Quick Answer: The FTC filed a lawsuit against Ameridebt Group and related companies including Debt Management Foundation Services and Credit Counseling Specialists of America, indicating these were not legitimate debt relief operations. The case involved multiple defendants including the Buird family members who operated these interconnected debt counseling companies.
The links for the FTC case v. Debt Management Foundation Services, One Star Marketing, Debt Specialist of America, Ameridebt Group, Credit Counseling Specialists of America, Dale Buird, Jr, Dale Buird, Sr, and Shawn Buird can be found here.
Before You Sign Anything: Run any debt relief contract through the free Contract Decoder to spot hidden fees and unfair terms. Check the company’s complaint history with the Scam-O-Meter.
Compare Your Real Options: Most debt relief companies won’t tell you about all your options — especially the ones they can’t profit from. Credit counseling has a 21-27% completion rate. Settlement resolves about 1% of enrolled debts fully. Bankruptcy has a 95% discharge rate — and protects your retirement. Take the Find Your Path quiz for a recommendation based on your actual numbers.
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In the latest issue (Oct 9): Does Financial Literacy Make Financial Sense?
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