Consumer complaint received 2024-06-20 00:00:00
Product: Debt or credit management — Credit repair services
Issue: Charged upfront or unexpected fees — 
Company: Advantage Credit, Inc.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern, Subject : Urgent Report of Fraudulent Business Practices by CreditIQ Introduction : I am urgently seeking your assistance to investigate and take action against CreditIQ, a company that has defrauded me and potentially many others. I enlisted their credit repair services on XX/XX/2021, and I am filing this report with the police, the Consumer Protection Agency, and the Federal Trade Commission to address this fraudulent activity and prevent further victimization. 

Incident Summary : On XX/XX/2021, I signed up for the Diamond Program offered by CreditIQ, managed by XXXX XXXX. This program was supposed to improve my credit file over three years by removing negative items and increasing my credit score by fifty points. 

Service Details : I paid {$3500.00} for the Diamond Program, which included comprehensive credit repair services over three years. Despite their promises, none of the services were delivered. My credit score did not increase ; it remained flat and even decreased slightly due to unrelated hard inquiries for small business loans.

Failure to Deliver : After three years, CreditIQ failed to remove any negative items from my credit report or improve my credit score. My numerous attempts to resolve this issue with the company, including a direct meeting with XXXX XXXX, were unsuccessful. They refused to refund my money or provide any satisfactory resolution. 

Legal Challenges : Upon consulting several attorneys, I was advised that pursuing legal action would be futile due to the companys extensive history of legal issues and non-compliance with federal agencies. Research revealed that CreditIQ is not a legitimate company and has been involved in multiple state and federal lawsuits. 

Federal Law Violation : CreditIQ also violated federal law by accepting payment before performing any services. Federal regulations prohibit credit repair agencies from requesting or receiving payment before completing the agreed-upon work. I paid {$3500.00} in advance before any work was performed on my credit file. 

Referral Source : I was referred to CreditIQ by XXXX, a reputable real estate company. XXXX hosted a webinar where they endorsed CreditIQ, claiming to have used their services for nearly ten years. Trusting this referral, I proceeded with CreditIQs services, only to be defrauded. 

Impact and Documentation : The lack of service has resulted in a significant financial loss of {$3500.00} and no improvement in my credit score. I have documentation, including the contract, service descriptions, and credit reports from CreditIQ, which I am willing to provide upon request to support my claims. 

Conclusion : I urgently request an investigation into the fraudulent activities of CreditIQ and seek any possible recourse for the financial loss I have incurred. This company has defrauded me and continues to operate in a manner that could harm others. Immediate action is needed to prevent further victimization. 

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation