Quick Answer: A TCPA class action was filed against Freedom Debt Relief on January 22, 2026 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint alleges the debt settlement company made prerecorded robocalls to consumers without consent and to phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry. This is a legal filing—not a verdict.
Important: A lawsuit filing contains allegations—claims that have not been proven in court. Freedom Debt Relief has not been found liable for any wrongdoing. This article summarizes the complaint for educational purposes.
Case Information
- Court: U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- Plaintiff: Jon C. Hanson, individually and on behalf of others similarly situated
- Defendant: Freedom Debt Relief, LLC
- Claims: Violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
The Story Behind This Lawsuit
According to the complaint, plaintiff Jon Hanson is a retired member of the United States Air Force who served nearly 24 years and was deployed nearly a dozen times overseas.
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The complaint alleges that Hanson registered his phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry on February 28, 2010—more than a decade before the alleged calls occurred. According to the filing, he never inquired about Freedom Debt Relief’s services, was never a customer, and never provided consent to be contacted.
Despite this, the complaint alleges that on March 8, 2023, at approximately 2:51 p.m. CST, Hanson received a prerecorded call. According to the filing, the caller stated:
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“Hi! My name is Ashley Johnson. How are you doing today?”
The complaint alleges that after Hanson responded, the caller continued with a scripted message: “Well, I’m calling you from Freedom Debt Relief. There is a promotion on an existing debt you owe on your credit cards and you are qualified for a debt forgiveness on your bills as the new year 2023 begins.”
According to the complaint, Hanson identified the call as prerecorded due to “unnatural pauses and cadence” when speaking with the “representative.” The filing alleges that a second similar call occurred on March 24, 2023, at approximately 12:43 p.m. CST using the same script.
What the Complaint Alleges
The lawsuit brings two counts under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA):
Count I: Prerecorded Voice Calls
- Alleges use of artificial or prerecorded voice calls without prior express consent
- Violation of 47 U.S.C. § 227(b)
- Seeks $500-$1,500 per violation
Count II: DNC List Violations
- Alleges calls to phone numbers registered on the National Do Not Call Registry
- Violation of 47 U.S.C. § 227(c)
- Seeks $500-$1,500 per violation
The complaint seeks class certification for two proposed classes: a “Prerecorded Voice Class” and a “DNC Class” representing all persons who allegedly received similar calls from Freedom Debt Relief or those acting on its behalf.
Who Is Freedom Debt Relief?
According to the complaint, Freedom Debt Relief is a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business in San Mateo, California. The company’s website describes it as “one of the largest debt settlement companies in the United States, specializing in helping consumers resolve unsecured debt, particularly credit card debt.”
Debt settlement companies like Freedom Debt Relief work by negotiating with creditors to reduce the total amount owed. Consumers typically stop making payments to creditors while saving money in a dedicated account, which is then used to make settlement offers.
What This Could Mean for Consumers
Understanding the TCPA
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) was signed into law in 1991 to protect consumers from unwanted telemarketing calls. The law:
- Prohibits prerecorded or artificial voice calls to cell phones without prior express consent
- Establishes the National Do Not Call Registry
- Requires telemarketers to maintain internal do-not-call lists
- Provides consumers with a private right of action to sue violators
The Robocall Problem
According to the complaint, approximately 52.5 billion robocalls were placed in the United States in 2025 alone. The FCC receives more consumer complaints about unwanted telemarketing calls than any other issue.
Before You Sign Anything: If you’re considering hiring any debt relief company, run their contract through the Contract Decoder first. It’s free—and it’s your last chance to spot red flags before you commit.
How to Follow This Case
You can track this case and read all court filings through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records):
- Go to pacer.uscourts.gov
- Create a free account (required)
- Search for Case Number:
4:26-cv-00708 - Select Court: Northern District of California
PACER charges $0.10/page for documents, but the first $30/quarter is free for most users.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this lawsuit mean for Freedom Debt Relief customers?
At this stage, the lawsuit is simply a complaint filing—allegations that have not been proven. Current customers of Freedom Debt Relief should not experience any immediate changes to their services based on this filing. If you have concerns, contact the company directly.
Is Freedom Debt Relief a scam?
This lawsuit contains allegations about marketing practices that have not been proven in court. Whether a company’s services are legitimate depends on multiple factors beyond telemarketing. Freedom Debt Relief has not been found liable for any wrongdoing in this case. We recommend researching any debt relief company thoroughly before enrolling.
Can I join this lawsuit?
If the lawsuit is certified as a class action, individuals who received similar calls from Freedom Debt Relief may automatically be included in the class. The complaint seeks to represent all persons who received prerecorded calls or calls to numbers on the DNC List from the defendant. Contact the plaintiff’s attorneys (Miller Shah LLP or Butsch Roberts & Associates) for more information about potential class membership.
How long will this case take?
Federal lawsuits typically take 1-3 years to resolve through trial or settlement. Class action cases often take longer due to the class certification process. I’ll update this post as significant developments occur.
What are my rights if I receive unwanted robocalls?
You can register your number on the National Do Not Call Registry for free. If you continue to receive unwanted telemarketing calls, you can file complaints with the FTC and FCC, and you may have the right to sue under the TCPA for $500-$1,500 per violation.
Contact Freedom Debt Relief Directly
If you have questions about this lawsuit or are a current customer of Freedom Debt Relief, I encourage you to contact them directly rather than jump to conclusions based on allegations alone:
- Website: www.freedomdebtrelief.com
A Note to Freedom Debt Relief: I believe in fair coverage. If you would like to provide a statement about this lawsuit for my readers, please contact me. I will add your response to this article so readers can hear your perspective.
TL;DR: Freedom Debt Relief faces a TCPA class action alleging the company made prerecorded robocalls to consumers without consent and to numbers on the Do Not Call Registry. This is a complaint filing—allegations, not a verdict. Don’t leap to judgment—contact the company directly with questions. Use the Contract Decoder before signing with any debt relief company.
(Source: U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, Case No. 4:26-cv-00708-KAW)
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