Now here is something you don’t get to witness often, if at all. Apparently there is a bit of disturbed blood milling about in the credit counseling world right now. In just doing some routine checking on activity I came across a very, very odd letter from the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies …
Not much shocks me in the debt world but this announcement from the Federal Trade Commission, did. The FTC just announced, “FTC Sends More Than $1.79 Million in Refunds to Consumers Defrauded by AmeriDebt Scam.” The AmeriDebt case goes all the way back to November 19, 2003 and the FTC is still dealing with recovering …
According to the credit reporting agency TransUnion, credit card delinquency has hit a seven year low. That’s good for consumer but not so good for credit counseling, debt settlement, or bankruptcy providers. The national credit card delinquency rate declined to its lowest level in at least seven years, dropping from 1.27% in Q2 2013 to …
In a recent article “Why Isn’t AmeriFree Licensed in Their Own State?” a reader asked why AmeriFree did not appear to be registered to offer debt relief services in Arizona. As I said in the article, I had previously reached out to AmeriFree for a statement or response and heard nothing. Well today I have. …
A reader wanted to know why the public returns for First Stone Credit Counseling listed commissions as an expense since nonprofit credit counselors are not allowed to pay commissions under 501(q). – Source A visit to their site at firststone.com found a curious title to their site. It seems their primary focus is not credit …
Richard Burnett of the Orlando Sentinel recently wrote an interesting piece about the realities of modern non-profit credit counseling and how they need help. With demand dropping, existing credit counseling agencies are scrambling to find new avenues of income. Credit counseling agencies are turning to trying to sell student loan assistance and one agency reports …
Advantage Credit Counseling Service has a “white paper” out that purports to reveal what a certified credit counseling agency can do for you. Credit counselors have good programs that are best suited to people who are behind on their bills but can afford at least the regular monthly payment plus continue to save both for …
The defendants in two separate alleged scams have settled charges with the Federal Trade Commission and will be banned from providing mortgage- and debt-relief services. The cases are part of the FTC’s continuing crackdown on scams targeting consumers in financial distress, including debt relief and credit repair scams, and mortgage relief scams. American Mortgage Consulting …
The other day I published the debt settlement recommendation report from The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), click here. As vocal as critics have been in attacking this site and myself for being outspoken about consumer unfriendly debt relief practices I felt certain people would have comments to offer about the CRL recommendations. But silence, …
A press release out by Advantage Credit Counseling Service drew me to their site today. – Source. While there I came across a good example of the ethical conundrum facing nonprofit credit counselors today. Advance Credit Counseling Service is not alone in dealing with this problem. According to the Advantage Credit Counseling Service website they …
