Quick Answer: To fight Litigation Practice Group after unauthorized charges, contact the bank immediately to dispute the $259 charge as fraud and file complaints with state attorney general and CFPB. The company has documented customer service issues including intimidation tactics and processing payments despite agreed cancellations.
Question:
Dear Steve,
A month ago, I looked into the services of LITIGATION ASSOCIATES / AKA DANIEL MARCH. {ED: I believe Daniel meant Litigation Practice Group.]
Every weekday I read the enforcement actions, filings and fine print the outlets skip, and turn them into the one or two moves that actually improve your position — a rate worth moving for, a fee you can refuse, a deadline to beat before it costs you.
In the latest issue (Sep 16): The truck was $28,999 online. At the desk it’s $31,400. As of yesterday, the FTC says the ad was the lie.
I write Your Money Actually most weekdays — actionable money information you will not find anywhere else, and the small decisions that compound. It is free, I sell nothing, and I take no money from any company I write about.
I asked for a refund and cancellation a couple of weeks ago over the phone. My contact began to intimidate me with what could happen.
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I called again Thursday, three days ago, to verify. My contact said, according to his records, I had canceled, and he launched scare tactics, and I repeatedly told him I couldn’t afford it.
He manipulated me into scheduling the first payment till May to give me time to get my budget together and think about it.
Last night they took the $259 payment out, three days after he said he was pushing it off to May.
What is the best way to fight this?
I plan to start by going to my bank in the morning and declaring it either an unauthorized charge or fraud, whichever the fraud department says is more appropriate.
Additionally, what would you do?
Daniel
Answer:
Dear Daniel,
I sure have had a run of reader questions about Litigation Practice Group. I’m not sure why people are unhappy in general, but LPG seems to have a customer service issue that is leaving people not happy. I wish they would read my piece How to Handle a Consumer Complaint Like a Pro And Come Out Smelling Like a Rose.
This could give them a chance to turn any dissatisfied consumer into a happy customer or at least satisfied they had not made a mistake.
Consumers can become unhappy with a debt relief company for many reasons. Some are valid service issues, while other people might get emotionally stressed about their decision to hire X company.
Ultimately, any debt relief company can avoid consumers going out to complain, like you’ve done to me, by dealing with the issue, finding a mutually agreeable resolution, and leaving you feeling fantastic and confident the company has your interests at heart.
From what you’ve shared, it seems you decided to cancel the services of LPG; they acknowledged you canceled and then persuaded you to stay with the program with a delayed start and took the first payment early.
It feels like a combination of issues, but the result is you are pissed off.
Here is What You Can Do Now
As I just told Joy in this post, I believe people should give any company they are working with an opportunity to fix the issue. How a company responds gives you a good clue how much or how little they value their clients.
You should read my guide How to Get Your Money Back From a Debt Relief Company if You Feel Like You’ve Been Scammed.
You will see it is a good and orderly process to raise your issues and give the company a chance to do the right thing. If you are still not satisfied with the company’s response, you can escalate your issue.
Because Daniel March is an attorney, you can follow step 8 in the process if you get to that point.
I’d be at a loss for words if Litigation Practice Group didn’t just refund your $259, apologize, wish you well, and send you on your way with a smile.
What is the benefit of leaving a trail of grumbling former clients? I can’t think of any.
But then again, the BBB says they have received 184 complaints about the company in the last 12 months, yet the company still has an A+ rating? Huh?
Homework
Let me know what path you decide to follow and what the end result is by posting an update in the comments section.
Facing a Similar Situation? You’re not alone — and you have more options than you think. Start with the all your debt relief options page to see what’s realistic, or take the 2-minute bankruptcy quiz if the debt feels unmanageable. Federal Reserve research shows filers recover faster than those who don’t file. If a company is involved, run them through the Scam-O-Meter first.
What’s the next step? They moved my info to Phenix law with no information as to why. How can I get a refund been with lpg since 2021witj no results shown to date. Kinda feel like I have been screwed with my credit score tanked for so long. Who can I get in touch with or can help? Thank you
They promised me a full refund and have the emails to approve. Still have not received. What do I do?
This guy has gotta be in the crosshairs of the regulators by now. Pretty gutsy for someone who already had their law license suspended once in their career
Chances are, the ACH file had already been submitted to their bank, and the rep didn’t know it was too late to stop the soon-pending draft. If you call and they don’t quickly send your funds back, file an unauthorized draft claim with your bank, and you should get immediate credit in your account. The company could dispute the unauth claim, but that’s unlikely to happen.
Thank you for offering advice.
Asked question about LPG and canceling.
Just answered your question about Litigation Practice Group.