Consumer complaint received 2025-07-01 00:00:00
Product: Debt or credit management — Debt settlement
Issue: Charged upfront or unexpected fees — 
Company: Financial Freedom Group, LLC
State: PA

Complaint narrative:
In XX/XX/XXXX, I entered into an agreement with Debt Blue, located at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, TX XXXX, to assist me with debt negotiation and debt consolidation. I enrolled 4 unsecured debts into the program. My contributions to the plan were set at {$290.00} bi-weekly. I was informed that there would be a small monthly fee to service my account and my designated bank account through XXXX XXXX XXXX. To date, I have deposited over {$11000.00} into the program. Despite Debt Blue settling 3 of the 4 debts to vendors, only {$3200.00} have been paid to creditors. Over {$7700.00} in deposits have been taken by Debt Blue in " Fees. '' That is MORE THAN DOUBLE the amount I have paid into the program. My designated account with XXXX XXXX XXXX has less than {$300.00} in it as of this morning. 
As an example, my XXXX XXXX XXXX was settled by Debt Blue for {$6600.00} in XX/XX/XXXX. As of XX/XX/XXXX, only {$250.00} has been sent to XXXX toward this settlement, despite Debt Blue debiting over {$3800.00} from me since then, a 6 month period. Two other creditors have received similar small payments on settlement.

In addition to predatory fees, Debt Blue has failed to reply to my requests for information and updates on my account via email or phone call. When I called them to complain about not replying to my portal messages or emails, I was told that they are understaffed and there was nothing new to report, so there was no need to keep me updated on my account. 
Yesterday, XX/XX/XXXX, I called customer service and inquired about exorbitant fees and my account showing payments of nearly {$300.00} bi-weekly through the year XXXX, I was told that it was " just what our system does. '' Responses are vague and there is no apparent customer service drive to help people financially, but rather keep collecting these extremely high fees coming in. I told the woman to terminate my program effective immediately, that I no longer wanted to pay Debt Blue for their services. She became rude with me and would not cancel my account, but told me that she would need to pass on the information to her manager, who would call me back another day. 
I feel that their fees charged are excessive and the company promises a quick settlement of debts with the majority of your deposits going to these debtors, which is not true. I was told upon enrollment that a XXXX loan would be offered in one year, at most. I have been in the program for 19 months with no offer, despite regular payments. I reached out to the company who offers XXXX loans for programs in Debt Blue and was told that they are no longer accepting new clients, implying that they would not work with Debt Blue any longer. I can only assume it is because Debt Blue is predatory.

I want my account with Debt Blue cancelled immediately and would like a refund of fees considered unreasonable for services received, or not received. Debt Blue 's fee schedule should be investigated as they are taking advantage of people already struggling. They have collected and kept 67 % of the total funds I deposited into the program to assist with debt repayment, which I did not understand and was not communicated to me in a way that was clear.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation