Consumer complaint received 2025-06-03 00:00:00
Product: Debt or credit management — Debt settlement
Issue: Unauthorized withdrawals or charges — 
Company: Citizens Debt relief LLC
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/XXXX I signed a contract with Citizens Debt Relief, LLC., a debt resolution company to negotiate settlement on my behalf with my creditors. This agreement also included XXXX XXXX, aka XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX with an FDIC assurance of protection of my funds. Drafts from my checking account by XXXX began on XX/XX/XXXX for {$810.00}, XX/XX/XXXX {$810.00}, XX/XX/XXXX {$810.00}, XX/XX/XXXX {$810.00}, XX/XX/XXXX {$620.00}, XX/XX/XXXX {$620.00}, XX/XX/XXXX {$620.00} and XX/XX/XXXX {$450.00}. The monthly drafts were reduced because I began negotiations and settling accounts and withdrawing them from Citizens Debt R6elief. I was supplied statements from Citizens Debt Relief that showed " pending settlement '' on all accounts. I continued to request information and updates on negotiations. XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ( XXXX ) was to hold my savings, only to be paid out as debt payments to my creditors once negotiated settlement was secured. Per contract documents, I was to retain full and complete ownership of the funds in my account and no unauthorized payments were to be made without my explicit and direct authorization by me. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received access to my XXXX  account after demanding the same from the Citizens Debt Relief sales department. I was then given the login and access information to my account. I then logged into my account and found that my sales account had a XXXX balance. Beginning XX/XX/XXXX a settlement payment of ( {$20.00} ) was paid by check to my XXXX XXXX XXXX. No negotiations for settlement were made or conveyed to me in any manner. 
On XX/XX/XXXX fee payment of $ ( XXXX ) was drafted out of my savings account leaving a balance of {$30.00}. My funds were being drafted out of my savings account at the same rate that XXXX was drafting the funds from my checking account. This was unknown to me. 
The Citizens Debt Relief Contact states : " In the Debt Resolution Services Agreement. Item 6. Dedicated Savings Account : " Client shall maintain direct and absolute control and ownership over the account. Only Client shall be able to withdraw funds from this account, and he/she must directly authorize Any and All settlements before Any funds are transferred to his/her creditors. This activity was systematic monthly until I became aware of the fraudulent activity on XX/XX/XXXX after gaining access to my XXXX account upon demanding and receiving login access from XXXX XXXX Customer Service Agent with Citizens Debt Relief via e-mail. On XX/XX/XXXX I contacted the Operations Manager ( XXXX XXXX ) for ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX for details on the withdrawals from my saving, she stated I could not see all the detail from the dashboard access, but that Citizens Debt Relief was the party making the withdrawals and she agreed to send me my account ledger by email that disclosed the full details. I requested that my checking account withdrawals be immediately stopped and to remove my checking account. She placed a hold on my account but said she would need to research if she were able to remove my checking account number. On XX/XX/XXXX. I submitted the cancellation of my contract via e-mail XX/XX/XXXX, Chat box on the website for XXXX and via telephone. I revoked all powers of attorney. I was told I would receive a call back within 48 to 72 business hours from a supervisor to discuss my account. I never received the call. At the end of 80 I called back and was again told I would receive a call within 48 to 72 business hours a second time. I also had the operations manager with XXXXXXXX XXXX close my account which should have had a balance of {$5400.00}. I cancelled the contract for breach of contract dated to XX/XX/XXXX for illegal withdrawals from my account. In an attempt to claim a settlement fee on my account a creditor was contacted on XX/XX/XXXX and a settlement was reached without notification or consent by me. Citizens Debt Relief attempted to claim settlement and reopened my XXXX account, advanced {$150.00} to the account and paid the creditor {$140.00} in an effort to exact a settlement fee of {$1500.00} from the refund that I requested and am indeed entitled to. The refund that I should receive total is {$5400.00} less the partial payment received of {$2900.00} for a total still unpaid of {$2400.00}. To further attempt to cheat me from the monies due to me Citizens Debt Relief understated the total amount of payments drafted by XXXX to my savings account. My funds were used interest free for unknown purposes by Citizens Debt Relief, and I was further injured by the lack of the use of my own monies to negotiate my debts as Citizens Debt Relief was claiming per their statements, that settlements were pending. No accounts were ever negotiated and/or settled. I am submitting documents to support this claim.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation