his office address, as of at least April, 2009, is now in the same building as the Thomas Roland companies of Consumer and Business Debt Counseling Services, Elimidebt Management Systems, and Enhanced Servicing Solutions. It all sounds very cozy.
It appears that the Johnson Law Group FL has had a busy year with a number of consumer complaints against them. In fact they have now earned an “F” rating by the BBB.
Clint Johnson appears to be a busy man in his community having been a member in founding Empowerment Ministries Church as well.
This situation is still ongoing but I think it’s going to be interesting to watch how this unfolds. I am especially interested to see how Clint Johnson, who might now be in a business relationship with someone he can’t trust not to steel his business, can synch his obviously strong Christian beliefs with the damage done by the debt settlement industry. WWJD
All of this reminds me of that old adage, “If you can’t trust a debt settlement company…” Hum, I guess we’ll just have to change the adage to end right there. Apparently you just can’t trust a debt settlement company, at all.
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I need to know how to contact the group in Florida, they called and said they owe us $1600.00 about 9 weeks ago due to when my husband used them they did not fulfill thier obligations. Lady said we would get the $1600. but have not receievd it yet. J. Hunter
The number is 407-929-7288. I have called several times an Clint johnson says that they went to the final court session on Aug21. an now its up to the courts to decide when we get our money if we get it.
Can someone please let me know who I can contact about dispersant of fund owed. I am in contact with the Florida Bar, but feel like they don’t know crap. My email is bellstarr3@gmail.com. Thank you so much !!
They sold my social security number and they are just evil. Beware !!!
August of 2011 i received a letter stating that they will no longer be collecting funds from my account so i have been calling every week to see about my refund. well what do u know i have to leave a message and sometimes Clint Johnson calls me back but its the same ole bull crap story about the court not finalizing everything. And he tells me to call back next month. What the hell, im so tired of this. I want my refund NOW!!!!
I contacted johnson law group a year ago to get my funds returned to me since they were in the process of going bankrupt. To my surprise I called the beginning of July and was informed to call after July 16th which supposely was their final court date to reach a decision. Now guess what the phones are disconnected and they still have my money……
that happened to me too
To whom it concern,I,m a client of this outfit.I been trying to call you,it keep on say,something about the phone and i keep on calling back,nothing.My name is Lannie Lesperance,I trying to find out,how much longer that i have with this Johnson Law Group. Please contact me,Thank You.
RACHELLE STARR- I am a past client of the above company and have recently discovered while going over my credit report, that the services rendered were done inappropriately. considering, things are still on my credit report. Just GREAT!!! And this was done by a “christian” no less. What do I do now? Who is going to assist me in resolving this issue? Am I going to get my money back ? I am a single mother who just got out of the military. After a bitter and horrible divorce, I relied on them to assist me with debts, my ex-husband ran up. I manned up to handle this… and now ?? I am at a complete loss!!
We (in Hawaii) have been trying for ages to access our funds from JLG. Thanks for all of your comments. All other suggestions are welcome.
We (in Hawaii) have been trying for ages to gain access to our funds being held by JLG.
Thanks very much for all your comments.
Any and all other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Don’t use them I owed 14k in bills paid out 11k and somehow still owe 9 k
They will rip you off
You will not get back any of it and they claim to have reimbursed me almost 200.00 a check I never got
I have called with no results
I am filing a complaint with the bar association
Debtwave has been an excellent service for me. I started with over 140,000 in debt and am down to below 90,000. They always answer the phone, e-mail me back or call me proactively if there’s a question. Super courteous, professional and honest. Seriously.
I’m a smart guy and I tried for nearly two years to negotiate directly with my creditors to reduce rates. I did NOT want to go to a counseling agency. I wish I had just started with them back then, because I would be almost done by now. Instead I paid over $60,000 more in interest than I had to.
Ultimately, a commercial lender I know was the one who referred me to them because he had a number of clients who had success with them.
I did have some concerns, initially, with the Sales Rep who was a little pushy. Do what I did – tell them to back off. If it’s a good idea today, then it’s a good idea in two weeks or a month. After I thought about it a while (and saw that I would recoup my upfront fee in two month’s of interest savings) I decided to go ahead.
A couple of hints if you are starting one of these programs (which you should)
1.) If you have a lot of accounts, start with one or two. First, the set-up fee is based on your initial monthly payments. You can come back later and add more.
2.) If you are interested in protecting your credit, you should make double payments (send one payment to the creditor yourself, on top of the one Debtwave is sending). Sometimes creditors won’t post a payment until a plan has been accepted.
Past due payments during the proposal period can also cause your proposal to be rejected, or come back with different numbers than what were originally proposed.
It’s been a totally positive experience for me, and I have gotten other people involved with Debt Management Programs since. I’m ending my “wage slaveryâ€, so I’m a convert.
It appears that people who have problems with counseling agencies are in denial about the real problem, and just want someone to blame for their problem. People with problems with their CCCS may also be confused with another Johnson Law Group, which is definitely a scam operation and in the news a bit, too. The Florida and Nevada ones – stay clear. San Diego – good to go – RATED A from BBB.
You don’t get something for free and the fees these companies charge are WELL WORTH the service you receive.
Feel free to e-mail me if you want to discuss these guys or credit services in general.
Debtwave has been an excellent service for me. I started with over 140,000 in debt and am down to below 90,000. They always answer the phone, e-mail me back or call me proactively if there’s a question. Super courteous, professional and honest. Seriously.
I’m a smart guy and I tried for nearly two years to negotiate directly with my creditors to reduce rates. I did NOT want to go to a counseling agency. I wish I had just started with them back then, because I would be almost done by now. Instead I paid over $60,000 more in interest than I had to.
Ultimately, a commercial lender I know was the one who referred me to them because he had a number of clients who had success with them.
I did have some concerns, initially, with the Sales Rep who was a little pushy. Do what I did – tell them to back off. If it’s a good idea today, then it’s a good idea in two weeks or a month. After I thought about it a while (and saw that I would recoup my upfront fee in two month’s of interest savings) I decided to go ahead.
A couple of hints if you are starting one of these programs (which you should)
1.) If you have a lot of accounts, start with one or two. First, the set-up fee is based on your initial monthly payments. You can come back later and add more.
2.) If you are interested in protecting your credit, you should make double payments (send one payment to the creditor yourself, on top of the one Debtwave is sending). Sometimes creditors won’t post a payment until a plan has been accepted.
Past due payments during the proposal period can also cause your proposal to be rejected, or come back with different numbers than what were originally proposed.
It’s been a totally positive experience for me, and I have gotten other people involved with Debt Management Programs since. I’m ending my “wage slavery”, so I’m a convert.
It appears that people who have problems with counseling agencies are in denial about the real problem, and just want someone to blame for their problem. People with problems with their CCCS may also be confused with another Johnson Law Group, which is definitely a scam operation and in the news a bit, too. The Florida and Nevada ones – stay clear. San Diego – good to go – RATED A from BBB.
You don’t get something for free and the fees these companies charge are WELL WORTH the service you receive.
Feel free to e-mail me if you want to discuss these guys or credit services in general.
I started an account with CBDC thinking that I would ease my debt burden from my divorce in 2009. WOW was I woowed by this company. I paid the $845.00 to the schmuck and then had JLG-FL take over the accounts. Ever since then I have had late payment notices on my Credit Report. I have emailed the company and even talked with Mr. Clint Johnson. Now my Credit Scored has suffered even more with them managing my accounts. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU STEER CLEAR OF THIS COMPANY. Now I am out of a job and cannot get even a small loan due to their messy way of handeling account.
I started an account with CBDC thinking that I would ease my debt burden from my divorce in 2009. WOW was I woowed by this company. I paid the $845.00 to the schmuck and then had JLG-FL take over the accounts. Ever since then I have had late payment notices on my Credit Report. I have emailed the company and even talked with Mr. Clint Johnson. Now my Credit Scored has suffered even more with them managing my accounts. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU STEER CLEAR OF THIS COMPANY. Now I am out of a job and cannot get even a small loan due to their messy way of handeling account.
1-800-901-5691
Scam stay away from this company…they took me for $1000s of dollars
Scam stay away from this company…they took me for $1000s of dollars
I don’t care what they call themselves. They lowered my interest rates by over 20% on all of my credit cards and have done everything they said they would do. I have been checking monthly with all of my credit card companies and they haven’t missed a payment yet.
I am a customer with CDRG/Johnson Law Group & have been for a few years. I seem to be having a problem getting in touch with them lately. Now, the phone numbers are disconnected. Is the company changing hands? What is the new number? Also, who is the person in charge of CDRG/Johnson Law Group. I would like to speak with a manager/supervisor regarding my account. I have send letters, faxes, e-mails, & phone calls are never returned, which I find very dissapointing. Can someone please call me at 781-589-6789 or e-mail back. Thankyou.
Lil Silva
1-800-901-5691
I too have been doing business with Johnson Law Group PC. After receiving the letter in June I told them not to forward my account to the next firm. Last week I got a refund check that was about 1/5 of what I paid in. They have never contacted my creditors therefore none of the money should have been spent. If I cash this check it means I am accepting this settlement. I feel I should get a complete refund. What should I do now?
Debbie,
Unless they asked you sign something or the check says that it was a full refund, it should not be a full refund. I’d say deposit it and follow How to Get Out of a Debt Settlement Program and Get a Big Refund.
Steve
Thank you for your response.
The check says Client Refund
The letter and the check are both from The Johnson Law Group in Orlando, FL the letter says “Your endorsement of this check shall serve as a satisfaction and accord of the termination of your account with The Johnson Law Group, PLLC (Flordia).”
I have already filed a complaint with the AG in NV and the FTC.
Hum, Does it anywhere define what “Your endorsement of this check shall serve as a satisfaction and accord of the termination of your account with The Johnson Law Group, PLLC (Flordia).” means?
I’d suggest you talk this matter over with a local attorney before you cash the check. I would hate to see you waive any right or enter a settlement you may not know about.
Steve
Update: I have filed a complaint against The Johnson Law Group (Navada) with FTC, Atty General, Navada State Bar and BBB. I encourage each of you to do the same. They are following up on the reports and the more people that file the better. All of these agencies have online forms and it only takes a few minutes. I encourage you not give up on this.
Debbie,
you’re generally correct with regards to cashing that check, if you do you could be out of gas to recover anymore of your funds. you might want to check with the AG’s office and the bar assoc, or even a local attny. maybe you should sit on it for a few days, take a couple of deep breaths then consider your options.
I signed up with Johnson Law Group, NV a little over a year ago. Last month I received notice that my account was being transferred to Johnson Law Group, FL. I had paid NV all the fees I owed them, however, no debts were settled. Then FL sent me a letter that they don’t manage accounts in my state. I cannot locate NV any longer. All the phones are disconnected and the websites are gone. They got all their fees, dumped to an inappropriate group and are gone.
Is there anyone I can contact? It seems I’ve been scamed.
M,
Contact the office of the Attorney General in Nevada and your state if it is different.
Steve
I called the Attorney General in my state and was told they do not handle complaints concerning Law Firms that you have to contact the Bar Association. I did file a complaint with the FTC.
just received this phone number, its only a voicemail and who knows if they will actually call you back. 702.490.0793
Im a victim too, Johnson is practicing in Washington state and he needs to convicted.
Write to me.
kim.delson@yahoo.com and let me give you the names of who we have to go after.
Kim
Sorry, I don’t listen to people who can’t even spell.
Great investigative piece again. I enjoy reading your work. Keep them coming!
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