Consumer complaint received 2024-03-29
Product: Debt or credit management — Debt settlement
Issue: Confusing or misleading advertising or marketing — 
Company: FREEDOM FINANCIAL NETWORK (MI)

Subject : Complaint Regarding Misleading Practices and Potential Lack of Sufficient Representation as Advertised Thank you for reading my complaint. 

I am writing to file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) regarding the practices of Freedom Debt Relief and its subsidiary, Achieve XXXX  Loans. My concerns primarily revolve around misleading information, lack of representation, and discrepancies in their services. 

Firstly, I was unaware that Achieve XXXX  Loans was essentially Freedom Debt Relief under a different name. I believed they were partner companies but did not realize the same leadership owned/invested in both. This creates an intentional lack of transparency that I know I don't like. 

Secondly, Freedom Debt Relief maintains a 'client dashboard ' to update clients on their enrolled debts. However, despite assurances that my XXXX XXXX  account was 'in targeted negotiation, ' I recently discovered that my wages were garnished due to a default judgment against me. This occurred because the law firm they partnered with did not send representation to my hearing, and I only found out about the judgment through mailed communication from the court after it was too late to appeal. 

Furthermore, I have learned that Freedom Debt Relief has been sued for misleading marketing and knowingly advocating for individuals to place their XXXX XXXX  credit card debt into the program, despite knowing they could never negotiate a settlement due to XXXXXXXX XXXX policy ( Case No. XXXX ). This raises serious concerns about the accuracy of their representations and the effectiveness of their debt relief services.

I also question the effectiveness of the XXXX XXXX XXXX, which Freedom Debt Relief claims to use for negotiations. I do not believe they are adequately advocating on my behalf, especially for debts with creditors they know will not negotiate. This contradicts Freedom Debt Relief 's advertising, which suggests that enrolling all debts, including those with non-negotiating creditors, is the best approach. 

In light of these issues, I request that the CFPB investigate Freedom Debt Relief and Achieve XXXX  Loans  for potential violations of consumer protection laws, misleading practices, and failure to provide adequate representation. 

I also seek assistance in resolving the default judgment and wage garnishment resulting from these circumstances. Furthermore, I do not think Freedom Debt Relief or XXXX  Loans or XXXX XXXX should be due any profits from my debts. I also request greater transparency by the XXXX  who rates Freedom Debt Relief very highly despite continuing the same practices as they were sued for in XXXX. This information regarding their practices and the lawsuit is not very accessible or easily found by consumers in desperate situations seeking ethical support. 



Potential Violations : Failure to Provide Adequate Representation : If the law firm representing you through Freedom Debt Relief did not attend your court hearing, leading to a default judgment and wage garnishment, it could be seen as a failure to provide adequate legal representation, which may violate consumer protection laws related to professional standards and duties.

Misrepresentation or Deceptive Practices : If Freedom Debt Relief continued to list your XXXX XXXX  account as " in targeted negotiation '' despite the legal actions taken against it and the resulting wage garnishment, it could be considered a form of misrepresentation or deceptive practice. Consumers have the right to accurate and transparent information about the status of their debts and the effectiveness of debt relief services.

Lack of Communication and Notification : Failing to communicate important information, such as court hearings and judgments, in a timely manner to clients can also be viewed as a violation of consumer protection laws, particularly if it prevents clients from taking necessary actions to protect their rights and interests.

Unfair or Unreasonable Practices : The overall handling of your case, including the failure to provide representation, inadequate communication, and the resulting negative consequences ( default judgment and wage garnishment ), may be deemed as unfair or unreasonable practices that contravene consumer protection principles.