Consumer complaint received 2022-06-14
Company: Northstar Legal Group LLC
State: MN
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit repair services
Issue: Confusing or misleading advertising or marketing

Complaint:
I contacted Northstar Legal group on XX/XX/22 to consider signing up for their services in assisting me with my creditors. On XX/XX/22 I met with a representative and signed paperwork hiring them to negotiate my debt and represent me. In XXXX I was still receiving calls, letters, and emails from my creditors, and I asked one of them why they were still calling me when I was represented by Northstar. I was informed that Northstar had never reached out to inform them I was represented and Northstar had not reached out to attempt to negotiate any settlement on my debt. I contacted the rest of my creditors, and found that Northstar had not contacted a single creditor, or negotiated any settlements with any of them. 

I contacted Northstar on XX/XX/22 and stated that I was cancelling my account because nothing had been done with any of my creditors and that I wanted a refund of my money returned to me. When I spoke with XXXX, a representative there, she informed me that since it was before the end of 90 days from hiring them I would be entitled to a full refund. XXXX stated that it would take 7-10 business days for both of my drafts to be refunded back to my bank account. I asked XXXX exactly how much of a refund I would get, and she stated that each draft of {$290.00}, for a total of {$590.00}, would be refunded to me. I also spoke to XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/22 but they were not very helpful. I sent in an email requesting a refund and letting Northstar Legal know that I was terminating their services. The email included my full name, the people I spoke to, my call case number and that I was cancelling the file and wanted the money refunded to me. 

I called Northstar on XX/XX/22 to inform that that I had not received my refund yet. I was referred to XXXX, who is the withholding company for Northstar. I spoke with XXXX at XXXX who informed me that XXXX was authorized by Northstar to refund me {$55.00}. 

I received a deposit in my checking account for {$55.00} on XX/XX/22. 

I called Northstar on XX/XX/22 and spoke to XXXX in Escalation who stated she is a supervisor. XXXX informed me that she would look into the case and if I did not hear from her by Thursday to call her back. 

I called XXXX back on XX/XX/22 since I had not heard from her yet. XXXX stated that I would be getting {$100.00} more refunded to me. I asked about the full refund, and XXXX stated that XXXX was incorrect to tell me I would receive a full refund, and that all refunds are subject to review and approval. XXXX stated I would not be receiving anymore money in refund from Northstar. 

Why does Northstar Legal Group think they are entitled to hold my money when they obviously did nothing for me? They did not contact a single creditor. They did not negotiate on a single file, per our agreement. They did not assist me in managing my debt or ceasing any of the numerous phone calls, emails, and letters I was receiving. They took my money and are refusing to return it when they did not work on my file.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief