Quick Answer: Student Loan Client Services is sending deceptive mailers that falsely appear official and illegally use the BBB logo without accreditation. Recipients should avoid this scam and contact the Department of Education directly for free student loan payment reductions instead.
A reader has just sent in a mailer they received from an entity called Student Loan Client Services. Talk about a generic name.
The mailer, which appears to pretend to be an official government mailer, and was sent from postal permit 1297 in Sacramento, California.
The reader sent in the new debt relief mailer through my I Buy Junk Mail program.
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The official looking self-mailer provides no information to identify the company on the outside of the mailer.
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The inside of the mailer makes a number of disturbing claims. For example, while never identifying the business they claim to be a BBB Accredited Business. That appears to be a totally bogus use of the logo.
What is interesting is the mailer claims to be able to eliminate the student loan debt on a 10 year repayment plan but as far as I’m aware the only plan that would meet this schedule for student loan elimination would be a full payment program or a public service student loan forgiveness program at the full payment.
The mailer also fails to notify the consumer they can contact the Department of Education and receive payment reductions for free.
Frankly this appears to be a new version of one of the many deceptive mailers used in the debt settlement business a few years ago. It looks like it has just be retuned to pitch student loan relief services instead.
My advice is anyone who receives such a mailer should review the following link before doing anything. The Ultimate Guide to Dealing With Student Loans You Can’t Afford.
I would also recommend that anyone considering using such a company should read the following free guides.
- The Ultimate Consumer Guide to Checking Out a Debt Relief Company Before You Sign On the Line
- 10 Must Do Steps to Find the Best Credit Counseling or Debt Settlement Company for You
- How to Check Out a Business or Company to Avoid Getting Scammed or Ripped Off
This offer was able to be reviewed because a kind reader sent it in via my I Buy Junk Mail program.
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This issue has gone round and round in the arenas of debt relief for far too long. Is it not possible to find out which direct mail firm is responsible for producing these? I know there has been a certain attorney that has approved these for use to more than a few friends of mine. It bothers me that that these are so misleading. On a marketing level, they are brilliant and obviously work very well to pique the curiosities of the debt burdened consumer and get them to call. The effects of the call lead down another road altogether. These mailers are most likely used by more than a few firms, none of which disclose their identity up front. I would state the obvious by reminding you “who” was behind the approval of the first wave in the “original” industry and look to see if that person is “out front” in the “new” industry. These mailers are obviously effective in drawing in the clients, making even more obvious the notion that money and greed are at the helm. These actors have cost a great deal of legitimate, hard working individuals, running compliant, clean enterprise, their careers and businesses. It is truly sad. Well, with any luck at all the CFPB will get on top of this and clean this mess up before it gets too ugly. The industry begs for regulation and taunts the regulators into exactly the actions they wish to avoid by not keeping their businesses clean, transparent and honest. Learn from history, folks.
Robby Birnbaum is approving these mailers. Some attorneys at Loeb and Loeb and Venable as well. Matt Hearn is 1000% correct in his assumptions. Robby Birnbaum and the rest of the lawyers from the debt settlement business see these new shops as a gold mine. Get the companies into defensible positions and then bill for time to fight the regulators. Brilliant.
Just saw this. Yes, sir, you are right. It’s sad. So sad. Unfortunately, there are just as many suckers in the business as well.