“Dear Steve,
I started with My Choice Debt Management in 2009, that turned into Debt Validation of America shortly thereafter and later it hired THE FIRM PLLC to do their legal work after they realized they were not operating legally. I paid $1471/month in to an escrow account for 2 years for a total of $35,325 total (of course a LARGE sum is their fees!!).
In August 2012, DVA decided they wanted to handle the escrow funds and took them back from THE FIRM PLLC. Well, now I know why… they took the funds (and I had over $5200 in escrow at the time) and shortly thereafter filed BANKRUPTCY!!!
Not only that… I had automatic payments set up which they suddenly STOPPED paying without notifying ME! How I found out they stopped paying was when I got a SUMMONS TO APPEAR IN COURT in the mail from my credit card company! I was in DEFAULT!!
When you call THE FIRM, they claim they know nothing about the money or who to contact. All they had was a non-working phone number. I received next a letter from DVA’s attorney Jon Michael Murphy with a BANKRUPTCY notice! How can they file bankruptcy if they aren’t even doing anything… all they did was TAKE my money. That to me is THEFT!!!
How can they file bankruptcy and not be obligated to pay back money that I had in a SETTLEMENT/ESCROW account? That money is NOT theirs to use in any way shape or form. I paid UP FRONT ALL THE FEES to the company. The remaining $5200 is MINE to use to pay off creditors!
Shelia”
Dear Shelia,
The situation you describe sure sounds like theft if they took your money, allegedly deposited it into an escrow account they managed and vanished with the money.
Take a look at the back of your payments if you sent them by check or your bank statement and see what bank they deposited your funds at.
According to the bankruptcy filing the company only listed one account:
Chase Bank Checking Account
251 Boone Station Rd.
Shelbyville, KY 40065
Account Number ****2327
If that’s the one your money was deposited into then DVA says the account was closed with $9.87 in it.
The bankruptcy filing did not list one Sheila in Illinois and said that person was only owed $640. Then there was another Sheila in New York where the amount owed is “unknown.”
If you suspect they may have stolen your money I would suggest you contact the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee that is handling this filing and report your concerns.
John L. Daugherty
100 E. Vine St. #500
Lexington, KY 40507
(859) 233-2822
Email: john.daugherty@usdoj.gov
Do You Have a Question You'd Like Help With? Contact Debt Coach Damon Day. Click here to reach Damon.
I would also suggest you file a report with your local police and follow the list of entities to report any scam or fraud to in this guide.
Finally, you should demand answers from the Attorney representing Debt Validation of America and ask for the location of your money.
The DVA attorney is:
Jon-Michael J. Murphy
804 Stone Creek Pkwy.
Suite 4
Louisville, KY 40223
(502) 473-6446
Email: info@jmurphylawoffice.com
If the trust fund and escrow account has been stolen, that’s outrageous and needs to be reported.
Please post your responses and follow-up messages to me on this in the comments section below.
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They never gave us access to our “settlement” account. Thank you for the information Steve. I filed a complaint with the Kentucky Attorney General’s office and they did NOTHING. I know my local police would care less since I am in IL. I am listed on the bankruptcy form and it says they owe me $640… which I feel is way off. I guess at this point… I feel like criminal charges need to be filed against this guy. I have been in contact with other members of the group… their emails are showing a lot of distress and anger as well about this whole situation. I am really tired of criminals getting away with this stuff!!
If you are tired of this then get your group to file complaints with the entities I list in this post. Numbers of complaints draw the most attention. Don’t overlook the postal inspectors and CFPB.
https://getoutofdebt.org/20126/how-to-try-to-get-a-refund-from-a-debt-relief-company