Sometimes people are critical of me and claim I have some witch hunt against the debt relief industry. Those that know me, know better than that.
And sure, I’ve written my share of articles about bad things that have happened but unless we clean them up, what is going to be left of the debt relief industry? Does sticking our heads in the sand make life better for the good guys?
The State of Connecticut Department of Banking just published an order again American Capital Revitalization Group, iFixCredit.org. You can click here to see that order.
The State claims the company was located at 8306 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 4006, Beverly Hills, California and was engaged in selling mortgage modification services.
The address was one used by the company as confirmed by the BBB, click here. It’s a mail drop.
I have NOT been able to substantiate the claim by one website that a Ryan Zimmerman was behind American Capital Revitalization Group but one post does. I’m not relying on that as a confirmed fact, just stating what I found during a quick look.
But a look found that a Ryan Zimmerman in Los Angles was also associated with Making My Home Affordable Experts, LLC in California. The company was coincidently filed using the same incorporation service as American Capital Revitalization Group.
Zimmerman has a history with the Federal Trade Commission over loan modification issues. in 2012 the FTC sued him.
At that time the FTC said, “the defendants behind the operation claimed on their website that “up to 95% of mortgages may be legally unenforceable due to defects like lost documents, improper notices, appraisal and/or predatory lending.” Using this claim, several defendants, including Consumer Advocates Group Experts, LLC, virtually guaranteed that they could get mortgage modifications with reduced interest rates and lower monthly mortgage payments for consumers.
The defendants offered to review consumers’ mortgage loan documents to determine whether their lenders complied with state and federal mortgage lending laws, and made allegedly false claims that the consumers could use the resulting “forensic audits” to avoid foreclosure and negotiate more favorable terms on their mortgages.” – Source
The FTC lists Zimmerman as someone who is banned “by federal court orders, from participating in some or all types of the business of debt relief.” – Source
It does look like the American Capital Revitalization Group was publicly offering services in July of 2015. You can see some of the client testimonials they used, here.
But What!!! Homestead Financial Services Steals Testimonials?
So it appears the same, or at least very similar client testimonials used by American Capital Revitalization Group are now being used by Homestead Financial Services. Checkout the side-by-side shot below of the American Capital Revitalization Group from 2015 and Homestead Financial Services from today.
The testimonials even change the company names.
Compare these:
- “”We were scared. We had nowhere to turn. We were days away from Bank of America taking our home in a foreclosure. We tried working with other companies but all they would do is promise us the world, take our money and then we would never hear from them again. American Capital Revitalization Group is much different. Not only did they stop the sale of our property, but they were able to make sure we could afford our new loan. The girls in processing are wonderful. They knew exactly what I needed to do and walked me through the process. I wouldn’t be living in my house if it wasn’t for them.” Margaret C., Westerville, OH”
- “”We were scared. We had nowhere to turn. We were days away from Bank of America taking our home in a foreclosure. We tried working with other companies but all they would do is promise us the world, take our money and then we would never hear from them again. Homestead Financial Services is much different. Not only did they stop the sale of our property, but they were able to make sure we could afford our new loan. The girls in processing are wonderful. They knew exactly what I needed to do and walked me through the process. I wouldn’t be living in my house if it wasn’t for them.” Margaret C., Westerville, OH”
Or how about…
- “Before I started with American Capital Revitalization Group I was in a world of mess with my credit. I have been dealing with a sickness that the doctors could not seem to diagnose. Without them being able to diagnose anything meant I could not seem to get passed my horrible situation it left me in. In short, it kept me from working and being able to pay my bills. As time went on, my bills grew and my credit worsened. When I first talked to Lori with American Capital Revitalization Group I was very skeptical. But as she explained their services, educated me with the process and explained how they could help, it started to ease my mind. Within the first 30 days American Capital Revitalization Group were able to drop 23 unpaid collections off of my account, almost completely cleared my inquiries and cleared 9 paid collections RAISING my score over 178 on all three bureaus. If it were not for American Capital Revitalization Group I would still be in a world of hurt. I will never be able to express the full amount of gratitude that I feel for helping out. Without a single doubt in my mind I will recommend and continue to recommend American Capital Revitalization Group to every person I meet. They completely helped to turn my situation around and now I am looking for a house to buy. Thank you so much for all of your help American Capital Revitalization Group. You truly are a wonderful business and I wish only the best. Please feel freely to use my profile or to have people call me to ask my opinion on your service. Thank you, thank you, and thank you for all your help.“ Sean F., Oklahoma City – OK”
- “Before I started with Homestead Financial Services I was in a world of mess with my credit. I have been dealing with a sickness that the doctors could not seem to diagnose. Without them being able to diagnose anything meant I could not seem to get passed my horrible situation it left me in. In short, it kept me from working and being able to pay my bills. As time went on, my bills grew and my credit worsened. When I first talked to Lori with Homestead Financial Services I was very skeptical. But as she explained their services, educated me with the process and explained how they could help, it started to ease my mind. Within the first 30 days Homestead Financial Services were able to drop 23 unpaid collections off of my account, almost completely cleared my inquiries and cleared 9 paid collections RAISING my score over 178 on all three bureaus. If it were not for Homestead Financial Services I would still be in a world of hurt. I will never be able to express the full amount of gratitude that I feel for helping out. Without a single doubt in my mind I will recommend and continue to recommend Homestead Financial Services to every person I meet. They completely helped to turn my situation around and now I am looking for a house to buy. Thank you so much for all of your help Homestead Financial Services. You truly are a wonderful business and I wish only the best. Please feel freely to use my profile or to have people call me to ask my opinion on your service. Thank you, thank you, and thank you for all your help.“ Sean F., Oklahoma City – OK
Homestead Financial Services says they are located at 1976 S. LaCienega Blvd., Suite 654, Los Angeles, CA 90034. The Company also has an F rating with the BBB at the time of this article. The address appears to be another mail drop address.
According to DomainTools.com Their domain name homesteadfi.com was registered on April 7, 2015. Coincidently, both American Capital Revitalization Group and Homestead Financial Services use the same domain privacy provider. They also used the same incorporation company as Making My Home Affordable Experts. The coincidences keep adding up.
How about this totally random coincidence. CorporationWiki reports a Dana Fabian is associated with the registration documents for Homestead Financial Services. Culver City High School says the class of 1990 included both a Dana Fabian and a Ryan Zimmerman. They could be totally unrelated, who knows?
Do You Have a Question You'd Like Help With? Contact Debt Coach Damon Day. Click here to reach Damon.
Here is what CorporationWiki reports for a Ryan Zimmerman.
And I completely agree it does not show American Capital Revitalization Group and only this post makes that connection.
But One More Coincidence
Homestead Financial Services says their services, “takes problematic credit reports seriously. We understand the applicable consumer protection laws, and we help our clients to leverage those legal rights so that their credit reports remain fair, accurate, and substantiated.” And the website for American Capital Revitalization Group was iFixCredit.org. Interesting.
But you have to wonder, why does Homestead Financial Services, a self-professed credit repair organization show mortgage modification letters under their results section?
So I’m wondering if it is true that Zimmerman was associated with a mortgage modification company in 2014, or is he still associated with a mortgage modification or debt relief company? Anyone know? Contact me.
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