Consumer complaint received 2024-01-21
Product: Debt or credit management — Debt settlement
Issue: Charged upfront or unexpected fees — 
Company: Consumer Financial Services Solutions, Inc. (NY)

In XXXX XXXX XXXX I had XXXX credit cards that were totaling roughly {$18000.00} due to life situations and the interest charges were getting out of hand though I never missed a payment and my Credit score was very good. After weighing some options and checking with the XXXX, I made the decision to hire Beyond Finance to help settle these debts as, on the face of it, it seemed reasonable as it would allow for lower monthly payments while still paying off this debt. I was instructed to stop paying on the XXXX cards and to direct any calls or documentation to Beyond Finance. I would be making bi-monthy payments into a dedicated account and they would negotiate these accounts and stated that the debt would be estimated to be cut by up to 50 %. Their fee to do this would be 25 % of the enrolled debt of {$19000.00} and I was signed up for a 48 month plan. XXXX XXXX had a balance of roughly {$2000.00} and the other XXXX had roughly {$8000.00} each. As my dedicated account was approaching {$2000.00} after a few months I called to see why I had not seen a settlement offer yet as I felt I had plenty of funds to at least take of the small debt. This started the first of many, many circular conversations with this company. Finally an offer came through but it was for XXXX of the higher cards and will admit it was a good offer but it was to be paid in a year. By then I still had over {$2000.00} in my dedicated account and XXXX day I looked at my app and they had taken over {$1400.00} from my account for their fees. I was shocked to say the least and when I called I was essentially told tough luck and we'll still get your settlements. The second offer came through for the smaller card balance and was not a good offer so I rejected it only to get the same offer the next time so I reluctantly took the offer as I was told by the representative that this will probably be the best offer and the XXXX could be higher. Around this time in the Fall of 2023 I was told I " qualified '' for a " graduation loan '' through a partner company XXXX XXXX that would take care of my debt etc only to learn it was XXXX at 25 % interest and would end up costing me {$25000.00} and, I also received a letter from the XXXX card that they were turning the account over to a law office. I was told to not worry about it as this was just a scare tactic. I went back and forth and back and forth with this company Beyond Finance speaking to many multiple representatives arguing that by taking so much money from my account at once that they greatly hampered the negotiations of the following XXXX accounts. So, at the beginning of this year I received a completely unaffordable offer from the XXXX card, rejected it, and the next day was served with a summons for a pending lawsuit by the aforementioned law firm. I have never faced a situation like this. I'm not trying avoid the debt. I tried to call the company for the card and the law firm that was representing them only yo be told they can not speak to me as XXXX has XXXX of Attorney over my accounts. I paid some extra fees for Legal help as they suggested and the best they could do is draft a response letter for the court which I now have to spend my time and more money with. I received a second offer from this account, which was the same unaffordable offer, within a few days of being served and I spoke to many representatives as high as I could go and complained bitterly about both the funds being taken from my account and that no one was asking me what I could afford or letting me in on the negotiation process at all. I came up with a plan to deposit enough money to pay off the balance of the large account in settlement only to be told I would also have to pay the remainder of the fees to do that. So now I find myself with an unaffordable offer and a looming lawsuit that will take time and money that I do not have and a company that I hired that is just giving me the run around.