Consumer complaint received 2025-11-17 00:00:00
Product: Payday loan, title loan, personal loan, or advance loan — Installment loan
Issue: Charged fees or interest you didn't expect — 
Company: Denefits LLC
State: PA

Complaint narrative:
To : XXXX XXXX Offices XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, PA XXXX CC : Denefits, LLC XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX From : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, PA XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX XXXX Date : XX/XX/XXXX Subject : Formal Complaint, Demand for Refund of Unconscionable Finance Charges ( Contract : XXXX ) To Whom It May Concern : I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding a predatory financing arrangement I was directed into by XXXX XXXX XXXX and serviced by Denefits, LLC. 
On XX/XX/XXXX, I retained your firm for legal representation for a summary offense ( Case No. XXXX ). I agreed to your stated non-refundable fee of {$2500.00}. While I am satisfied with the legal outcome of my case, I am now reporting the unconscionable and predatory nature of the financing plan I was steered into to pay this fee. 
At the time of retention, I was directed to a XXXX financing agreement with Denefits, LLC, which I have only recently been able to review and fully understand. The terms of this plan are not just expensive ; they are predatory. 
The " TILA DISCLOSURE STATEMENT '' on my contract reveals : * Amount Financed : {$2500.00} * Finance Charge ( Interest ) : {$710.00} ( at XXXX XXXX compound interest ) * Additional Fees : * {$220.00} in total Late Fees ( XXXX instances at {$25.00} each ) * {$30.00} Enrollment Fee * XXXX  % Transaction Fee on every payment The total cost of financing this {$2500.00} legal fee has exceeded {$970.00} ( a XXXX % premium ), turning your legal fee into a severe financial hardship. 
This practice appears to be in violation of the spirit and letter of several consumer protection statutes : XXXX. Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law ( UTPCPL ), 73 P.S. 201-1 : The UTPCPL broadly prohibits " unfair or deceptive acts or practices. '' Steering a legal clientwho is in a vulnerable position facing criminal chargesinto a high-cost, predatory financing plan with compound interest and punitive fees could be considered an " unfair '' practice. 
XXXX. Federal Consumer Financial Protection Act ( CFPA ) : This act prohibits Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices ( UDAAP ). An " abusive '' practice is XXXX that takes unreasonable advantage of a consumer 's lack of understanding of the material risks, costs, or conditions of the product. The complexity of this XXXX contract, combined with the high-pressure situation of hiring a criminal defense lawyer, strongly suggests an " abusive '' practice. 
I was not provided with a fair or meaningful choice in financing. I was simply directed to your " partner, '' Denefits. As my law firm, you have a duty of fair dealing. This duty was breached by subjecting me to this predatory financing. 
I am formally demanding a full refund of all finance charges, interest, and fees associated with this contract. This is not a " dispute '' of your legal fee, but a demand for a refund of the unconscionable financing costs. 
* Finance Charge ( Interest ) : {$710.00} * Late Fees : {$220.00} * Enrollment Fee : {$30.00} * Total Demanded Refund : {$970.00} XXXX request a full refund of this amount to resolve this matter before I am forced to escalate my complaint to the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), and the Pennsylvania XXXX XXXX. 
Please issue the refund check, made payable to " XXXX XXXX, '' and mail it to my address : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, Pennsylvania XXXX I expect a formal response to this complaint within XXXX ( XXXX ) business days. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation