"Eliminate your debt" scheme

What is the name of your state? New York

I recently became involved with a supposed legal firm. I think I was "suckered" by their pie in the sky promise to eliminate my debt for "Pennies on the dollar". Since I was having extreme difficulty in meeting my payment obligations, this seemed like a viable alternative to bankruptsy.
Fact is, I paid them a couple hundred bucks up front, and they have done nothing but put me in a worse situation with my creditors, including a summons to appear in court!
Every time I call my rep, she says very coincidental things like "Oh, I was just going to call you", or "I'm waiting for them to call me back", or "I JUST happen to have their attorneys on the other line".....who does she think she's kidding? I didn't just fall off the turnip truck!
What, if any, options do I have?
I would like to make these creeps eliminate my debt by having to pay it themselves, as restitution for the problems they have caused me!!!

[HomeGuru]

[quote]Originally posted by swaman
[b]What is the name of your state? New York

I recently became involved with a supposed legal firm. I think I was "suckered" by their pie in the sky promise to eliminate my debt for "Pennies on the dollar". Since I was having extreme difficulty in meeting my payment obligations, this seemed like a viable alternative to bankruptsy.
Fact is, I paid them a couple hundred bucks up front, and they have done nothing but put me in a worse situation with my creditors, including a summons to appear in court!
Every time I call my rep, she says very coincidental things like "Oh, I was just going to call you", or "I'm waiting for them to call me back", or "I JUST happen to have their attorneys on the other line".....who does she think she's kidding? I didn't just fall off the turnip truck!
What, if any, options do I have?
I would like to make these creeps eliminate my debt by having to pay it themselves, as restitution for the problems they have caused me!!!

**A: If you have not figured it out by now, you got scammed.
[url]www.ftc.gov[/url]

Why, THANK YOU! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Is EVERYONE on this forum as helpful as you? If they are, this site is a waste of electrons!

[bigun]

You caused your own problems by not paying your bills. Creditors have no obligation to settle for less than the agreed amount. They've no obligation to deal with anyone but you. Why would you think that a scheme like this was without pitfalls?
The only advice I can give is try and get current or negoiate a settlement yourself.

[Ladynred]

Do you have a contract with this scam artist ? What does the contract say they will or will not do and is there a time frame ? Doe they outline how, when, and to whom payments will be made ? If they have not lived up to the contract, provided they actually stated anything in detail, then you sue them for breach. If they have no details spelled out, and I'm betting they don't, then you need to start making your own settlements and break the contract yourself.. and you might need a lawyer, they may not 'let' you go that easily !

You have fallen into a classic trap that this board and others warn people away from. Debt Settlement, consolidation and 'elimination' companies are ALL bad news..period. The biggest commercial one out there.. Ameridebt.. is a consumer nightmare and has made the hitlist of the worst ones to stay away from.

Ladynred....Thank you!

You have been the first and only member of this forum to provide any nonprejudice feedback. It has merit, and I appreciate your assistance.

You other self rightious morons have done nothing but insult me, and my intelligence!

Yes, I made a mistake, and yes, now I'm paying for it. I hope this level of legal beagletry isn't ALL your parents got for the money they spent on your education!!

Thanks again Ladynred.....thank you, and goodbye.

I have only made a few posts on this board, and so far have gotten sound advice. But, I have read a few other posts where jerks jump on and do nothing but try to cut down the person who asked the question. I'm pretty sure that these people have no legal background, though, much less, an actual degree.
In fact, I think the majority of the advisors are not actual lawyers, but most have enough experience to warrant good advice.
Sorry, about your situation. We all make mistakes, but it's even tougher when we try to correct thm, and no one seems to want to work with us. Hope you get the advice you need!

[HomeGuru]

[quote]Originally posted by swaman
[b]Ladynred....Thank you!

You have been the first and only member of this forum to provide any nonprejudice feedback. It has merit, and I appreciate your assistance.

You other self rightious morons have done nothing but insult me, and my intelligence!

Yes, I made a mistake, and yes, now I'm paying for it. I hope this level of legal beagletry isn't ALL your parents got for the money they spent on your education!!

Thanks again Ladynred.....thank you, and goodbye.

**A: Dear swamiman,
no one has insulted you and your intelligence until now.
You are a complete idiot and ignorant too. Read my post again.
I referenced the FTC which is a department branch of the Federal government namedly the Federal Trade Commisson. Have you ever heard of them before? Do you even know what they do.
If you had bothered to check out their website you would have discovered that they handle cases such as yours. Heck their website even has a "file a complaint online" feature.
The last search I did at their website uncovered 130 documents listed under credit repair and 43 documents under debt consolidation. These documents represented hundreds of pages of information concerning your issue.
So you jumped to conclusions and were premature in your complaining. You did not think and research before writing and took a stand without a solid foundation. Very intelligent.
bigun also gave you factual information.
You see that is your problem. You jump to conclusions too fast and you expect instant miracles. If you bothered to complete due diligence on the company before throwing your few hundreds away, maybe you would have discovered the scam.
Did you bother to research the company?
Did you check with BBB, FTC, State Consumer Protection Offices, Attorney General Offices, consumer protection websites, online chat, discussion boards etc. first?
I highly doubt it.
So you can choose to cry and complain all you want while your debts increase. Or you can listen to reality and common sense.
The truth is out there.

I jump to conclusions?.....It is obvious, that all you DID with regard to my situation is jump to conclusions about me!!
I came here looking for advice, and you two immediately attack me! Why have such a forum, if this is your MO?
And, ****ferbrains, you know NOTHING about me! How dare you go off on your diatribe!
YOU read your post again, and while you're at it, read BIGUNS too!..put yourself in my shoes, and try to see what affect that kind of post has on the way YOU feel!
I certainly hope that you treat the people in your life better than this!

[HomeGuru]

[quote]Originally posted by swaman
[b]I jump to conclusions?.....It is obvious, that all you DID with regard to my situation is jump to conclusions about me!!
I came here looking for advice, and you two immediately attack me! Why have such a forum, if this is your MO?
And, ****ferbrains, you know NOTHING about me! How dare you go off on your diatribe!
YOU read your post again, and while you're at it, read BIGUNS too!..put yourself in my shoes, and try to see what affect that kind of post has on the way YOU feel!
I certainly hope that you treat the people in your life better than this!

**A: feelings....nothing more than feelings**************...
Hey, give it a rest. bigun and myself gave you legal information, so quit crying. This site is not a touchy-feely Dear Abby, I'll hold your hand you poor little thing, there there, warm fuzzies violins playing type of site. We give you real advice in the real world.
If your feelings were hurt get used to it. Because those creditors and their collection agents and attorney's will be a lot worse.
So get back on that turnip truck and deal with your debts the legal and professional way instead of waiting for a pie in the sky, pennies on the dollar, pennies from heaven solution.

I think what Shaman was complaining about wasn't neccessarily what you said, but how you said it. You two might have given very sound information, but who would really listen to you when you attack them? And whether you think you did or not, it definitely came across as unfriendly. And yeah, yeah, yeah, I know- you aren't here to make friends. Well, you're not a real attorney either and as far as I know, you're not getting paid to give advice. So, if the people asking for advice tick you off so much, then don't answer their questions!

I mean really! Saying things like, "You caused your own problems by not paying your bills"- who said he stopped paying his bills??? He said he was having trouble meeting his obligations. You don't know why and it was arrogant of you to jump to that conclusion.

Also making "DUH!" statments like "in case you haven't figured it out by now, you got scammed" are NOT helpful either. He knew he had gotten scammed, he wanted to know what to do now! Sheesh.

So my advice to those of you who have nothing better to do than to pretend to be knowledgable, is DON'T. Quit wasting internet space, and let those who know what they are talking about and have enough maturity to say it the right way, be the ones to give advice.

[HomeGuru]

[quote]Originally posted by Death2Credit
[b]I think what Shaman was complaining about wasn't neccessarily what you said, but how you said it. You two might have given very sound information, but who would really listen to you when you attack them? And whether you think you did or not, it definitely came across as unfriendly. And yeah, yeah, yeah, I know- you aren't here to make friends. Well, you're not a real attorney either and as far as I know, you're not getting paid to give advice. So, if the people asking for advice tick you off so much, then don't answer their questions!

I mean really! Saying things like, "You caused your own problems by not paying your bills"- who said he stopped paying his bills??? He said he was having trouble meeting his obligations. You don't know why and it was arrogant of you to jump to that conclusion.

Also making "DUH!" statments like "in case you haven't figured it out by now, you got scammed" are NOT helpful either. He knew he had gotten scammed, he wanted to know what to do now! Sheesh.

So my advice to those of you who have nothing better to do than to pretend to be knowledgable, is DON'T. Quit wasting internet space, and let those who know what they are talking about and have enough maturity to say it the right way, be the ones to give advice.

**A: ok, deadmanwalking, get this. You stated "he wanted to know what to do now!" Now you also are missing the point.
Did you read my first post in which I gave the ftc website url?
If you did, you would have realized that the answer is right there.
On the homepage of the Federal Trade Commission website there is a nice area where he could file a complaint online.
You people need to grow up. No one is going to hold your hand and spoon feed you the directions. Use your common sense.
The problem with him is that he never went to the ftc website period. He was waiting for some magic dust hoping that someone on this website would somehow make his troubles disappear.

I think in Swammy's case the truth hurts.

I NEVER said that you didn't give sound advice. I actually said that you probably did. I said that the way the advcie was presented wasn't nice. I also stated that I knew you weren't trying to make friends- that was obvious. Why in God's dear name do you keep harping on how you mentioned the FTC? Big deal! You're advice isn't what we were talking about - the tone in which many people reply to posts was the topic.
And in case you didn't know , people who know what they are talking about and are truly willing to be helpful with their advice, often do "spoon-feed" advice. They are trying to be helpful and make sure that their instructions are clear and understood.
Despite you childishly changing my Username to something I assume was supposed to be funny, and despite the fact that you are clearly not understanding anyone's point, I'm not going to stoop to playing your game anymore. I've made my point, you're trying to make yours. Enough for me. I'm done.

[HomeGuru]

[quote]Originally posted by Death2Credit
[b]I NEVER said that you didn't give sound advice. I actually said that you probably did. I said that the way the advcie was presented wasn't nice. I also stated that I knew you weren't trying to make friends- that was obvious. Why in God's dear name do you keep harping on how you mentioned the FTC? Big deal! You're advice isn't what we were talking about - the tone in which many people reply to posts was the topic.
And in case you didn't know , people who know what they are talking about and are truly willing to be helpful with their advice, often do "spoon-feed" advice. They are trying to be helpful and make sure that their instructions are clear and understood.
Despite you childishly changing my Username to something I assume was supposed to be funny, and despite the fact that you are clearly not understanding anyone's point, I'm not going to stoop to playing your game anymore. I've made my point, you're trying to make yours. Enough for me. I'm done.

**A: Dear slowDeathdue2Credit;
next time mind your own business. You are also a crybaby complainer.... wah....wah...."no one wants to work with us" wah...wah... wah..." That is a lot of BS.
So good turkey, stick a fork in it, you're done.
If you ever support a lamebrain like swammi river again, I will make sure that you suffer a FastDeath2U on this website.