Consumer complaint received 2023-06-27 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit repair services
Issue: Fraud or scam — 
Company: FREEDOM FINANCIAL NETWORK
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
In regards to CFPB v. Freedom Debt Relief , LLC Case No. Case No. 3:17-cv-06484-EDL I was a Freedom Debt Relief { FDR } client since XX/XX/XXXX and paid a total of {$19000.00} into their debt relief program. ( i can provide documentation. ) I am outraged having learned after all this time how wrongfully I have been not only deceived but actually robbed by this company. I literally struggled and sacrificed my blood, sweat and tears for over 2 years to come up with the {$280.00} payment to this company every 2 weeks. I'm not a wealthy man so that is a lot of money for me and difficult to accomplish. But as you can see from the evidence, i did. And when I tell you that's the XXXXXXXX XXXX honest truth, it's the XXXXXXXX XXXX honest truth. 
With that being said, I'm sure you can imagine the hardship it caused me. This revelation makes me sick to my stomach realizing the extent of work and diligence I provided only to find out it was based a huge scam I was a victim of the whole time. Even though I'm directly affected by this case and completely entitled to the proceeds, I was not told about this suit at all and had no idea of its existence until the date of this writing, XX/XX/XXXX. And not to be blunt, but I don't want to hear the payments stopped in XX/XX/XXXX, because that would be extremely unfair and detrimental towards me especially since the entire case hadn't been disclosed to me whatsoever and I have irrefutable evidence of how I'm the definition of the affected consumer in this situation. Had I not curiously been browsing the Consumer Financial Protection website ; I still wouldn't have known. I was never even informed considering how directly I was a victim of it. All I wanted to do is pay off my debt as honest hard-working guy. 
Even more so, I just obtained an XXXX  credit report dating XX/XX/XXXX ( i can provide documentation ) and I've found that FDR had outright lied about accounts being paid off. As you can see on the display that FDR provides to myself through their website, it shows the debt payments completely paid but then when you look at the XXXX report, they're still listed as bad debt and not paid/settled as FDR led me to believe. That is the definition a fraud/deceptive practices. 
And my question is this, did they down right steal all the money that was supposed to go towards paying off those accounts??? Because from what it says on the XXXX report, the full balances are reported and delinquent as if FDR didn't even contact, settle and pay them at all! Does this mean they straight up pocketed {$19000.00} of my hard-earned money?? 
The salesman who pitched the program stated they would only take 6 % of the account balances as a FDR settlement fee. Come to find out it was 26 %. And now not only has the lawsuit stated that they took the fees before settlement, I have concrete evidence of. 
So as you can see from the information of provided, I rightfully demand every penny I've paid this company ASAP and would appreciate compensation for emotional damages if applicable. Please contact me as soon as possible in regard to it and will be more than happy to help you with anything you may need to expedite and complete the process for restitution being placed in my possession.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation