Consumer complaint received 2026-01-27 00:00:00
Product: Debt or credit management — Debt settlement
Issue: Charged upfront or unexpected fees — 
Company: Swift Debt Relief Inc.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint regarding Swift Debt Relief / XXXX XXXX XXXX for attempting to collect a fee that was not earned under the terms of my signed agreement. Under the contract, legal fees are only earned after a settlement is negotiated and at least XXXX payment is made toward that settlement. In my case, no settlement was negotiated, no settlement offer was approved by me, and no payment was made toward any settlement for the XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX account. Despite this, the company is attempting to charge a fee for an account that was never settled and which I properly removed from the program, as expressly allowed by the contract. The proposed settlement amount combined with the demanded fee was nearly equal to the original debt, providing no financial benefit. I have had several issues with Swift, including misinformation and failures to properly communicate changes to the escrow account. They have deducted their fees in a lump sum from the account without first informing the account holder that the amount would be deducted. They had me increase the monthly payment from {$1200.00} to settle with XXXX. Therefore, I increased the monthly payment to {$1700.00}, as requested. They contacted me in XX/XX/XXXX and requested that I make an additional payment of {$650.00}. I made the payment, and then they lost the settlement that indicated that I would pay {$1200.00} per month for XXXX months. I contacted customer services numerous times to have them reach out to XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX on my behalf. They refused, and XXXX indicated that I should wait. In XX/XX/XXXX, we were served a lawsuit from XXXX XXXX XXXX. They assign our case to XXXX of their partner attorney. I have left her messages, and she does not return calls. I asked for the account to be removed because they charged a {$8500.00} fee on a settlement offer I did not accept. The settlement offer of {$27000.00} and debt settlement fees of {$8500.00} would be {$35000.00}, which is almost the same as the current balance with XXXX XXXX XXXX. I can not afford to pay {$27000.00} over XXXX months. I requested the removal of the XXXX XXXX XXXX account prior to any settlement, which is permitted by the agreement. The company is now attempting to collect a reduced fee anyway, despite the fee not being contractually earned. I have recorded conversations with Swift if needed. I requested that the account be removed, and now I'm receiving threats from the company. XXXX had XXXX contact me tonight, XX/XX/XXXX, and indicated that they will get their money and that I will be charged the fees. XXXX XXXX indicated that XXXX XXXX XXXX offered to pay the full balance over XXXX years, and XXXX never mentioned that offer. I was only advised of the offer above. Their representatives have explained that I will not be charged a fee for account removal ; nevertheless, XXXX has attempted to force me to agree to a fee of {$6800.00}. I am attaching supporting documentation below. XXXX XXXX From : XXXX To : XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX Thu, XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX PM XXXX, I have been advised to request a copy of the recorded conversation you indicated you listened to, and XXXX of your representatives advised me that the {$4900.00} would be applied back to the escrow account ( Removal of the deft settlement fee that was deducted on XX/XX/XXXX ). In addition, the fee of {$2700.00} would be deducted on XX/XX/XXXX, and a deduction of {$2200.00} would be sent to XXXX due to the resettlement error caused by Swift. Additionally, we would like the {$650.00} extra payment requested on XX/XX/XXXX, for the XXXX account be sent to XXXX from the account {$2900.00} setting in the escrow account. I will send an additional payment of {$66.00} to cover the XXXX payment referenced in XXXX XXXX 's email below from XX/XX/XXXX. This means the final payment for XXXX will be in XXXX of XXXX, in the amount of {$970.00}. Thank you! XXXX XXXX XXXX ; Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Texas Attorney General XXXX XXXX XXXX, California Attorney General, Better Business Bureau ( BBB ) On Thursday, XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX PM XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX wrote : Hi XXXX, Thank you for your email. I have reviewed the XXXX XXXX again, including Item XXXX ( a ). As stated in the agreement, the XXXX % legal fee is only earned after a settlement is negotiated and at least XXXX payment is made toward that settlement. As of today : No settlement has been negotiated, No settlement has been presented to me for approval in writing, and No payment has been made toward a settlement. Therefore, under the contract language, no fee has been earned on the XXXX XXXX XXXX account. Additionally, the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and the proposed combined settlement + fee total were nearly equal to the original debt amount. Because the account had not been settled, I exercised my contractual right to remove it from the program, as allowed in the agreement. I appreciate your willingness to discuss a reduction ; however, at this time, the fee is not contractually due, and I am not agreeing to pay a fee for a settlement that did not occur. Please confirm that : The XXXX XXXX XXXX account has been removed from my program. No fee will be assessed on this account since no settlement was reached ; and My monthly program amount will not change and will remain as currently agreed. Thank you, XXXX XXXX On Thursday, XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX PM XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX wrote : Hi XXXX, XXXX we discussed you can look at your signed contract agreement on page XXXX, Item XXXX. Fees. a. Legal Fees, full first paragraph advising the XXXX % fee is due. As I stated, I am willing to work with you on a fee reduction for this account, instead of {$8500.00} owed, I will consider reducing the fee to {$6800.00}, a XXXX % reduction. Have a good evening and let me know if you have any questions. created with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX of Operations XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX website swiftdebtrelief.com XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX, CA. XXXX created with MySignature.io created with MySignature.io created with MySignature.io From : XXXX XXXX Sent : Thursday, XX/XX/XXXX XXXX AM To : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Subject : RE : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Hi XXXX XXXX Yes, I can call you around XXXX your time today. From : XXXX XXXX XXXX Sent : Thursday, XX/XX/XXXX XXXX AM To : XXXX XXXX XXXX Subject : Re : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Thank you for following up. I'm in meetings today until XXXX. After emailing you last night, I reached out to a friend to review the agreement. Based on the information shared this morning, we can remove the XXXX XXXX XXXX account because we have not settled an offer on the account. In addition, the settlement offer of {$27000.00} and debt settlement fees of {$8500.00} would be {$35000.00}, which is almost the same as the current balance with XXXX XXXX XXXX. I'm waiting to hear from XXXX. I emailed her last night and left a message for her this morning. I will be happy to discuss this with you. Can you contact me at XXXX p.m.? Thank you! On Thursday, XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX AM XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX wrote : Hi XXXX, XXXX you available for a call the same time as yesterday around XXXX PST? From : XXXX XXXX Sent : Wednesday, XX/XX/XXXX XXXX PM To : XXXX XXXX XXXX Subject : RE : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Good evening! XXXX, Thank you for speaking with me this evening and earlier today. After speaking with my family, we have XXXX question. Can the XXXX XXXX XXXX account for me be removed from the debt consolidation program? Thanks! XXXX XXXX Sent via the XXXX XXXX XXXX, an AT & T XXXX smartphone -- -- -- -- Original message -- -- -- -- From : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : XX/XX/XXXX XXXX PM ( XXXX ) To : XXXX XXXX Subject : XXXX XXXX - XXXX created XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX of Operations XXXX XXXX XXXX ) XXXX website swiftdebtrelief.com XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX, CA. XXXX created with MySignature.io created with MySignature.io created with MySignature.io

Company public response: Company believes the complaint is the result of a misunderstanding
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation