L.A.-based Defendants Deceptively Pitched Their ‘Services’ Online and Over the Phone Continuing to crack down on phony mortgage relief programs, a federal court has temporarily halted Los Angeles-based Wealth Educators, Inc. and its president from offering mortgage relief services at the Federal Trade Commission’s request. The agency charged the defendants with failing to provide the … Read more
Up till now the most bizarre debt relief related lawsuit I had seen was this one which included the “Charlatan,” “Felon,” and “Architect.” But this court document sent to me has to either being the most bizarre of 2014 or be in top contention for debt relief lawsuit honors. It seems to be a soap … Read more
Consumer advisory: Don’t fall for a foreclosure relief scam or bogus legal help The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and 15 states announced a sweep against foreclosure relief scammers that used deceptive marketing tactics to rip off distressed homeowners across the country. The Bureau is filing three lawsuits against companies … Read more
The South Florida-based defendants in an alleged mortgage relief scam will surrender their assets and be banned permanently from providing mortgage relief and debt relief services to consumers under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. This settlement represents the FTC’s largest judgment to date against a purported mortgage assistance relief provider. In 2012, as … Read more
The FTC alleged that since early 2011, the defendants claimed a phony affiliation with the U.S. government, pretended to be attorneys, and promised to substantially lower monthly mortgage payments in exchange for an up-front fee ranging from $1,495 to $4,495. Along with two companies he controls – American Mortgage Consulting Group, LLC and Home Guardian … Read more
As far back as early 2011, the GetOutOfDebt.org site has been publishing information about and warning consumers about suspicious and concerning practices by a number of interrelated companies promising financial help and foreclosure relief. These schemes were not uncovered by the site alone. Readers and insiders also sent in critical information that led to the … Read more
The Federal Trade Commission has announced some sweeping actions to protect homeowners that have been harmed by companies promising mortgage assistance but who allegedly only took money and ultimately didn’t deliver the help and outcomes promised. Prime Legal Plans/Reaching U Network. The FTC alleged that from at least mid-2010, the defendants behind this scheme marketed … Read more
It’s official! The last remaining defendants in an allegedly fraudulent mortgage modification scheme called “Hope Now” have settled with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that will permanently ban them from the mortgage assistance and relief business. They will also be forced to return any fraudulent-earned gains to consumers. The settlement with Michael Kwasnik and his … Read more
“Dear Steve, I was looking up this law firm; The Law Firm of Macey, Alman and Searns. I was looking on the web today to find answers and or a solution to my mortgage dilemma. I came accross a site : US Mortgage Relief, called the 866 number and signed up with this firm… I … Read more
The advance fee ban under the FTC’s Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) Rule is designed to protect financially distressed homeowners from mortgage relief scams that have sprung up during the mortgage crisis. “Banning the collection of up-front fees will protect homeowners from being victimized,” FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said. “This is especially important at a … Read more
Recently the FTC passed new rules to protect consumers from deceptive mortgage relief providers who claim that for compensation they can help save a home from foreclosure or modify a mortgage. Below you will find a link to the final rule issued by the FTC with my highlights of what I felt was most important … Read more
Homeowners will be protected by a new Federal Trade Commission rule that bans providers of mortgage foreclosure rescue and loan modification services from collecting fees until homeowners have a written offer from their lender or servicer that they decide is acceptable. “At a time when many Americans are struggling to pay their mortgages, peddlers of … Read more
Here is a very interesting letter from the National Association of Attorneys General regarding new proposed rules by the FTC for mortgage assistance relief services (MARS). The loan modification industry has be filled with deception and abuse and many consumers have lost thousands when law groups promised results but did not deliver. Two recent failures … Read more