Consumer complaint received 2026-03-26 00:00:00
Product: Debt or credit management — Debt settlement
Issue: Didn't provide services promised — 
Company: Five Lakes Law Group PLLC
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
I am filing a formal complaint against Five Lakes Law Group regarding deceptive and harmful debt settlement practices that have caused me significant financial harm, emotional distress, and exposure to potential legal action. On XX/XX/XXXX, I enrolled in their program with two accounts originating from XXXX XXXX, totaling {$24000.00} a balance of {$17000.00} on the first account and {$6400.00} on the second. At enrollment, I was provided with projections that heavily influenced my decision, including estimated settlements of approximately {$12000.00}, estimated fees of approximately {$6900.00}, and an estimated total program cost of approximately {$19000.00}. Under their guidance, I was instructed to stop making payments on my accounts and instead make biweekly deposits into a dedicated account. I followed these instructions fully. Over the course of more than one year in the program, I received little to no communication or proactive updates, and there was no consistent or transparent activity visible on my account dashboard. As a result, my debt increased due to interest, penalties, and non-payment, and I am now facing potential litigation. Despite contributing {$5600.00} into the program as of XX/XX/XXXX with an additional automatic deposit of {$330.00} scheduled for XX/XX/XXXX that can not be stopped there have been no completed settlements, no signed agreements, and no meaningful financial progress. After repeatedly reaching out in late XXXX and early XXXX, I finally began receiving settlement activity, though the process has been inconsistent and poorly documented. I was recently sent an email from a representative outlining three settlement offers : a first offer of {$16000.00} with a first payment scheduled for XX/XX/XXXX, a second offer of {$16000.00} with a first payment scheduled for XX/XX/XXXX, and a third offer of {$17000.00} with a first payment scheduled for XX/XX/XXXX. Importantly, I do not recall ever receiving or being presented with the second offer of {$16000.00}. None of these offers were accompanied by formal stipulation agreements or legal documentation, and I never signed or executed any agreement for any of them. All offers were communicated solely via email, with no official contracts or legally binding paperwork provided. The company 's website and app further compound this lack of transparency. When a new offer appears, previous offers are removed with no accessible history or record of prior activity, preventing me from tracking or verifying settlement progress over time. Most concerning, after more than one year in the program, the most recent offer of {$17000.00} reflects only approximately {$200.00} reduction from the original {$17000.00} balance on the first account a result that is drastically inconsistent with the projections provided at enrollment and does not constitute a meaningful financial resolution. To date, I have not received a single settlement offer for the second account of {$6400.00}. While I did receive a transaction history that included associated fees, I did not receive any of the additional documentation I formally requested, including a full settlement activity summary, account status updates, withdrawal details, or copies of any stipulation agreements. After being told I would receive a stipulation agreement for the {$17000.00} offer by XX/XX/XXXX, I received nothing. That same week, I sent a formal written request to both XXXX XXXX and the complaints department requesting a fee breakdown, account status, settlement details, and withdrawal options. I did not receive a response to any of these requests. I entered this program seeking financial relief, but instead my debt has increased significantly, I am facing potential legal consequences, I have been presented with inconsistent and escalating settlement offers, and I have received no formal agreements despite being asked to commit financially. I believe I was misled by unrealistic projections and a lack of transparency, which influenced my decision to remain in this program for over a year while my financial situation deteriorated. I have since requested an immediate hold on my account, paused all deposits, requested withdrawal of my funds, and refused to authorize any settlement without written documentation. I am requesting a full investigation into this company 's practices, a detailed breakdown and review of all fees charged, and appropriate relief based on the financial harm I have experienced. I am also in urgent need of assistance identifying a legitimate and trustworthy debt resolution option. My total debt remains {$24000.00}, and I am actively working to resolve this responsibly. I am currently awaiting the return of {$5600.00} from my dedicated account, minus any applicable fees, and intend to immediately apply these funds toward a legitimate debt resolution solution upon receipt. This situation has caused me significant stress, financial hardship, and serious concern regarding my legal exposure due to actions I took under their direction. I am urgently seeking accountability, resolution, and guidance toward a safe and effective path forward.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation