MOZ

Apache is functioning normally

Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Lexington Law, the largest credit repair operation in the United States, entered into a Stipulated Final Judgement and Order the Court must approve. I would be surprised if they didn’t.

I’m going to bold what I think are the most important revelations.

The proposed order says, “Plaintiff Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (“Bureau”) commenced this civil action on May 2, 2019, to obtain injunctive and monetary relief and civil penalties. The suit alleges, among other things, that the Defendants violated the credit repair advance fee provision of the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), 16 C.F.R. § 310.4(a)(2), by billing clients for credit repair services before the timeframes required by the advance fee provision had expired. On March 10, 2023, this Court issued an order agreeing with the Bureau’s position.

Credit repair organizations that market or sell their services over the phone, irrespective of whether they promise a specific result to consumers, must follow the TSR, including the advance fee provision.

That is, credit repair organizations that market or sell services over the phone may not request or receive payment of any fee for credit repair services until (i) the time frame in which they have represented all of the goods or services will be provided to that person has expired; and (ii) they have provided the person with documentation in the form of a consumer report from a consumer reporting agency demonstrating that the promised results have been achieved, such report having been issued more than six months after the results were achieved.

And no business may substantially assist a credit repair organization that it knows or consciously avoids knowing is engaged in an act or practice that violates the TSR, including by doing such things as providing back office support, technical know-how, lead generation, or data that supports their non-complaint credit repair practices or billing.

The Defendants and the Bureau have now agreed to settle the litigation. As part of the settlement, Lexington Law, CreditRepair.com, and Progrexion—the largest credit repair organizations in the United States—have agreed that, among other things, they will not violate the advance fee provision of the TSR, nor will they knowingly assist or support any company that is violating that provision.

Consumers considering using a credit repair company should be aware that it is illegal for a company to charge them for telemarketed credit repair unless it has been six months since the company achieved the promised results. Their consumer report has to show that the promised results were achieved six months earlier than they can be billed. Credit repair organizations accepting clients via inbound or outbound telemarketing must conform their billing practices to the full requirements of the TSR, including the advance fee provision of the TSR.

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You can read the court documents here and here.

Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) entered into a proposed settlement with a ring of corporate entities operating some of the largest credit repair brands in the country, including Lexington Law and CreditRepair.com. The agreement follows a ruling from the court that the companies collected illegal advance fees for credit repair services through telemarketing in violation of federal law. If approved, the settlement would impose a $2.7 billion judgment against the companies. The order will also ban the companies from telemarketing credit repair services for 10 years.

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“Americans across the country looking to improve their credit scores have turned to companies like CreditRepair.com and Lexington Law. These credit repair giants used fake real estate and rent-to-own opportunities to illegally bait people and pad their pockets with billions in fees,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “This scam is another sign that we must do more to fix the credit reporting and scoring system in our country.”

Lexington Law and CreditRepair.com are the largest credit repair brands in the country. The credit repair services are marketed and offered through a web of related entities in the Salt Lake City area, including PGX Holdings, Progrexion Marketing, and the John C. Heath, Attorney-at-Law PC law firm. During the time period relevant to the lawsuit, the companies operated nationwide and had more than 4 million customers who were subjected to telemarketing. In 2022, the defendants had combined annual revenues of approximately $388 million.

The CFPB previously sued the companies to halt their illegal conduct and seek redress and other relief. In March 2023, the district court ruled that the defendants violated the advance fee provision of the Telemarketing Sales Rule. The Telemarketing Sale Rule provides a range of protections for consumers related to telemarketing and sets payment restrictions for certain goods and services. It requires credit repair companies to wait until six months after they provide the consumer with documentation reflecting that the promised results were achieved, before they request or receive payment from the consumer.

Following the district court’s ruling, the companies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The companies represented that they had shut down about 80 percent of their business, including their call centers, and laid off about 900 employees in response to the court’s ruling.

.ud27113728ba13b371a3cab030c9dc6d4padding:0;margin:0;padding-top:1em!important;padding-bottom:1em!important;width:100%;display:block;font-weight:700;background-color:#fff;border:0!important;border-left:4px solid #fff!important;box-shadow:0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,.17);-moz-box-shadow:0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,.17);-o-box-shadow:0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,.17);-webkit-box-shadow:0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,.17);text-decoration:none.ud27113728ba13b371a3cab030c9dc6d4:active,.ud27113728ba13b371a3cab030c9dc6d4:hoveropacity:1;transition:opacity 250ms;webkit-transition:opacity 250ms;text-decoration:none.ud27113728ba13b371a3cab030c9dc6d4transition:background-color 250ms;webkit-transition:background-color 250ms;opacity:1;transition:opacity 250ms;webkit-transition:opacity 250ms.ud27113728ba13b371a3cab030c9dc6d4 .ctaTextfont-weight:700;color:#141414;text-decoration:none;font-size:16px.ud27113728ba13b371a3cab030c9dc6d4 .postTitlecolor:#c0392b;text-decoration:underline!important;font-size:16px.ud27113728ba13b371a3cab030c9dc6d4:hover .postTitletext-decoration:underline!importantSee also  I Want to Join in Lawsuit Against Lexington Law

Enforcement Action

Under the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA), the CFPB has the authority to take action against institutions violating consumer financial laws, including engaging in unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices, and against institutions violating the Telemarketing Sales Rule.

If entered by the court, the settlement will, among other things:

  • Ban the perpetrators from telemarketing for 10 years: The companies will be banned from telemarketing credit repair services or selling credit repair services that others marketed through telemarketing for 10 years. The companies will also be banned from doing business with certain marketing affiliates. These bans will attach to the companies even after the bankruptcy proceedings are complete.
  • Require notices to consumers: The companies will be required to send a notice of the CFPB settlement to any remaining enrolled customers who were previously signed up through telemarketing. The notice will inform consumers of the CFPB’s lawsuit, the court’s summary judgment holding, the settlement, the consumer’s right to cancel their credit repair services, and the process for canceling the service.
  • Impose a $2.7 billion judgment for redress: The order would impose a $2.7 billion judgment against the companies for redress. Due to the companies’ financial insolvency, the CFPB will determine whether the CFPB’s victims relief fund can be used to make payments to those harmed by the perpetrators.
  • Impose more than $64 million in civil penalties: The order would impose a $45.8 million civil money penalty against Progrexion Marketing and a $18.4 million civil money penalty against the Heath law firm.
Steve Rhode is the Get Out of Debt Guy and has been helping good people with bad debt problems since 1994. You can learn more about Steve, here.
Latest posts by Steve Rhode (see all)

Source: getoutofdebt.org

Apache is functioning normally

This article is part of a series put together by the Total Mortgage marketing team that provides loan officers and other sales professionals with a crash course in marketing and self-promotion. To read other articles in this series, click here.

When we talk about on-page optimization, we’re talking about factors that can influence how a page on your site will perform in a search result.

Everyone wants their site to come up at the top of the search engine results page (SERP), so there’s some serious competition. To increase your chances of claiming the coveted first position, you’ll want to make sure your page is optimized.

Fortunately for you, this blog will give you the ins and outs of on-page optimization.

Structuring Your Content

When a user comes to your site, you want your content to be structured in a way that makes it easy to understand. That means using a variety of headers and other organizational tools.

Title Tags

Tittle tags help search engines figure out what your page is about. They consist of the text that is placed in between the title tags in your HTML document. To anyone who isn’t a developer, you’ll think of title tags as what the results that up in blue in search engines.

Title tag = Title Tags: How to Improve CTR by 20%+ – Siege Media

Here are some quick tips for title tags:

  1. Include your keywords: The first place someone will look is at your title tag. Make sure your targeted keywords are in the title tag, preferably at the beginning. Don’t go overboard trying to jam as many keywords as you can in your title tag. Not only will “keyword stuffing” get you penalized by search engines, but it doesn’t read well.
  2. Optimize the length: You want your title tag to be between 50-60 characters.
  3. Descriptive: For obvious reasons, you want your title tag to clearly reflect what your post is about.

Headers

After your title, the headers will be the next thing that a user sees. It’s important that the headers guide them to the information that they’re seeking. Internet users don’t have a lot of patience and aren’t interested in reading unnecessary words.

Often times, they’ll get to a site and scroll down, only reading the headers. If they don’t find what they’re looking for, they quickly bounce back to the SERP. Just like your title tag, it’s crucial for you to include keywords in your headers. We’ll talk later on about the different options you have with keyword use.

Sub-Headers

You might think that a simple header would do, but you’d be wrong. Dialing down into sub-headers makes it that much easier for users to follow the flow of your content. It’s not always necessary, but you have to think about what will funnel the readers attention down to the granular sections of your page.

Anything that helps the reader navigate your page will help on-site optimization. It might take a few posts to get a good grasp of when to include a sub-header, but stick with it. Feedback from friends or colleagues is invaluable.

Bullets vs. Paragraphs

Bullet points are nice and neat and are therefore easier to read than wordy paragraphs. That doesn’t mean you should go overboard, but if the time comes, don’t feel like it’s poor taste to use them. Readability is key when it comes to getting likes and shares, and will help keep your readers coming back for more.

One way to make intimidating paragraphs more approachable is to break them up. Since most readers scan through blogs, as opposed to reading them start to finish, you’re better off with smaller paragraphs.

Think about it. If you have a large block of text, the reader certainly isn’t going to jump in at the middle of the paragraph and start reading, and it’s entirely possible that they’ll skip over the whole thing. But if you break that paragraph into three smaller paragraphs, the chances greatly increase that they will read any one of them.

Images/Multimedia

If you’re trying to craft masterful blogs, you’re going to want to include images and videos. There is a lot of data that shows users are more likely to stick around and engage with your site if you have images and videos.

With text, bots can crawl your site and easily figure out what your post is about, but bots rely on your help in order to figure out what images and videos are about. That’s where the file name and alt-text come in.

File name

Search engines love when you feed them clues about your page. Often times, the file name of an image will be some random combination of numbers and letters. That’s not a very good clue. If you help search engines out by using descriptive file names, it will have a positive effect on your on-page optimization.

Alt-text

Alternative text (alt-text) is another place for you to drop a hint to search engines. As the name suggest, they are a text alternative for browsers in the event that they can’t be properly rendered. The same guidelines that apply to file name apply here. You want a clear description of your image.

Meta-Description

The meta-description is the text that appears underneath the title tag in the SERP. Its main goal is to get users to click the link and enter their site. The best way to do that is by combining informative text with a strong call to action. The user won’t know if they want to enter your site until they have an idea of what’s on that page.

One way to help them out is by using keywords. If you have the keyword they searched for in your title tag and meta-description, the odds are good that your page is relevant to their query. Also, when you type a keyword into Google, it appears in bold text if it’s in a meta-description. In the example below you can see the keyword I typed into google—quesadillas—is in bold. It makes it stand out more and draws the user into reading your meta-description, which makes it more likely that they will click through to your page.

Ideal Word Count

Search Engines Prefer Long Posts

Studies show that longer content outperforms shorter content by a substantial amount. What’s the magic number? Well, that depends on who you ask. Different studies have shown that the average word count of top ranked searches is 2,416, 1,890, 2,250-2,500, 2,000+.

They might disagree on the exact number, but they all share one thing in common: long-form content usually outperforms short content.

Why is this the case?

It’s a simple concept. You know a lot, so you write a lot. If there are two blogs on FHA Loans and one of them has 1,000 more words than the other, odds are, that blog is more informative. People think this way, and from what the data says, search engines do to.

Every Post is Different

The content of your page will also play a large factor in determining the ideal word count. Not every topic needs a 2,000+ word post about it. After all, the purpose of a post is to relay information to a curious reader, and if you can satisfy that need in under 1,000 words, then so be it. You want your posts to be readable and shareable, and excessive wording will most likely detract from both of those efforts.

Taking a look at some of the blog posts here at Total Mortgage, these findings ring true. For our mortgage rates blog, there is definitely a correlation between the length of the post and the number of views. There is always some degree of variation depending on market conditions and current events, but overall, longer content does better.

We’ve also noticed that nothing beats a good topic. It’s not something you can always count on, but if you strike gold, you might not have to write a novel to reel in a high amount of traffic. One of our top performing evergreen blogs is under 600 words, but that’s enough for it to rank #1 in google for our targeted keyword.

Which brings us to…

Keyword Density

Keywords are words used to classify or organize digital content, or to facilitate an online search for information. They are what people type into search engines, and they’re incredibly important.

The general theory used to be that the more you mention a keyword in a post, the more likely it is that your article will rank for that keyword. Now, it’s true that the more you use a keyword the easier it is for search engines like Google to figure out what your page is about, but it’s hardly true that there is a direct correlation between the times used and search ranking.

Rand Fishkin, Founder of the highly respected inbound marketing company Moz, says that you should definitely include the keyword in your headlines and a couple times in the body of your post, but other than that, you really don’t have to stress repetition.

Readers want to be reassured that the page they’re on has the information they’re looking for, and seeing keywords in the headers will not only keep them from leaving, but get them to read the copy below it.

As for keyword density metrics, Rand says, stay away.

The long and short of it is that there is no ideal keyword density. You should strive to write posts that naturally have the keyword in it. After all, no one wants to read a clunky keyword stuffed post.

Semantically related keywords 

Search engines are always refining and expanding their methods. One of the most important advancements they’ve made in recent years is the ability to recognize semantically related keywords. The best way to explain this is with an example. Say your keyword is “how to buy a house.” If you type that into google and scroll down to related searches, you’ll find semantically related keywords. 

Google knows that someone searching for “how to buy a house” could very likely wind up wondering about any of these keywords. As stated earlier, you don’t want to keyword stuff. However, if you use various semantically related keywords throughout your post, the copy doesn’t get clunky and you’ve made it much clearer to Google what your post is about, which will help you rank in the SERP.

Selecting the right topics

No matter how well your page is optimized, if your topic selection is terrible, you’re not going to get viewers to read any of your posts. Fortunately, we created a blog post entirely devoted to Creating and Curating Content.

Experience Matters

On-page optimization sets you up for success. If your posts aren’t fully optimized, you’re missing out on users, conversions, and new clients. It’s not unusual for someone who is new to all of these concepts to feel a little overwhelmed. One benefit that loan officers at Total Mortgage have is the ability to engage with a seasoned marketing department. We’ve been blogging for almost a decade, and know all the ins and outs of on-page SEO.

Whether you don’t want to deal with on-page optimization, or you would want us to show you the ropes—we’ve got you covered.

Carter Wessman

Carter Wessman is originally from the charming town of Norfolk, Massachusetts. When he isn’t busy writing about mortgage related topics, you can find him playing table tennis, or jamming on his bass guitar.

Source: totalmortgage.com

Apache is functioning normally

Years ago, when most realtors were still making the transition to online, getting found on the internet wasn’t that hard. Now, however, there’s a lot of competition, and a lot of competition makes for a lot less visibility.

This is where picking the right real estate keywords comes in. Keywords are the words or phrases that your potential buyers and sellers search for, and having the right ones can increase traffic to your site.

Whether your goal is ranking in Google or writing the perfect listing descriptions, I’ll walk you through the basics.

What is search engine optimization?

First things first.

Search engine optimization (or SEO, as you’ll see it more often) is basically what it sounds like—optimizing your page so that search engines will know how to find and recommend it.

While there are many search engines out there, Google is the one you’re going to want to focus on. It has the largest market share, and other search engines tend to follow its example.

High search volume isn’t always your friend

While a lot of resources out there for realtors will give you a list of keywords with impressive monthly search numbers and send you on your way, that isn’t exactly how this whole SEO thing works. In reality, monthly search number give you only a part of the story.

Let’s look at the search term “realtor.”

According to Google keyword planner, it is searched about 3.35 million times a month. That sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? But a closer look at a show you two things

First, despite the large number of searches, the competition is low. There’s a disconnect there–none of your competitors want this keyword.  While low competition is ideal in most situations, this is not one of them. (Sidenote while we’re on the subject: you almost never want to go after a keyword with high competition. That would put your odds at ranking on Google’s first page for this term at pretty much nothing.)

Second, what would you say the average person searching “realtor” is looking for, exactly? Someone to sell their home? Realtor.com? The definition of a realtor? Job opportunities as a realtor?

Only one of those is good for you—but even then, what are the odds the searcher is located near you? This and the lack of competition all point to the fact that “realtor” is not a high-intent keyword. That means that it is too general to consistently drive quality traffic to your site.

Choosing the right keywords for your website

So general keywords don’t work. But which ones do?

Your best bet is to focus on what those in the SEO industry call “long-tail keywords.” These are longer, multi-word search phrases that describe more specifically what the searcher wants, like for instance, “real estate agent in Milford Connecticut.” Maybe it only gets 30 searches a month, but odds are much better that you will be exactly what those 30 searchers are looking for.

One of the best ways to add high-value long-tail keywords to your site? Start a blog. This gives you an opportunity to not only find and target a wider variety of keywords, but to share your expertise with potential buyers and build credibility.

For more a more in depth (but still beginner-friendly) guide to optimizing blog posts, take a look at this blog post we created on the subject. It was originally intended to be a resource for loan officers, but many of the same points still stand.

Search engine tools

As you’ve probably already guessed, finding keywords requires a little help. Here are some good (and free) tools you can use to feel out your keyword options.

Google Keyword Planner. If you have a Gmail account, you already have access to this workhorse. Though it was intended to be used for Google adwords advertisers (these are the ads you see at the top of Google search results) it provides a lot of general information that can be used almost anywhere. It offers three main tools: one that helps you come up with new keywords, one that gets you search and competition data on those keywords, and another that lets you create lists of potential keywords from keywords you already have.

Keywordtool.io. While there is a more robust premium version of this site, the free version is a great way to get keyword suggestions quickly.

Google autofill. Surprisingly, this simple trick is a another easy way to find keywords suggestions. You know how when you type something into Google, they provide you with a list of things you could be typing? That’s because Google collects a lot of data and is able to suggest search terms based on it.

Mozbar. Moz is one of the most respected SEO programs out there, and this free Chrome extension offers you a few of its most helpful tools for free. It’s great for investigating a keyword you’ve chosen and can, among other things, show you the domain authority (DA) and page authority (PA) of current Google rankings for your keyword. The lower those competitors are, the better chance you have of beating that page and ranking.

Picking the right listing keywords for buyers

Now, on to a different kind of keyword: the listing keyword.

While the programs we’ve just discussed won’t apply directly to writing your listings, there is some crossover in strategy.

Buying a house isn’t the same thing as investing in stocks and bonds. There’s a lot of emotional baggage that comes with a home, and buyers don’t always make their decisions rationally.

That’s why it pays to really think hard about what kind of buyer you’re trying to attract.

Say a potential buyer is looking to narrow down their search for their dream house and adds the term “granite countertops.”

Could it mean they just really have a thing for granite? Sure.

But because of what granite signifies in most peoples’ minds (upscale, in a new development, recently renovated) and what you often find along with it (high-end fixtures, custom cabinetry, neutral tones), a search for granite countertops is also likely shorthand for something hard to describe or fit in a search bar, whether buyers realize it or not.

So what does that get you? A good idea of who these people are and what they want to see upon finding your listing—and your blueprint for keeping them hooked.

Whenever you’re writing a listing, remember to have a clear picture of your desired audience. Like with website keywords, that audience may be narrower, but it will be much more motivated to take the next step.

Keywords for upscale or move in ready properties

Though the properties maybe very different in reality, buyers of upscale and move-in ready homes tend to have similar tastes. Both are swayed by amenities and turned off by potential projects, and you’re going to want to stay aware of that as you write.

These 20 words, for instance, came from a study conducted on the listing descriptions of NYC homes that sold faster than the average.  For the full list, check out the pdf.

  1. beautiful
  2. hardwood floors
  3. stainless steel appliances
  4. renovated
  5. private
  6. spacious
  7. washer dryer
  8. shopping
  9. closet space
  10. brand new
  11. luxury
  12. high ceilings
  13. huge
  14. wood floors
  15. quiet
  16. city views
  17. enjoy
  18. home office
  19. fitness
  20. pool

Keywords for homes that could use some love

Not all homes are (or can pretend to be) upscale, though. And in some cases, they shouldn’t try to be.

Homes that need a little work often attract a different set of buyers—investors and bargain hunters willing to put in a little sweat equity. Disguising your listing with careful wording can make it more difficult for the right buyers to find, keeping it on the MLS for longer than it needs to be. Just take a look at this Biggerpocket forum thread where users discussed how they search for investment properties.

Here are some of the words they like to see in listings:

  1. inherited
  2. short sale
  3. pre-foreclosure
  4. bring all offers
  5. must sell
  6. investor special
  7. TLC
  8. motivated
  9. fixer-upper
  10. deferred maintenance
  11. as-is
  12. do not disturb tenant
  13. owner will carry
  14. foundation issues
  15. structural issues
  16. noFHA
  17. engineer report
  18. price change
  19. contractors special
  20. handyman special

Source: totalmortgage.com

Apache is functioning normally

This month, more than 7,100 people who were charged illegal advance fees by Timemark, Inc. to renegotiate, settle, reduce, or alter the terms of their federal student loans will receive a check in the mail.

Payments will be sent on July 6, 2023, through Epiq Systems. If you do not receive a check and believe you are eligible for funds, you can submit a claim by visiting https://www.CFPB-Timemark.org . If you have questions about receiving a refund, email [email protected] or call 1 (866) 991-0913.

In July 2020, the CFPB settled with Timemark, Inc. for violating the Telemarketing Sales Rule. From 2016 through October 2019, the company used telemarketing campaigns to convince people with federal student loans to pay up to $699 in fees to file paperwork to reduce or eliminate their monthly payments, through loan consolidation, forgiveness, or income-driven repayment plans. The U.S. Department of Education, however, offers these options to student loan borrowers for free. To market its student-loan debt-relief services, Timemark, Inc. used two websites, timemarksolutions.com and loan-counselors.com, created and posted YouTube videos, and placed Google Ads. Each of these marketing channels provided a phone number for consumers to call to sign up for Timemark Inc.’s services.

Under the Telemarketing Sales Rule, it is illegal to request or receive any fees for debt-relief services sold through telemarketing before the terms of the debt are altered or settled and the consumer has made at least one payment pursuant to the new arrangement. Timemark, Inc. violated the Telemarketing Sales Rule because it requested and received payments from consumers within a few days, or at the latest, within 30 days of their enrollment—before the terms of the debts were altered.

Learn more about the case.

Source

Steve Rhode is the Get Out of Debt Guy and has been helping good people with bad debt problems since 1994. You can learn more about Steve, here.
Latest posts by Steve Rhode (see all)
.u4272fadae1ec8bf2be575b64b3451644padding:0;margin:0;padding-top:1em!important;padding-bottom:1em!important;width:100%;display:block;font-weight:700;background-color:#fff;border:0!important;border-left:4px solid #fff!important;box-shadow:0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,.17);-moz-box-shadow:0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,.17);-o-box-shadow:0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,.17);-webkit-box-shadow:0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,.17);text-decoration:none.u4272fadae1ec8bf2be575b64b3451644:active,.u4272fadae1ec8bf2be575b64b3451644:hoveropacity:1;transition:opacity 250ms;webkit-transition:opacity 250ms;text-decoration:none.u4272fadae1ec8bf2be575b64b3451644transition:background-color 250ms;webkit-transition:background-color 250ms;opacity:1;transition:opacity 250ms;webkit-transition:opacity 250ms.u4272fadae1ec8bf2be575b64b3451644 .ctaTextfont-weight:700;color:#141414;text-decoration:none;font-size:16px.u4272fadae1ec8bf2be575b64b3451644 .postTitlecolor:#c0392b;text-decoration:underline!important;font-size:16px.u4272fadae1ec8bf2be575b64b3451644:hover .postTitletext-decoration:underline!importantSee also  New Stats Out Paint Depressing Outlook on Student Loans

Source: getoutofdebt.org

Apache is functioning normally

Consumer Statement:

Consumer Debt Legal Group took my money for 12 months. When I called to ask if I could make a partial payment, I was told they were canceling my account unless I could pay the full monthly amount.

They canceled my account the next day and told me that because they had done ” a substantial amount of work “on my case I was not entitled to a refund of the monies that they had collected. Before they canceled my account I had access to the client portal and had been monitoring it closely. there was no activity, no documents uploaded, no evidence of Correspondence between creditors and Consumer Debt Legal Group, nothing. I asked for verification of their activities on my behalf in the past 12 months since there was nothing in the portal that would suggest they’d done anything except collect my money . They verified that they had sent six (6)faxes, one to each of my creditors. Each fax contained the exact same language , the only change made was the name of the recipient. Sending 6 Boiler plate faxes does not constitute “a substantial amount of work” done on my case. Sending six boiler plate faxes does not entitle them to keep $2,500 of my money which now desperately need more than ever. Consumer Debt Legal Group did not help me . They stole my $2,500 and I’m still being contacted by collection agency’s.

Consumer Action Taken:

I called and asked to speak with the my case manager who has remained unnamed this entire time and the accounting department as well as asking to speak with one of the attorneys on staff. I emailed and called for days on end. On their website they promise a consult with one of their attorneys. I was never able to get through to anybody except the receptionist who was extremely cagey and shady and would not give me anyone’s name that I could speak to. I never received a call back from my case manager from an attorney or from the accounting department.

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Date This Problem Happened: May 17, 2023

State You Live in: CT

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age Range: 21-35

Total Amount of Fee Paid: $2,504

Do You Have a Question You’d Like Steve to Answer? Click Here.

Company Name: Consumer Debt Legal Group

Company Address:

4525 S Sandhill Rd STE 114
Las Vegas, NV 89121-5956

Company Telephone Number: 1-866-583-0922

Website of Company: https://cdlgconsulting.com/

If you feel you’ve been financially hurt by a debt relief company and deserve a refund, read these step-by-step instructions on how to proceed to attempt to get your money back.

If you do get your money back, come back and leave a comment about it. I’d love to praise companies that step-up and do the right thing for people.

Scam reports are submitted by consumers like you. If you would like to file a scam report, please click here.

If you are the company named in this report and you want to respond, please read How to Handle a Consumer Complaint Like a Pro And Come Out Smelling Like a Rose

This is information that was submitted by a third party and not generated by GetOutOfDebt.org or Steve Rhode.

Source: getoutofdebt.org

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The Federal Trade Commission and the Florida Attorney General are sending refunds totaling more than $540,000 to consumers nationwide who were defrauded by Life Management Services of Orange County, LLC, and related companies who tricked them into paying for worthless credit card interest rate reduction and debt elimination programs. The average check amount is $117.

The FTC is sending checks to more than 4,600 consumers. Recipients should cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check. Consumers who have questions about their refunds should contact the refund administrator, JND Legal Administration, at 1-877-381-0342, or visit the FTC website to view frequently asked questions about the refund process. The Commission never requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund.

According to the FTC’s June 2016 complaint, brought jointly with the Florida Attorney General, the Life Management defendants bombarded consumers with illegal robocalls trying to sell them bogus credit card interest rate reduction services. The defendants made phony guarantees about lowering consumers’ credit card interest rates and saving them thousands of dollars in interest payments. Customers made up-front payments but rarely, if ever, got the promised services.  The defendants also pitched a bogus credit card debt elimination service, falsely claiming that they could access funds from the government or from a lawsuit against the credit card industry to pay off consumers’ credit card debt.

A court order announced in June 2019 as part of a law enforcement effort to halt illegal robocalls  partially settled the Commission’s complaint by permanently barring 17 Life Management defendants from engaging in telemarketing and debt relief services and requiring them to pay money to provide refunds to defrauded consumers. The district court awarded the FTC and Florida summary judgment against the scheme’s ringleader, Kevin Guice, in December 2018, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court’s judgment in March 2022.

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The Commission’s interactive dashboards for refund data provide a state-by-state breakdown of refunds in FTC cases. In 2022, Commission actions led to more than $392 million in refunds to consumers across the country.

The refunds being sent today are the result of a settlement resolved before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that the Commission lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal court. Because of that ruling, the Commission no longer has its strongest tool to return money to consumers, and it will become harder to provide refunds to consumers harmed by deceptive and unfair conduct. The Commission has urged Congress to restore the Commission’s ability to get money back for consumers.

Source

Steve Rhode is the Get Out of Debt Guy and has been helping good people with bad debt problems since 1994. You can learn more about Steve, here.
Latest posts by Steve Rhode (see all)

Source: getoutofdebt.org

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There has been a growing trend in recent years towards eco-friendly decor. The rising awareness of the environmental impact of our homes and the increasing availability of sustainable materials and products is driving this demand.

Rising awareness of our home’s impact on the environment and the growing availability of sustainable materials are driving this demand.

There’s also the rising popularity of minimalist and Scandinavian design styles that emphasize simplicity.

You can do numerous things to make your home more eco-friendly, from choosing sustainable materials for your furniture and flooring to using recycled materials in renovations. 

Here are some of the latest trends in eco-friendly home decor for 2023.

Sustainable furniture

Sustainable furniture is made from materials harvested or manufactured in environmentally-friendly ways. This can include furniture made from reclaimed wood, bamboo, or other natural materials.

So, how do you recognize this type of furniture?

There are several certifications for sustainable furniture, including the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC). Here’s what those certifications mean:

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): The FSC is a non-profit organization that sets standards for sustainable forest management. FSC-certified furniture is made from wood harvested from forests that are managed in a way that protects the environment and workers’ rights.

Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC): The SFC is a non-profit organization that sets standards for sustainable furniture manufacturing. SFC-certified furniture is made in a way that minimizes the environmental impact of the manufacturing process.

Greenguard Gold: Greenguard Gold is a certification awarded to products that meet strict emissions standards for indoor air quality. Greenguard Gold-certified furniture is made with materials that are low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can harm human health.

These certifications ensure that the furniture was made from sustainably-managed forests and that the manufacturing process was environmentally friendly.

There are several sustainable furniture options available on the market today. These include furniture made from reclaimed wood, bamboo, and other natural materials. Many furniture brands like West Elm and IKEA are also committed to sustainability. 

Natural textiles

Natural textiles are another great way to add a touch of sustainability to your home décor. 

These textiles are made from fibers that are found in nature. These fibers can be obtained from plants, animals, or minerals. Some common examples of natural fabrics include:

Plant-based fibers: Cotton, linen, hemp, bamboo, jute, and sisal are all plant-based fibers. 

Animal-based fibers: Wool, silk, cashmere, and mohair are all animal-based fibers. 

Natural textiles are often considered more sustainable than synthetic textiles, as they can be produced without harmful chemicals. They are also usually more biodegradable, meaning they will break down more quickly in the environment.

But their benefits do not stop there for your home and the environment:

  • Comfort: They are often very comfortable to wear, as they are breathable and absorbent.
  • Hypoallergenic: Some natural textiles, such as wool and silk, are hypoallergenic, meaning they are less likely to cause allergic reactions.
  • Luxury: Natural textiles are often associated with luxury and quality.

Reclaimed materials

Reclaimed materials add character and history to your home décor. Look for furniture, flooring, and other home décor items made from reclaimed wood, metal, or other materials. 

These items have a unique story to tell and will help make your home feel more special. We’ve compiled a guide below to help you incorporate more reclaimed and recycled materials into your home.

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Low-VOC paints

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that can off-gas from paints and other building materials. These chemicals can be harmful to human health and the environment.

They can cause:

  • Eye, nose, and throat irritation: VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, causing symptoms such as burning, stinging, and coughing.
  • Headaches and nausea: VOCs can also cause headaches and nausea.
  • Damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system: Long-term exposure to VOCs can damage the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.
  • Increased risk of cancer: Some VOCs are known to cause cancer.

On the environmental front, VOCs can decrease air quality by reducing visibility and increasing the amount of pollutants in the air. They also contribute to climate change by trapping heat in the atmosphere.

When choosing paints for your home, look for low-VOC or zero-VOC paints. These paints will emit fewer VOCs, which will help improve your home’s air quality. 

Sustainable lighting

There are many sustainable lighting options available today. These include:

LED lights: Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are the most energy-efficient type of light bulb available. They use up to 90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last up to 25 times longer.

CFL lights: Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are another energy-efficient option. They use about 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last about ten times longer. 

Solar lights: Solar lights are powered by the sun, so they don’t require any electricity. They are an excellent option for outdoor lighting, such as pathways and patios. 

Choosing sustainable lighting for your eco-friendly decor in 2023 helps reduce your overall energy consumption and environmental impact.

Indoor plants

Indoor plants are a great way to add a touch of nature to your home décor. They can also help to improve the air quality in your home. When choosing indoor plants, look for plants native to your climate. These plants will be more likely to thrive in your home. 

Here are a few pointers to get you started on your plant-parenthood journey:

Conclusion

Embracing eco-friendly home decor not only allows us to create stylish and trendy living spaces but also enables us to make a positive impact on the environment. 

By incorporating sustainable materials, repurposing and upcycling, and choosing energy-efficient options, we can transform our homes into havens of style and sustainability.

Source: greenerideal.com

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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has ordered installment lender OneMain Financial to pay $20 million in redress and penalties for failing to refund interest charged to 25,000 customers who cancelled purchases within a purported “full refund period,” and for deceiving borrowers about needing to purchase add-on products to receive a loan. OneMain will pay $10 million in refunds to consumers it harmed, and an additional $10 million penalty to the CFPB’s victims relief fund.

Do You Have a Question You’d Like Steve to Answer? Click Here.

“OneMain pressured its employees to load up its loans with extra charges through false promises of easy cancellation with full refunds,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “We are ordering OneMain to refund borrowers it cheated and to clean up its business practices.”

OneMain is a nonbank personal loan installment lender headquartered in Evansville, Indiana and is a subsidiary of OneMain Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:OMF). OneMain is one of the largest non-depository personal installment lenders in the United States. It has a nationwide network with more than 1,400 branches across 44 states. The company offers loans and makes extra profits by upselling borrowers with products such as roadside assistance, unemployment coverage, and identity theft coverage.

OneMain expected its employees to upsell borrowers on every loan. Employees were incentivized to push more products, and company training materials directed them to upsell them even when consumers had already declined the products on previous loans. Salespeople were evaluated on the basis of their sales rate and could even be fired if they did not upsell enough.

The CFPB found that OneMain:

  • Tricked borrowers into signing up for optional products: OneMain customers were led to believe that they could not receive a loan without signing up for an add-on product. Some employees added the products to paperwork without verbally informing the consumer that the products were included or optional, a practice referred to internally as “pre-packing.” If the consumer identified the products and asked for their removal, employees were expected to make it seem difficult to remove the products. In other cases, employees obscured written disclosures from consumers’ view, or verbally contradicted them.
  • Kept $10 million in interest charges despite its “full-refund” policy: OneMain told borrowers they would receive a “full refund” on add-on purchases if they cancelled within a certain period (generally 30 days). However, OneMain unfairly failed to refund interest charges for about 25,000 borrowers who signed up for add-ons such as roadside assistance benefits, identity theft protection, or entertainment discounts. Because of how OneMain precomputed interest on some loans, customers had already been charged significant amounts of interest that the company did not refund. Over the past four years, OneMain kept approximately $10 million in interest charges attributable to add-ons cancelled within its purported “full refund period.”
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Enforcement Action

Under the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA), the CFPB has the authority to take enforcement action against institutions violating consumer financial laws. The CFPB found that OneMain’s practices violated the CFPA’s prohibition on unfair practices by charging and then failing to refund the full premium or fee and interest that accrued on add-on products consumers did not agree to purchase. OneMain also charged and failed to refund interest that accrued on add-on product fees during an advertised full refund period. Finally, the CFPB found OneMain was illegally interfering with consumers’ ability to understand that certain products were optional, and that OneMain charged non-refundable interest during the purported full-refund period.

The order requires OneMain to:

  • Adjust cancellation policies: The order requires OneMain to stop its unlawful activities, adjust its policies to make cancellation of add-on products easier, double the period in which a consumer can cancel an unused add-on product without cost from 30 to 60 days, and include interest in refunds after add-on product cancellations at any time.
  • Provide redress to consumers: The order requires OneMain to pay $10 million in refunds to consumers for improper charges.
  • Pay $10 million in penalties: OneMain is required to pay a $10 million penalty to the CFPB, which will be deposited into the CFPB’s victims relief fund.

Read today’s order.

Steve Rhode is the Get Out of Debt Guy and has been helping good people with bad debt problems since 1994. You can learn more about Steve, here.
Latest posts by Steve Rhode (see all)
.ue07d1f907257266b3dff0241e6cbc204 padding:0px; margin: 0; padding-top:1em!important; padding-bottom:1em!important; width:100%; display: block; font-weight:bold; background-color:#FFFFFF; border:0!important; border-left:4px solid #FFFFFF!important; box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); -moz-box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); -o-box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); -webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); text-decoration:none; .ue07d1f907257266b3dff0241e6cbc204:active, .ue07d1f907257266b3dff0241e6cbc204:hover opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; text-decoration:none; .ue07d1f907257266b3dff0241e6cbc204 transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; .ue07d1f907257266b3dff0241e6cbc204 .ctaText font-weight:bold; color:#141414; text-decoration:none; font-size: 16px; .ue07d1f907257266b3dff0241e6cbc204 .postTitle color:#C0392B; text-decoration: underline!important; font-size: 16px; .ue07d1f907257266b3dff0241e6cbc204:hover .postTitle text-decoration: underline!important; See also  OneMain Financial Loan Offer Mailer

Source: getoutofdebt.org

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I’ve written in the past about cases against National Legal Staffing Support and Resolvly filed by Mississippi attorney Macy Hanson.

Attorney Hanson appears to have come up on the short end in a case filed by National Legal Staffing Support and Resolvly against him.

The case filed in Florida surrounded actions described in the Summary Final Judgment.

The court document stated, “On October 26, 2020, Plaintiffs National Legal Staffing Support, LLC (“NLSS”) and Resolvly, LLC (“Resolvly”) sued for breach of the confidentiality and non-disparagement provisions of two separate settlement agreements against Defendants Macy Hanson and his law firm, the Law Office of Macy D. Hanson, PLLC (together, “Hanson”). (Three other counts were dismissed without prejudice and former Plaintiff GM Law Firm, LLC dismissed all counts filed on its behalf). The two settlements contained non-disclosure and/or non-disparagement clauses that the Plaintiffs allege bound Hanson. The Plaintiffs allege that Hanson breached his obligations under these settlements by disclosing the existence of one settlement alongside disparaging remarks against the Plaintiffs and by disseminating a certain affidavit in subsequent litigation.

A jury trial was scheduled to occur on May 23, 2022. On the day of the trial before a jury was empaneled, however, it became apparent that there were no facts in dispute. The Parties disagreed about the interpretation of the two contracts and legal conclusions that were to be drawn from the facts, but the underlying facts were not subject to a genuine dispute. The Parties jointly requested that the Court entertain cross-motions for summary judgment, to which the Court agreed and the jury trial was cancelled. The transcript of the May 23, 2022 hearing, which lasted nearly five hours, is on file.

Shortly after the May 23, 2022 hearing, the Defendants requested leave to amend their answer with respect to several affirmative defenses. The Court granted the motion for leave to amend, over Plaintiffs’ objection, and reopened discovery limited to the newly pled affirmative defenses.

After discovery closed a second time, the Plaintiffs moved for summary final judgment regarding the Plaintiffs’ two breach of contract claims and the Defendants’ affirmative defenses. The Defendants opposed the Plaintiffs’ motion but did not file their own cross-motion for summary judgment.

Background & Undisputed Facts

Macy Hanson and his law firm was counsel for the four plaintiffs in Matthew Ali, et. al. v. Kevin Mason, P.A., et. al., Case No. 2:18-cv-01110-CBM-FFM in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Macy Hanson and his law firm was counsel for the defendant, Je’Henna Williamson, in National Legal Staffing Support, LLC v. Je’Henna Williamson, Palm Beach Circuit Court Case No. 18-010100. Both cases ended with a written confidential settlement agreement, but Macy Hanson did not sign either contract.

Hanson was attorney of record in the Ali litigation. In the Williamson litigation, Hanson (who is barred only in Mississippi) represented Williamson without filing a notice of appearance. Undisputed record evidence demonstrates that Hanson ghostwrote pleadings for Williamson and negotiated the settlement with NLSS on her behalf. Williamson referred to Hanson as her attorney in contemporaneous emails. Paragraph 2 of the settlement agreement expressly identifies Hanson as Williamson’s attorney. Hanson’s co-counsel in both the Ali and Williamson lawsuits, non-party Dan Gamez who is also not barred in Florida, testified that he and Hanson represented Williamson in the Palm Beach lawsuit. Hanson equivocates on whether he was Williamson’s attorney for purposes of the Williamson litigation and the related settlement, but the record evidence is clear that he ghostwrote pleadings, reviewed the settlement agreement and Ms. Williamson was under the impression that Mr. Hanson was her attorney in the Palm Beach Circuit case.

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Under the terms of the Ali settlement, Hanson was bound as counsel to the Ali plaintiffs to maintain confidentiality regarding the settlement’s existence and terms. Hanson was also bound as counsel to the settlement’s non-disparagement provision. The settlement contained a liquidated damages provision that required the Ali plaintiffs and their counsel to forfeit the portion of the settlement amount they received if they breached the agreement. Paragraphs 8, 9 and 10 of the Ali settlement expressly and repeatedly indicate that “the Plaintiffs’ counsel” is bound by these provisions. Hanson does not challenge the text or the plain meaning of paragraphs 8, 9 or 10. Hanson admits he received $50,000 in attorney’s fees as part of the Ali settlement.

Pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Williamson settlement, Williamson’s attorneys and agents were bound not to further publicize or produce or disseminate a certain affidavit executed by Williamson (the “Affidavit”). Paragraph 2 of the Williamson settlement identifies by name Macy Hanson and non-party Dan Gamez as Williamson’s attorneys. At the expressed written request of Hanson, the Williamson settlement included a release of claims against Hanson and his co-counsel Dan Gamez. According to Hanson’s email, he did not want to be sued for his obtaining or use of the Williamson affidavit in connection with the Ali settlement or litigation.

In November 2018, and within approximately 30 days of the execution of both settlements, Hanson engaged in conduct which the Plaintiffs allege violated provisions of the respective settlement agreements to which Hanson was bound. The Plaintiffs allege that Hanson breached the Ali settlement’s confidentiality and non-disparagements provisions through a public reply to a comment on an online article concerning the Ali litigation on ClassAction.org. Hanson’s public reply disclosed the existence of the Ali settlement and contained language
disparaging the Plaintiffs as having perpetrated a “scam” and creating “victims:”

“Hey, Jeff, how long have you worked for NLSS and Greg Fishman? THIS CASE WAS DISMISSED BECAUSE THE DEFENDANTS SETTLED. Co-counsel, Dan Gamez, and I have filed a new class action case. Despite what Jeff (fake name, I am sure) claims, this is a complete scam and all victims of its should talk with an attorney. Dan Gamez and I would be happy to discuss this with any of you.”

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[Emphasis in original]. Hanson admits he wrote this comment and the comment is part of the record evidence in this case.

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The Plaintiffs also allege that Hanson breached the Williamson settlement’s confidentiality clause regarding the Affidavit by using the Affidavit in subsequent litigation. It is undisputed that the discredited Williamson affidavit was filed as Exhibit A to a copy-cat lawsuit filed by Hanson known as Vivian Grijalva, et al. v. Kevin Mason, P.A., et al , Case No. 8:18-cv- 02010- MCS-DFM (filed Nov. 9, 2018). The Affidavit was later stricken by the district court as irrelevant. See D.E. 115 in Grijalva.

Hanson dismissed Grijalva with prejudice but without any settlement or agreement with either NLSS or Resolvly. Two subsequent copy-cat lawsuits were filed but dismissed with prejudice. See Zachary Hodges v. GM Law Firm, LLC, et al, Case No. 1:20-cv-03799-JPB (N.D. Ga.) (filed Sept. 18, 2020) and Brian Winkler v. GM Law Firm, LLC, et al, Case No. 3:20- cv-08248-DWL (D. Az.) (filed Sept. 21, 2020. Another similar multi-plaintiff but consolidated lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of Florida and dismissed on October 12, 2021. See White, et. al. v. GM Law Firm, LLC, et. al., Case No. 9:21-cv-80896 (S.D. Fla.) (filed May 18, 20 21).

This lawsuit was filed in April 2020.”

Court Orders Hanson to Pay

The Judge ruled that Macy Hanson did not have the decision fall in his favor. In fact, the Judge entered a Final Judgment in favor of Plaintiffs National Legal Staffing Support, LLC and Resolvly, LLC, whose address is 1515 S. Federal Highway, Suite 113, Boca Raton, Florida.

The Judge stated Hanson and his law firm will have to pay “the amount of $50,001.00 (fifty-thousand one dollars), plus prejudgment interest in the amount of $10,661.02 (ten-thousand six-hundred sixty-one dollars and two cents) for a total amount of $60,662.02 (sixty-thousand six-hundred sixty-two dollars and two cents), that shall bear post-judgment interest at the prevailing statutory rate established pursuant to § 55.03, Florida Statutes, (4.75% annually through December 31, 2022).”

You can read the court document here.

Steve Rhode is the Get Out of Debt Guy and has been helping good people with bad debt problems since 1994. You can learn more about Steve, here.
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Source: getoutofdebt.org