Consumer complaint received 2023-11-26
Product: Debt or credit management — Debt settlement
Issue: Didn't provide services promised — 
Company: Palisade Legal Group, PLLC (NJ)

I was falling behind in credit card bills due to XXXX XXXX XXXX and losing eight weeks of work and XXXX. Only part time hours offered, so limited XXXX. NO compensation. I worked hard and paid XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ( XXXX ) an extra {$3000.00} on my credit card account for one year. I then realized the balance would never go lower. I was forced into extreme debt and could NEVER pay off a credit card with extra illegal fees and APR rates added to my account. I already lost {$3000.00} in EXTRA credit card interest and my {$6000.00} balance was not being reduced, No way to pay back this debt, At the time, I had a XXXX credit score and paying my bills ON TIME MONTHLY. I reached out to the two credit cards with the highest balances XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX and XXXX XXXX  {$6000.00} credit limit and XXXX XXXX {$3000.00} credit limit. I had to seek credit restructuring with an affordable monthly payment due to extremely limited part time income and no more resources or assistance. No family support. I have been striving on my own since XXXX XXXX XXXX. I had to go bankrupt because my one older brother stole my credit card when I was sleeping and bought tires and other items for his benefit. I asked him to pay me back, he said no. It was not his credit card. I asked for credit card companies to review cameras at point of sale or auto services, but no assistance, In the end- I suffered with finance and insurance charges over 22 years of my life! I finally had the XXXX XXXXXXXX - clear my account after 22 years of damage. Now, I fell behind in my adult life again, I reached out for credit counseling and credit repair services and I was set up with a monthly budget agreement to pay $ XXXX monthly into an escrow account, that would accumulate while credit services would make an effort to settle with credit card companies on my behalf, There was never any documented proof from XXXX when I reached out to the original credit card companies to pay down this debt with 0 % interest to pay the original credit limit back down and the debt was considered paid in full. Only XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX had responded and they agreed to offer 0 % interest free credit card to pay down the original debt! Credit card FINANCE FEES ARE EXCESSIVE AND KILLING POOR. LIMITED INCOME AND LIMITED EDUCATION AMERICANS LIKE ME WITH NO FAMILY SUPPORT OR RESOURCES. Sadly,, this offer came about 23 days late and I had signed the credit counseling with Palisade Legal Group. I reached out to Palisade and had explained - I received a XXXXPalisade Legal Group told me to STOP all communications with the original credit cards and they would settle for a smaller portion of my credit debt that was supposed to be consolidated! Sadly, Palisade Legal Group -DID NOT REPLY or ACCEPT that offer from the XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX . Now- THIS NEGLIGENT action by Palisade Legal Group had caused me severe stress, raised XXXX XXXX and strained relationships with original creditors. I have struggled monthly for 16 payments of {$300.00} sent directly to Palisade Legal Group from my bank account which was supposed to cover legal representation also. I successfully monthly made and struggled to make those credit repair payments of sixteen payments of {$300.00}, which should be {$4800.00} collected from my monthly bank account. Now- I had to attend a court meeting via XXXX meeting? I do not know or understand how to have a XXXX meeting at my age, not computer literate that much. Tired of excessive emails of 2000 monthly emails, that are flooding my email and I can not retrieve important emails in a timely manner. This law firm that was designated to me was EXCESSIVE, HARASSING ME AND FORCING ME TO accept a plea deal on NJ court case # XXXX XXXX XXXX in which I was advised a fair settlement would be arranged. INSTEAD- this agency represented me POORLY and grabbed a deal for $ 200 monthly payments for almost {$11.00} from one credit card, plus Palisade Legal Group still has my $ 4800 monthly escrow account that they are taking fees from? Palisade Legal Group- was NEGLIGENT in a monthly fair credit settlement. I sent Palisade Legal Group the notices at the same time that I sent out the last credit request for 0 % interest to Bank XXXX XXXX and XXXXXXXX XXXX. Now- my credit score has dropped to XXXX and I had existing limits lowered on other credit cards, However, all credit cards that were 23.99 % are NOW 37.99 % APR and I can not pay my rent or monthly living expenses. I have now had a court judgement entered against me and NOW- I allegedly owe {$11000.00} to one credit card and the second credit card is pending. The original agreement was supposed to be $ 300 monthly ( $ 200 monthly payments to XXXX XXXX XXXX and $ 100 monthly payments to XXXX XXXX for 0 % monthly interest to pay down original credit limits. The XXXX XXXX limit was only $ XXXX now allegedly {$8000.00} debt with excessive fees charged!! Why both accounts should have been closed and credit repair was sought through Palisade Legal Group. The legal court representative who harassed me and did NOT disclose all details, when he was directly advised that I am living at POVERTY LEVEL, a limited income, a limited education that does not allow me to seek higher salary careers. ( poor service trying to use scare tactics to ADD EXTRA DEBT to my original amounts owed. Then XXXX XXXX made a rude comment- " When you do not pay your bills on time, you must pay later! '' This statement was SO RUDE!! I payed $ 300 monthly to Palisade Legal Group for {$4800.00} in XXXX on time monthly installments. MY OVERALL TOTAL SHOULD BE {$6000.00} original XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX debt and {$3000.00} XXXXXXXX XXXX debt for a total of {$9000.00} DEBT OWED- {$3000.00} of my escrow account money should have settled with XXXXXXXX XXXX to ELIMINATE ANY NEGATIVE CREDIT INFORMATION AND ALLOW ME A FRESH START! That Means {$1800.00} fee for Palisade Legal Group and I SHOULD OWE ONLY {$6000.00} to XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX for falsely being represented in a NEGATIVE manner that hurt my credit and LIFE!! I will soon have to enter into COMPLETE BANKRUPTCY, unless a Government Agency can intervene for an XXXX  American who is living at POVERTY level and can not AFFORD to rent a single bedroom apartment! I reside in a limited income room to pay my bills and other living expenses. Please guide me to AVOID BANKRUPTCY before XXXX 2023!!! I am praying for someone to guide a limited income and limited education American to STOP ALL CREDIT CARDS FROM EXCESSIVE FEES AND APR RATES ABOVE 23 % annually!! Americans are being XXXX MONTHLY from ALL CREDIT LENDERS to survive the high cost of living with no pay raises!! Awaiting your reply. I am BEING FORCED INTO BAKRUPTCY in XX/XX/2023, which will ruin my credit score!! I should be reviewed and my credit score negative information REMOVED due to the LACK of monthly updates never received to settle my credit card debts! BEWARE!!! ALL CREDIT LENDERS ARE BAD AND STEAL CONSUMERS LAST FINANCES!! ( Please exclude names of the legal team member who was rude that was assigned to me )