Consumer complaint received 2026-03-26 00:00:00
Product: Debt or credit management — Debt settlement
Issue: Unauthorized withdrawals or charges — 
Company: Mathew Aaron Holdings Inc.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
Company : GRT Financial Client ID : XXXX -- - Complaint Description : Note : This complaint includes corrected draft information that was not fully detailed in my previous correspondence with GRT. The amounts below reflect the net funds actually taken from my account after accounting for credits. Summary : GRT Financial, a debt settlement company I hired as a third-party service to modify credit terms, drafted under duress and later unauthorized funds from my personal bank account on XX/XX/year> ( posted on XX/XX/XXXX ), XX/XX/year>, and XX/XX/year>, after I had revoked authorization and terminated services. They reinstated my account without my consent and without my signature. No debt was ever successfully settled, yet they are attempting to collect fees in violation of their own contract, the Telemarketing Sales Rule ( TSR ), and the Electronic Fund Transfer Act ( XXXX ). I am demanding the return of {$2700.00}, representing the net amounts actually taken from my account : XX/XX/year> : {$520.00} ( gross draft, no credit ) XX/XX/year> : {$1500.00} draft, less {$440.00} credit = {$1100.00} net taken XX/XX/year> : {$1500.00} draft, less {$440.00} credit = {$1100.00} net taken XXXX net taken : {$2700.00} -- - XXXX of Events : XXXX. XX/XX/year> : I verbally agreed to a settlement proposal under duress. When I expressed my inability to afford the terms, a XXXX representative threatened " legal consequences '' if I refused. This consent was not voluntary and negates the validity of any agreement. On this same date, XXXX drafted {$520.00} from my account. XXXX. XX/XX/year> : XXXX drafted {$1500.00} * * from my account. A credit of * * {$440.00} was applied ( related to another account ), resulting in a net draft of {$1100.00}. XXXX. XX/XX/year> : I refused to sign the Consent Judgment or Stipulation Agreement from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX My signature was required to finalize any settlement. Because I did not sign, no settlement was ever finalized or completed. XXXX. XX/XX/year> : I contacted XXXX to remove the XXXX debt from the program and terminate services. I electronically signed documentation closing my account. This action : Revoked any Power of Attorney ( that was posted on XX/XX/year> ) Terminated my authorization for GRT to act on my behalf Revoked any prior authorization for GRT to draft funds from my accounts XXXX. XX/XX/year> : Despite my termination, XXXX reinstated my account without my consent, citing internal procedural errors. I explicitly refused to sign any new addendum or authorization. XXXX. XX/XX/year> : Despite having no valid XXXX of Attorney and no finalized settlement, XXXX drafted another {$1500.00} * * from my account. A credit of * * {$440.00} was applied, resulting in a net draft of {$1100.00}. This draft occurred after I had revoked authorization and after I explicitly refused to sign any new agreement. XXXX. XX/XX/year> : XXXX responded to my dispute stating that the XXXX draft " will be subjected to settlement fee and there will be no refund. '' They also acknowledged the account was closed but claimed it was done " in error. '' -- - XXXX Violations : My enrollment agreement with XXXX states : " XXXX owns and controls the account and XXXX withdraw funds at any time without penalty. '' " This fee is earned by XXXX upon the successful settlement of a debt and first payment upon such settlement. '' No settlement was ever successfully completed. I never signed the settlement documents from the creditor. Therefore, under the express terms of the contract, XXXX has no right to any fee. All XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, and XXXX XXXX for fees tied to a settlement that never occurred. -- - Violations of the Telemarketing Sales Rule ( TSR ) : The Telemarketing Sales Rule, XXXX C.F.R. XXXX, governs debt settlement companies like XXXX. Under the TSR : XXXX C.F.R. XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ) : Debt settlement companies are prohibited from collecting any fee before settling a debt. XXXX collected fees for a debt that was never settled. This is a direct violation of federal law. XXXX XXXX. XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ) : Misrepresentations are prohibited. XXXX misrepresented that a fee was earned when no settlement occurred and misrepresented that they had authority to draft funds after authorization was revoked. -- - Violations of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act ( XXXX ) : Under the XXXX, XXXX XXXX. XXXX et seq., once a consumer revokes authorization for electronic fund transfers in writing, any subsequent transfer is unauthorized. I revoked authorization in writing on XX/XX/year>. The XX/XX/year> draft was therefore unauthorized and illegal. Additionally, the XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX drafts were obtained under duress after threats of " legal consequences, '' which invalidates any claimed consent. -- - Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices ( UDAP ) : GRT engaged in unfair and deceptive practices by : Threatening " legal consequences '' to coerce my agreement on XX/XX/year> Reinstating my account without my signature or consent after I closed it Claiming my account closure was an " error '' when I acted intentionally to revoke authorization Drafting {$1500.00} on XX/XX/XXXX after I explicitly refused to sign a new agreement Refusing to refund unauthorized drafts despite having no completed settlement -- - Relief Requested : I request that the CFPB require GRT Financial to : XXXX. Refund the full {$2700.00} to my bank account immediately, representing : {$520.00} ( XX/XX/year> ) {$1100.00} ( XX/XX/year> net ) {$1100.00} ( XX/XX/year> net ) XXXX. Provide written confirmation that my account is permanently closed XXXX. Cease and desist all unauthorized drafts and collection efforts XXXX. Provide documentation confirming no further fees will be attempted for this account -- - Documents I Am Attaching : XXXX. Enrollment agreement showing the fee clause and withdrawal rights XXXX. Documentation confirming account closure on XX/XX/year> XXXX. GRT email admitting the account was closed and requesting I sign a new addendum XXXX. GRT email stating no refund will be issued XXXX. My formal dispute email dated XX/XX/year> demanding refund XXXX. Bank statements showing the XX/XX/XXXX ( posted on XX/XX/XXXX ), XX/XX/XXXX, and XX/XX/XXXX drafts and corresponding credits -- - Additional Context : I entered into this debt settlement agreement in good faith. When I realized I could not afford the proposed payment plan and attempted to terminate services, XXXX ignored my revocation, reinstated my account without consent, and forcibly removed money from my bank account on XXXX separate occasions. This has caused significant financial hardship and emotional distress. I have already disputed this with XXXX directly. They refused to refund my money, claiming the XXXX draft " will be subjected to settlement fee '' despite no settlement ever occurring. -- - Violation Law/Rule How GRT Violated It : Fee before settlement Telemarketing Sales Rule, XXXX C.F.R. XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ) Charging fees for a debt that was never successfully settled Unauthorized XXXX XXXX Fund Transfer Act, XXXX U.S.C. XXXX Drafted {$1500.00} on XX/XX/XXXX after written revocation of authorization Coerced consent Duress / Unfair practices Threatened " legal consequences '' to force agreement on XX/XX/XXXX Misrepresentation Telemarketing Sales Rule, XXXX C.F.R. XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ) Claimed fee was earned when no settlement occurred XXXX of contract State contract law Violated fee clause requiring settlement before fee Unfair/deceptive acts XXXX ( state and federal ) Reinstated account without consent ; ignored termination

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation