Consumer complaint received 2025-03-21 00:00:00
Product: Debt or credit management — Debt settlement
Issue: Charged upfront or unexpected fees — 
Company: Consumer Financial Services Solutions, Inc.
State: PA

Complaint narrative:
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/year> To the Respective Parties Listed Below : Pennsylvania Attorney General 's Office Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX ( Credit Bureaus ) Subject : Formal Complaint Against Beyond Finance : Unfair Business Practices, Misrepresentation & Demand for Refund Dear Sir/Madam, I am filing a formal complaint against Beyond Finance for deceptive debt settlement practices, misrepresentation, and unethical fee extraction that have resulted in significant financial harm. 

Complaint Summary : I enrolled in Beyond Finance 's debt settlement program with the expectation that they would negotiate fair settlements and provide transparent service. However, they have : Retracted an approved settlement offer, forcing me into a higher final settlement. 

Overcharged and misapplied settlement fees, withdrawing funds without clear communication or my consent. 

Failed to honor verbal agreements from their own supervisors regarding fee reductions and waivers. 

Misled me about how fees are deducted, preventing me from paying off creditors on time. 

Key Details & Financial Harm : 1. Retracted XXXX Settlement Offer & Additional Costs Initial Offer : {$6200.00} ( confirmed by Beyond Finance but later retracted ).

Final Offer : {$9800.00} ( forcing me to pay an additional {$3500.00} ).

Beyond Finance initially assured me that they were working to reinstate the original offer, but instead, they left me with a significantly higher settlement amount.

2. Unfair & Overcharged Fees Contracted 25 % Settlement Fees : XXXX : {$3500.00} XXXX XXXX : {$4800.00} Total Fees : {$8300.00} Wrongful Deductions & Lack of Consent : Beyond Finance withdrew {$4800.00} for XXXX XXXX fees in one lump sum without my consent. A supervisor previously stated the correct fee should have been {$3900.00}, yet I was charged more. 

Beyond Finance withdrew {$1600.00} for XXXX fees in a lump sum without prior disclosure. 

Total Cost Incurred ( Resolution + Fees ) : {$29000.00} Beyond Finance 's Refund Offer : {$79.00} ( an insult to the financial damage caused ). 

Even after this refund, I am still paying more than my original enrolled debt of {$28000.00} due to Beyond Finance 's mismanagement. 

3. Lack of Transparency & Misleading Information Two supervisors denied that a settlement offer was ever approved, despite documented proof from two Beyond Finance employees confirming the {$6200.00} XXXX settlement was approved.

Supervisor XXXX confirmed on a recorded call that my fees could be waived, but Beyond Finance has failed to honor this. 

Another employee explicitly stated that settlement fees could be adjusted, but this was never applied to my case. 

XXXX ( XXXX ) stated on a recorded call that fees are deducted automatically without client input, which contradicts the information I was given upon enrollment. 

{$4800.00} was deducted for XXXX XXXX fees in XXXX lump sum, preventing me from paying off creditors. 

XXXX 's fees were partially deducted upfront ( {$1600.00} ) and the remainder added to monthly payments - without informing me.

4. Unfair Fees Compared to Other Clients Beyond Finance has charged a 25 % settlement fee, but based on reports from other clients, I have reason to believe that they have waived or reduced this fee for others under similar circumstances. 

Given these inconsistencies, I am requesting the same consideration and fees waived in entirety. 

Additional Evidence : I am also attaching screenshot conversations from two employees of Beyond Finance that confirm : 1. The initial XXXX settlement offer : These screenshots demonstrate that two separate employees confirmed that the {$6200.00} XXXX settlement was initially approved before being retracted.

2. The lump sum deductions : The screenshots further confirm that the fees for both XXXX XXXX and XXXX were taken in lump sums without my prior consent or clear communication. 

Further Concern Regarding Record Tampering and Unfulfilled Commitments : During my last conversation with XXXX ( Supervisor ), she not only denied the existence of any conversation regarding the initial XXXX settlement offer but also resisted reviewing the proof I provided, including screenshots from employees XXXX and XXXX confirming the approval of the {$6200.00} Discover offer. This denial, coupled with her refusal to acknowledge the evidence, raises significant concerns about Beyond Finances commitment to their promises of debt relief and financial freedom.

Given the refusal to review the documentation, I am concerned that Beyond Finance may be deliberately avoiding responsibility for their actions, potentially tampering with or failing to maintain accurate records. This lack of transparency and resistance to fulfilling their obligations adds to my fears that they are undermining their clients trust and financial wellbeing. 

Requested Resolution : XXXX. Full Refund of All Wrongfully Deducted Fees Total : {$6100.00} {$4800.00} ( XXXX XXXX fees deducted without notice or consent ). 

{$1600.00} ( XXXX fees deducted without notice or consent ). 

Cease all future fees. 

XXXX. Beyond Finance Must Cover the {$3500.00} Difference for XXXX Since the {$6200.00} XXXX settlement offer was retracted without cause, Beyond Finance must compensate for the difference between the final offer ( {$9800.00} ) and the initial approved offer ( {$6200.00} ).

3. Final Balance Adjustment & Exit from the Program Beyond Finance must correct my Dedicated Account balance to allow me to request a payoff for both credit cards and exit the program immediately.

Beyond Finance 's Pattern of Misconduct & Consumer Protection Violations Beyond Finance 's actions demonstrate a pattern of deceptive practices, violating consumer protection laws and potentially warranting regulatory action under the following statutes : Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices ( UDAAP ) : Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, 12 U.S.C. 5531 & 5536 Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), 15 U.S.C. 1692e & 1692f - Prohibiting false or misleading representations and unfair debt collection practices.

Electronic Fund Transfer Act ( EFTA ), 15 U.S.C. 1693e ( a ) - Governing unauthorized and undisclosed electronic withdrawals.

Telemarketing Sales Rule ( TSR ), 16 C.F.R. 310.3 ( a ) ( 1 ) & 310.4 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( i ) - Requiring material disclosures and prohibiting advance fees for debt relief services.

I am formally requesting that : This complaint be investigated under UDAAP for unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts or practices.

Beyond Finance be held accountable for misrepresentation, wrongful fee extractions, and failure to honor settlement agreements in violation of the FDCPA, TSR, and EFTA. 

Beyond Finance 's recorded phone calls with XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX be reviewed as evidence of misleading statements and unethical conduct. 

As this complaint is being submitted to the CFPB, FTC, Pennsylvania Attorney GeneralXXXX XXXX, and credit bureaus, I expect a prompt and thorough investigation into Beyond Finance 's misconduct, misrepresentation, and deceptive fee practices. 

Please confirm receipt of this complaint and provide an update on the next steps in this review process. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation