“Dear Steve,
I just read Kevin’s story & I think I have also been scammed! I signed up with the Debt Answer program in December 2009 and my monthly payment of $271.78 is being debited from my checking account by noteworld since January 2010. I have been paying for the last 6 months thinking that the law offices of Simon & Bocksch are talking to my creditors to arrive at a settlement.
Yesterday, I was so surprised to receive a summon from one of my creditors to answer the complaint they filed with the Supreme Court of the State of New York County of Ulster.
I contacted the Law Offices of Simon & Bocksch and they advised me to fax the summon documents to them so they could contact the creditor. Since this thing happened and after reading Kevin’s story, I have a strong feeling that I am a victim of consumer fraud and scam.
Please take time to read the email that was sent to me on the day that I signed up for the Debt Answer Program and let me know your thoughts on this.
With my current situation, I would like to seek your advise whether I should just cancel the debt settlement program and demand back all the payments I have made to noteworld. This situation has stressed me so much and I’m so furious at these companies who are operating dubiously and are victimizing consumers who are desperate to get debt relef. I look forward to your best advise Steve.
Marie
Arizona
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Congratulations Marie! You have completed The Debt Answer enrollment process.
Your first payment of $ 271.78 is due in your account on the 15th of each month starting 01/15/2010.
Initially, you will be contacted by the Law Office of Simon & Bocksch via email. Upon your first draft (which begins your enrollment) You will be contacted via telephone for your orientation. Of course, should you have any questions prior to this time, please do not hesitate to call them… they are here to help.
If you miss their call, please call them within two business days at 1-866-446-0969.
We also need you to collect all correspondence that you get each month, other than statements, and send a copy to us by fax or email at the end of the month.
Although Please Fax Over your most recent statements now that you have enrolled ASAP to 305-402-0396.
Also remember to contact us if you decide to change your phone numbers, so we will be able to stay in contact with you for important information regarding your settlements. Some clients never change their numbers and some do, so please remember to let us know if you do.
Law Office Primary Contact Information
Law Office of Simon & Bocksch
1001 Brickell Bay Drive Suite 1200
Miami, Florida 33131
Client Services: 1-866-446-0969
FAX: 305-402-0396
Email: customerservice@thedebtanswer.com
We have provided the following information for you file:
1) Enrollment Package – A copy of your enrollment package has been emailed to you. Please review your enrollment packet. If you have questions about your payment due-date and/or payment, please contact me. To be successful in this program, it is imperative that you follow through with your responsibilities as a client.
•Save your low monthly payment every month until there is enough money to pay a balloon payment to each creditor down the road. This is held for you by NoteWorld, our A+ BBB rated service provider.
•Be strong and remember that these are your debts. Although we cannot pay them for you, we can help you stick with your plan and save the funds to eventually pay off your debts.
•Please return our calls and emails promptly…communication with the Law Firm is critical!
•You are able to allow the Law Firm do all the communicating with your creditors. We know how to work well with them.
2) A copy of the Fair Debt and Collecting Act – You have federal rights given to you by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act that are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. Please read at your earliest convenience. (See Attachment)
We are excited about the opportunity to help you get out of debt with the least amount of time and the least amount of money. Rest assured that with the combination of resources at the Law Office of Simon & Bocksch and the A+ Rated NoteWorld, we will help get you and your family through this tough situation.
Thank you for allowing us to help start you on the path to being debt-free.
Regards,
Melissa LaRoach
Senior Debt Analyst
THE DEBT ANSWER / The Industry Leader in Debt Reduction
www.TheDebtAnswer.com / melissal@thedebtanswer.com
All Client Correspondence to:
1001 Brickell Bay Drive Suite 1200, Miami, Florida 33131
1-888-300-9232 EXT. 142”
Dear Marie,
Your question gave me the impression that you may have thought although you were paying the Law Office of Simon & Bocksch for help with your debt that somehow meant you had legal representation when it appears you don’t.
Even though the Simon & Bocksch says:
Because many clients are hesitant about signing on with a debt settlement company that does not have lawyers negotiating their debt, your potential new clients feel more confident and secure knowing that lawyers are handling the negotiations for your company.
When you read that statement a reasonable person could come to the conclusion that the lawyers negotiating my debt are legally representing me. They are not.
I could find no record of the attorneys (Ronald M. Simon, Rachelle Bocksch, or Marina Braginskaya) at Simon & Bocksch being admitted to practice law in Arizona or New York.
I did find it ironic that the Simon & Bosch site says “No Fee if No Recovery” but yet I think you will find you’ve already been charged a lot for the debt settlement program even though you’ve received no settlements.
If you were under the impression that signing up with a law office gave you any sort of legal protection to prevent creditors from suing you, you were mislead. As it appears, the law office that is collecting your money has no authority to even legally defend you in Arizona or New York.
I would not be surprised to learn that Noteworld has been paying the company out of the money you have deposited so far. I would be very surprised to find that the majority of the $1,630.68 you have paid in to date was not already deducted to pay debt settlement service fees in advance of services being delivered.
In order to get legal advice to deal with the court summons you have received in Arizona you must speak to an attorney licensed in Arizona. A summons is nothing to disregard. If you miss the deadline or don’t show, you will automatically lose the case and potentially wind up with a judgment and wage garnishment.
Remember this, being in a debt settlement program does NOT prevent you from being sued. The only way to block lawsuits from all your creditors is by seeking protection under bankruptcy. It would be a good idea for you to click here to find a local bankruptcy attorney, contact them, and discuss your situation. A local bankruptcy attorney can give you legal advice.
For the amount you’ve spent so far in this debt settlement program it would probably have paid all or most for filing bankruptcy and that would have blocked this suit and potentially others on the way, from happening.
Here is what I would suggest doing.
- Call Simon & Bocksch and ask them if they can legally represent you in New York or Arizona.
- If they say they can, which I can find no evidence of, then ask them how they plan to “legally stop this lawsuit” and prevent any others.
- Ask them the balance available in your Noteworld account for a refund.
- If you don’t like the answers you hear then tell them you wish to terminate the service and you expect a full refund.
- Let them know that if you do not receive a full refund by X date you will file complaints with the Florida Attorney General, Florida Bar Association, Arizona Attorney General, Arizona Bar Association, and the Federal Trade Commission.
I bet they will come back and say you signed an agreement saying you understood all this stuff, and buried down in the fine print it will probably say your payments go first towards debt settlement fees and they don’t provide legal representation. Regardless, file the complaints if you don’t get your refund.
Please update me on your progress by
You are not alone. I'm here to help. There is no need to suffer in silence. We can get through this. Tomorrow can be better than today. Don't give up. Do you have a question you'd like to ask me for free? Go ahead and click here.
Wow i wish that i had read all this before i got involved with these folks. I started with The Debt Answer, Simon and whatever then was told that they were partnered with Lloyd’s and then told that The Debt Answer had it back now. They also had me transfer my money from Global to a new account and told me it was to protect me from Lloyd.I got a summons from Discover and sent everything to them and was told not to worry that they would get me information that i could use at the summons. Yea right they never contacted me again until i sent them an e-mail thanking them for not helping me. The caller was another voice and it seems that i can never e-mail or talk with the same person. I did my own research on my case and presented it to the judge and the opposing attorney and the judge is giving me a trial by jury because i did manage to find things that were not right in the summons from Zwicker in areas the Discover and Discover Bank screwed up on. NO thanks to The Debt Answer. Their only advice was to show up. Then what sit on my ass and let them have their way with me. I am still with The Debt Answer but in contact with Global to see what i can do to get my money back.My only issue is that i paid several thousand dollars up front to The Dept Answer and Global gets 9 and 45 to the debt answer and the rest of my 467.00 per month goes to pay creditors. I will say this about Simon and even Lloyd and that is they between the two of them settled 5 of my credit cards for a reasonable settlement but when it came to Discover they just froze up letting them come after me for the full amount. It was almost like they had some business relationship with Discover? It also appears that i am suppose to be out of this by September of 2013 which just by chance is when the 4 year statutes runs out on the credit card companys in texas can collect. I wish there were some honest debt settlement folks out there so i do not have to go the bc direction. jj
Hi Marie
I believe I have been scammed by the debt answer also, they had Simon and Bosch as the lawyers, they switched to Lloyd & Ward, I signed up for a 4 year debt solution paying $256.00 per month , I have been with them since January of 2010 , they have paid one creditor, I owed about 9 creditors, they sent me an e-mail saying that if i would add my income tax return money to my account they can work with the creditors a lot easier, it looks like the contract is no longer viable, on the contract I believe it stated 4 years and all creditors would be paid. Need a lawyer to look into this .
I too was taken in by The Debt Answer/Simon & Bocksch scam……They sure talk a good line to get you to sign up for their program. After a year of not seeing any change or movement on their part, other than taking out a lot of money from my bank account, I contacted a local attorney. He advise me to cancel immediately tell them you wanted a refund of the money already paid…I got back about 12% of what they deducted. WHAT A JOKE!!!! If you are in trouble, seek out a good lawyer, may have to file bankruptcy but it’s better than being ripped off….
Maybe someone should start a class action suit against these people to get some kind of restitution.
Taken.
I too was taken in by The Debt Answer/Simon & Bocksch scam……They sure talk a good line to get you to sign up for their program. After a year of not seeing any change or movement on their part, other than taking out a lot of money from my bank account, I contacted a local attorney. He advise me to cancel immediately tell them you wanted a refund of the money already paid…I got back about 12% of what they deducted. WHAT A JOKE!!!! If you are in trouble, seek out a good lawyer, may have to file bankruptcy but it’s better than being ripped off….
Maybe someone should start a class action suit against these people to get some kind of restitution.
Taken.
Ouch, that’s not good.
If they have not offered you a full refund, follow this process I wrote. People have had good results.
I was not only scammed by them, but also received an email by mistake in which I was referred to as a “female bitch”. This email was sent by the same person there helping to negotiate my debt along to her other co-workers as well. I am no longer with them, and I am working with an attorney who came across the judgment sent to me and can really use that money that i wasted on them! Especially after what I was put through with that horrible unprofessional email. i did receive a call from the Mr. Simon and he apologized..big deal ..I still have the unprofessional email.. I definitely plan on at least filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Any other suggestions…I am definitely determined to make them pay one way or another!
I was not only scammed by them, but also received an email by mistake in which I was referred to as a “female bitch”. This email was sent by the same person there helping to negotiate my debt along to her other co-workers as well. I am no longer with them, and I am working with an attorney who came across the judgment sent to me and can really use that money that i wasted on them! Especially after what I was put through with that horrible unprofessional email. i did receive a call from the Mr. Simon and he apologized..big deal ..I still have the unprofessional email.. I definitely plan on at least filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Any other suggestions…I am definitely determined to make them pay one way or another!
Ouch, that’s not good.
If they have not offered you a full refund, follow this process I wrote. People have had good results.
I believe Lloyd Ward is a TX attorney- possibly licensed in MN. Should contact the state bars if you get no help or cannot reach that attorney
I Forgot to mention you that you need to make the complaint in one or each attorneys name not just the law firm in general.
I think Steve mentioned in his response that their were 3 attorneys: “Ronald M. Simon, Rachelle Bocksch, or Marina Braginskaya” .
Since this is a Law Firm the best thing to do in order to get their attention and some answers is to file a formal Complaint with the Florida Bar Association they will get you some kind of answer and discipline the attorneys if they find they are misleading people.
Trust me, Attorneys hate to get Bar Complaints and will respond to your complaint if they get one (they are required to under the Florida Bar Rules). This will be your best avenue. You can file a formal complaint with The Florida Bar: 651 E. Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2300. Their Website is http://www.flabar.org and phone #(866) 352-0707.
There is a complaint form you can download on their website: http://www.floridabar.org/TFB/…
I hope this helps.
Hdang916:
1. Contact your bank. File Fraud Charges.
2. Do all the steps Steve recommends.
3. Try an Attorney’s office and tell him/her what happened and ask how they can help.
4. You might try a Small Claims Court in your area, using this internet column as your proof.
Good luck..these dogs are going to be paying us back or else!
Dear Steve,
My husband and I were scammed by Simon & Bocksch AKA “The Debt Answer” under the processing of Noteworld. I have contacted Noteworld. They admitted taking out a portion of the billing charges. I contacted Simon & Bocksch. The Receptionist said they are no longer handling accounts and referred me to Loyd Ward & Associates (888) 448-8182. This was a recording. I contacted my bank and am filing FRAUD charges as well as what you mentioned. The terrible thing is that in addition to this, someone from Loyd Ward & Associates was calling my parents (from my account set up) and asking for money, stating that I owed over $700!! TOTAL SCAM! I am turning them into the authorities!
Dear Steve,
My husband and I were scammed by Simon & Bocksch AKA “The Debt Answer” under the processing of Noteworld. I have contacted Noteworld. They admitted taking out a portion of the billing charges. I contacted Simon & Bocksch. The Receptionist said they are no longer handling accounts and referred me to Loyd Ward & Associates (888) 448-8182. This was a recording. I contacted my bank and am filing FRAUD charges as well as what you mentioned. The terrible thing is that in addition to this, someone from Loyd Ward & Associates was calling my parents (from my account set up) and asking for money, stating that I owed over $700!! TOTAL SCAM! I am turning them into the authorities!
I believe Lloyd Ward is a TX attorney- possibly licensed in MN. Should contact the state bars if you get no help or cannot reach that attorney
I have enrolled with Simon & Bocksch since April of 2010. They have taken 322.00 every month and 324.56 the first three months for their so-called “we’ll work for you.” I am still getting calls from creditors and statements demanding payments. On December 27, 2010, I received a letter from a Law Firm called Lloyd Ward & Associates stating that they will take over for Simon & Bocksch. I contacted Lloyd Ward & Associates multiple times. I even left 5 to 10 messages for Amy Rodriguez and Jesse McGee (my new representative). Simon & Bocksch have taken over $1500.00 dollars and have not settle any of my debt, now they are forwarding me to Lloyd Ward & Associates. What am I suppose to do now?
I have enrolled with Simon & Bocksch since April of 2010. They have taken 322.00 every month and 324.56 the first three months for their so-called “we’ll work for you.” I am still getting calls from creditors and statements demanding payments. On December 27, 2010, I received a letter from a Law Firm called Lloyd Ward & Associates stating that they will take over for Simon & Bocksch. I contacted Lloyd Ward & Associates multiple times. I even left 5 to 10 messages for Amy Rodriguez and Jesse McGee (my new representative). Simon & Bocksch have taken over $1500.00 dollars and have not settle any of my debt, now they are forwarding me to Lloyd Ward & Associates. What am I suppose to do now?
Hdang916:
1. Contact your bank. File Fraud Charges.
2. Do all the steps Steve recommends.
3. Try an Attorney’s office and tell him/her what happened and ask how they can help.
4. You might try a Small Claims Court in your area, using this internet column as your proof.
Good luck..these dogs are going to be paying us back or else!
Since this is a Law Firm the best thing to do in order to get their attention and some answers is to file a formal Complaint with the Florida Bar Association they will get you some kind of answer and discipline the attorneys if they find they are misleading people.
Trust me, Attorneys hate to get Bar Complaints and will respond to your complaint if they get one (they are required to under the Florida Bar Rules). This will be your best avenue. You can file a formal complaint with The Florida Bar: 651 E. Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2300. Their Website is http://www.flabar.org and phone #(866) 352-0707.
There is a complaint form you can download on their website: http://www.floridabar.org/TFB/TFBResources.nsf/Attachments/AB230E7DCCC3B75385256B29004BD6DC/$FILE/Inquiry%20Complaint%20Form.pdf?OpenElement
I hope this helps.
I Forgot to mention you that you need to make the complaint in one or each attorneys name not just the law firm in general.
I think Steve mentioned in his response that their were 3 attorneys: “Ronald M. Simon, Rachelle Bocksch, or Marina Braginskaya” .
Steve
I cannot tell you that I am so glad there are others out there that I have been decieved by this company. I started with the Debt Answer in July of 2009 and I understood that it was going to be a long process and they seemed to be helping. I had 4 creditors and after 6 months they were able to negotiate a settle for the SMALLEST one. After that nothing and I mean nothing except no answers and a run around from various people. They assigned me a new “caseworker” and then I was served with a lawsuit by the biggest creditor. Needless to say I was shocked because I was told that a lawsuit was a possiblity but not likely. I contacted Debt Answer and they promptly shunted me to another law firm who I was told “going to take care of this phase” I faxed everything that was requested and 3 months have gone by and NOTHING. I finally took matters into my own hands and talked with the creditors and with help from my family I have been able to begin to fix my credit problems. This company is a fraud and only take you money and I would suggest that everyone get out and talk with the companies themselves because you can get the same negotiation that the debt settlement companies get. I was told this by one of the credit collectors that contacted me and I told them I was working with a debt settlement company. To anyone that reads this do it yourself and you will have a better outcome.
Steve
I cannot tell you that I am so glad there are others out there that I have been decieved by this company. I started with the Debt Answer in July of 2009 and I understood that it was going to be a long process and they seemed to be helping. I had 4 creditors and after 6 months they were able to negotiate a settle for the SMALLEST one. After that nothing and I mean nothing except no answers and a run around from various people. They assigned me a new “caseworker” and then I was served with a lawsuit by the biggest creditor. Needless to say I was shocked because I was told that a lawsuit was a possiblity but not likely. I contacted Debt Answer and they promptly shunted me to another law firm who I was told “going to take care of this phase” I faxed everything that was requested and 3 months have gone by and NOTHING. I finally took matters into my own hands and talked with the creditors and with help from my family I have been able to begin to fix my credit problems. This company is a fraud and only take you money and I would suggest that everyone get out and talk with the companies themselves because you can get the same negotiation that the debt settlement companies get. I was told this by one of the credit collectors that contacted me and I told them I was working with a debt settlement company. To anyone that reads this do it yourself and you will have a better outcome.
Don’t do it! Find an attorney in your city to help you. My husband and I have been paying them since April 2010 a total of $975.00 a month. We have been sued three times. Their so called attorneys will not help you. We are now filing bankruptcy.
Don’t do it! Find an attorney in your city to help you. My husband and I have been paying them since April 2010 a total of $975.00 a month. We have been sued three times. Their so called attorneys will not help you. We are now filing bankruptcy.
I heve enrolled with the Debt Answer,which lawyers are Simon And Boskch.I have been paying them since Feb 2009.The phone calls from the creditors have subsided somewhat,but they really havent told me nothing.I am 15k in debt and I do not want to file bankruptcy,but I would like to try another option.I feel like they are taking my money and not accomplishing anything.I have been paying them $280.00 a month.Can anyone help me with any new suggestions?
i am also a victim here. I was in the debt answer program for a year and they did absolutely nothing. I decided to close them out and to file bankruptcy after being summons to court on 2 different cards. I lost $5000.00 to them! I have wrote to the federal trade commission the president and the judges say there is nothing they can do. It is a BIG scam. I wish there was a class action suit against thm
You will not hear anything Di. They will take your money like they took mine. I have been arguing back and forth with them for weeks and all they state is they are program fees. Good luck, but my best suggestion is to file complaints with the BBB, Federal Trade Commission, Attorney General of Texas and Attorney General of your state. These companies are nothing more than a scam.
Follow the process all the way through. It’s your best shot of getting a refund.
Steve
Hi I am trying to get out of Debt Answers I have been with them for a year and have heard nothing from them. I have paid over $2700.00 and settled nothing with that amount. I could have settled 3 of my creditors on my own with that money. Now I am being sued. And still getting harassing phone calls. I am trying out Steve method to get my money back.
Hi I am trying to get out of Debt Answers I have been with them for a year and have heard nothing from them. I have paid over $2700.00 and settled nothing with that amount. I could have settled 3 of my creditors on my own with that money. Now I am being sued. And still getting harassing phone calls. I am trying out Steve method to get my money back.
Follow the process all the way through. It’s your best shot of getting a refund.
Steve
You will not hear anything Di. They will take your money like they took mine. I have been arguing back and forth with them for weeks and all they state is they are program fees. Good luck, but my best suggestion is to file complaints with the BBB, Federal Trade Commission, Attorney General of Texas and Attorney General of your state. These companies are nothing more than a scam.
i am also a victim here. I was in the debt answer program for a year and they did absolutely nothing. I decided to close them out and to file bankruptcy after being summons to court on 2 different cards. I lost $5000.00 to them! I have wrote to the federal trade commission the president and the judges say there is nothing they can do. It is a BIG scam. I wish there was a class action suit against thm
I heve enrolled with the Debt Answer,which lawyers are Simon And Boskch.I have been paying them since Feb 2009.The phone calls from the creditors have subsided somewhat,but they really havent told me nothing.I am 15k in debt and I do not want to file bankruptcy,but I would like to try another option.I feel like they are taking my money and not accomplishing anything.I have been paying them $280.00 a month.Can anyone help me with any new suggestions?
The debtanswer and Simon& Bocksch they are such a lier and all fruad . They didn’t help debt free at all they help people to be sued and be in hell . Don’t EVER apply any of the debt settle ment again !!!!! they all sucks your money away and even take you to got sued from your creditor !!!!
The debtanswer and Simon& Bocksch they are such a lier and all fruad . They didn’t help debt free at all they help people to be sued and be in hell . Don’t EVER apply any of the debt settle ment again !!!!! they all sucks your money away and even take you to got sued from your creditor !!!!
I agree with both Mike and ALi, but the Marketing Co. that fronted Simon & Bocksch, estimated my monthly payment and I signed a contract with them that they were going to settle my debt. Now I am being sued by Capitol One for over twice the amount I originally owed them. Christian Debt Solutions is out of business and the new marketing co. isn’t helping me and neither is Simon & Bocksch. They made everything worse and did nothing for me and they end-up taking my money anyway. I want to sue them. I’ve contacted a lawyer and maybe we canget together and do a class action against these guys.
I enrolled with The Debt Answer about 14 months back. It took about 6 months before all the calls stopped. I faxed over all the statements and letters i received from various creditors. I did get a letter from attorneys for Amex and it was settled too. I am making the last payment for this settlement next month. I have settled over 60% of what I owe. I have another to be done. Like the previous poster mentioned, it does take time for you to build up reserve to start settling. Unfortunately many people are under the assumption that the settling would start from day1 which is not true. In my case the first settlement was done after about 7months when I had saved up enough minus the fees to The Debt Answer. Please read the settlement agreement which clearly states how much money as fees would be collected,etc
I am currently enrolled with the debt answer and I have no complaints. They tell you from the beginning that it will be a long process because they need to negotiate. I received a letter in the mail from attorneys representing American Express and within days the debt was settled. However, what people do not seem to comprehend is debt settlement companies will not be able to settle unless you have enough money in your reserves (Noteworld account) they will not pay your debts and hope you pay them back. Rightfully so, because we are obviously in this situation for reason or another because we can’t pay our debts.
Dept Answer and Law offices of Simon & Bocks ruin my life. I have been paying for a year, all the while relying on the fact that their office had be in settlement. As it turns out, that was no a fact, but rather a fantasy. My creditors sued me, and obtained two judgments against me. My situation made worse by their office.
I am just recovering from cancer surgery and this stress do not help my recovery.
Steve, you got right down to what is happening at the end and then stopped. After they tell you all the contract stuff, where do you go from there? Is there any legal recoarse?
Take a look at my article on how to get out of a debt settlement program.
Hi Steve,
I just read Kevin and Marie’s comment; after reading both of their articles, I am really concern. I am in the same situation. I enrolled with The Debt Answer back in January 2010 and they haven’t come up with a settlement for me and in the mean time, they debited $248 from my account through Noteworld.
I don’t know what to do; not sure whether I should cancel the program or stay with it. Being a single mom and unemployed making me more nervous if this is a scam. The Debt Answer told me they won’t refund the fees (around$1500 they collected so far). What should I do? Please help.