Consumer complaint received 2021-07-09
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Debt settlement
Issue: Problem with customer service — 
Company: FREEDOM FINANCIAL NETWORK (LA)

I began a debt settlement program with Freedom Debt Relief ( FDR ) in XXXX of XXXX. I have settled several debts since joining this program. However those settlements have come with heavy prices : extra fees, hits to your credit score, lost of bargaining power. I have recently gotten down to my last creditor and realized that I wanted to escalate the process and pay this account off early. Well isnt that the purpose of getting into this program? I soon found that it is not really their intentions. On XX/XX/XXXX, I spoke with XXXX XXXX, and removed one of the final creditors because I realized that FDR was extending payments too far beyond what I was capable of handling. This extension would have cost me an unreal amount of extra fees. Also The company that they had listed as the creditor I had never heard of before. This made me uneasy, so I deleted this account from the program. I also advised him that I wanted to escalate the program and pay off the one remaining creditor. He advised me to wait a couple of days and call back. This left me with one creditor, according to the pay schedule, there were only 6 payments left and the amount remaining in my saved account was enough to cover the balance. On XX/XX/XXXX I accounted FDR, speaking with XXXX. When I advised her of my desires to accelerate the program she advised me that they had already started the acceleration review process. Subsequently, on XXXX CST, ( XXXX XXXX and on XXXX @ XXXX CST XXXX XXXX XXXX I spoke with these reps of FDR who advised that attempts were made to contact the creditor but were unsuccessful. I was transferred to XXXX, on XXXX at XXXX. She advised me that they were contacting the original attorneys office XXXX XXXX, XXXX and XXXX XXXX and had to wait to hear from them before proceeding. Upon disconnecting the call with FDR I, myself, contacted the creditor and advised them of what I was told by FDR. XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX advised she spoke ( via email ) with attorney ( XXXX XXXX XXXX who advised there were no attempts by FDR to contact her. XXXX XXXX stated she advised the attorney to contact FDR. On XX/XX/XXXX I spoke with XXXX at FDR. She advised that according to their records I had a sufficient amount in my account to satisfy the remaining creditor. I also expressed that I did not want them to deduct another full amount ( {$570.00} XXXX from my account. XXXX reduced the payment to {$25.00} and advised the completion of my account should be done within 3 to 5 days. On XX/XX/XXXX @ XXXX I spoke with XXXX at FDR, she advised me that my account was {$300.00} short and this amount need to be paid before account was closed. I expressed to her about my previous conversation with XXXX. atr the point XXXX placed me on a 15 minute hold to " verify the account ''. when she returned she told me to disregard the previous quoted amount XXXX {$320.00} ) and that FDR would contact me on XXXX with the information need to satisfy and close my account. On XXXX XXXX, after realizing the business day was ending and not having heard from FDR I contacted them. I spoke with XXXX @ XXXX XXXX who advised they were waiting to hear from XXXX  about the amount needed to satisfy my last creditor. When I voiced my frustration and all the stalling tactics, he offered no recourse, other than to wait to hear from FDR. I immediately contacted XXXX, myself, speaking with XXXX @ XXXX XXXX. XXXX referred me to XXXX ( who was on break ) urging me to leave a voice message, which I did. After not receiving a call back I again telephoned XXXX, again speaking with XXXX. He advised me that he emailed XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX who were my legal team. he advised that I would have to wait to hear from them. At this point My only goal is to pay of this creditor so that I can sever myself from this awful company. There are so many arms to collecting unnecessary fees that you ae not realizing you are paying twice what you can have negotiated for yourself. I will truly never ever recommend this company.