This omission dramatically changes the savings and time estimates Defendants provide to consumers, because of the high interest rates applied to consumer debt. My wife and I enrolled in a program to negotiate our debts with Monarch Legal Group. /Parent 8 0 R The text of the call script for Option 1 Legal and for Monarch are the same, except for the law firm name. Defendants make these representations in order to secure consumers participation in their debt resolution program. Reviews /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] Defendants include in the total used to calculate their Service Costs not only the enrolled debt at the time that the consumer signs an agreement but also the additional debts and fees that accrue after the consumer heeds Defendants instruction to stop making payments to creditors. 225 ILCS 429/125(a). Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said that Legal Helpers lawyers were a front to collect hefty fees from struggling consumers. Legal Helpers agreed to refund $2.1 million to Illinois consumers in a settlement. 527 AND 342 NOTICE #1: Notice Mandated by 11 U.S.C. 18 0 obj As discussed in paragraph 36 above, customers pay a Retainer Fee (often around $1,000) and a monthly flat Legal Administration Fee (from $55 to $85). Although one section of Monarchs nearly 40-page agreement states that third parties may perform some work related to the program, it later explains that Monarch has a non-exclusive reciprocal referral agreement with independent contractors to provide what it calls non-legal services related to the implementation, management, and maintenance of Clients debt negotiation plan. Monarchs agreement and other promotional materials misrepresent the truth: non-lawyers at Strategic do not merely provide some administrative services, they carry out Monarchs debt resolution service. endobj /CropBox [0 0 612 792] 46 0 obj /Resources 241 0 R Phone (877) 450-8853. WebMonarch Legal Group provides a very valuable service for those needing to get out of debt and take their financial situation seriously. /Parent 10 0 R By including these testimonials, Monarch Legal Group does not represent that every consumer will experience the same outcome by employing our services, nor do we intend to represent that these testimonials represent all customers experiences. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] In other instances, Defendants assure consumers that Defendants will handle the litigation and, when an attorney fails to appear, the court enters a default judgment against the consumer. Monarch Anyone can file a complaint >> /Parent 8 0 R 16 0 obj The Rule prohibits debt relief companies from charging fees before settling or resolving a consumer debt. 5 0 obj endobj /Type /Page /Type /Page I was reassured that in 24 moths I would be able to get out of debt and conserve if not improve my credit score. /Rotate 0 /Type /Page /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Parent 11 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /Rotate 0 /Type /Page /Parent 9 0 R Defendants also know that consumers debts will accrue interest because they instruct consumers to stop making payments on their debts. /Annots [] b. << /Resources 221 0 R Contact Us. Monarch Legal Group is not responsible for the accuracy or correctness of the opinions or comments. For businesses Categories Blog. The day of Debt Settlement companies creating their own non-compliant Legal Plan that provides the consumer with nothing more that a template answer to file themselves is thankfully coming to an end. /Type /Page >> We agreed to make payments for representation and assistance. /Title (Briggs v. Strategic Financial Solutions, LLC et al. 42 0 obj >> << << /Rotate 0 In the first 12 months, Defendants collect their service costs and retainer fees. /Rotate 0 Outrage by companies that remain silent does not equal action to protect good companies or debt relief help for consumers that need reputable help. >> Monarchs status as a law firm also provides the basis for the companies to incorrectly claim that they are exempt from debt settlement regulations. /Type /Page 38 0 obj >> endobj For good reason: a law degree is not needed to ask creditors to reduce someones debt. The City therefore alleges that at least insofar as the practices at issue here are concerned, neither Defendants nor their employees engage in the practice of law. Defendants deceive vulnerable consumers in the process. Stop The Calls From 877-288-9903 | Agruss Law Firm << /Type /Page Strategic Financial Solutions works with a number of fraudulent debt settlement outfits, including, for example, Carolina Legal Services, a debt settlement law firm that recently closed following an investigation by the North Carolina State Bar and the suspension of the attorney in charge of the law firm. 36 0 obj View complaints, reviews and check out how | Read 21-40 Reviews out of 42. Monarch Legal Group Reviews /Resources 205 0 R Your experience matters. /ProcSet [/PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI] /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] 29 YEARS OF OPERATION 2,227 EMPLOYEES 72,097 UNITS 305 COMMUNITIES 20 STATES 37 0 obj Second, Monarch attorneys apparently do not provide legal services or representation in bankruptcy cases. /Contents [86 0 R 87 0 R 88 0 R] /Resources 181 0 R /Resources 141 0 R /Resources 273 0 R 54 0 obj All photos are of models and do not depict clients. /Resources 121 0 R In the scripted presentations that third-party notaries and paralegals make to prospective clients, the representatives state that [t]he law firm is prepared to do what is necessary to represent you, and, if appropriate, defend you against creditor or collector lawsuits. The script also instructs representatives to state that legal fees for your defense are covered by your retainer payments.. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Parent 11 0 R Filing a Complaint - Office of State Inspector General Angelo, Im seeing a disturbing trend where companies are waiting for clients to get sued and then dropping those accounts and rejecting account refunds. Read and understand all program materials prior to enrollment. After collecting those fees, Defendants revenue plummets. The Citys investigation indicates that even when Defendants agents negotiate settlements with creditors on consumers behalf, they do not act in consumers best interest. /Rotate 0 /CropBox [0 0 612 792] >> - 1:22-cv-03705 Defendants failure to respond causes consumers to suffer all the adverse consequences of having a judgment against them, including having their wages garnished. /Rotate 0 But the Citys investigation indicates that Strategics customer service team does not make attorneys available for client calls. << If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile. Write reviews, ask and respond to questions, Monarch Media Group /Resources 281 0 R /Annots [] /Annots [] In practice, Defendants cannot consistently negotiate such beneficial settlements, and information provided to the City by consumers suggests that many debts are settled for over 60% of the amount owed. /Parent 13 0 R << endobj /Parent 8 0 R >> Its the exact reason Veritas stopped working with them altogether, many of our participating attorneys will not work with them either. All at ZERO COST to you. 62 0 obj endobj /Rotate 0 /Annots [] Can you help me please? /Count 10 Making a full refund, as the consumer requested, Refuse to adjust, relying on terms of agreement. The City investigation indicates that consumers do not have access to advice from attorneys, and many never receive any form of legal representation. Cash Made. >> Be the first one to write one. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] endobj Further evidencing Monarchs lack of responsiveness to customer concerns, the Better Business Bureau suspended Monarchs accreditation in 2021 for, among other things, failing to provide adequate responses to customer complaints. How to stop Monarch Recovery Management harassment /Resources 237 0 R In one example, a consumer paid $320 in Settlement Payment Fees. >> endobj Flats for sale in Edinburgh City; Homes for sale in Edinburgh City; Apartments for Rent in Edinburgh; /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] Disclosures Required Under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. I asked several times to make sure I understood correctly the proposal of the program- the calls were recorded, they said yes, in 24 moths you will be out of debt and your credit score would not get affected. endobj /Resources 129 0 R /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Rotate 0 /Type /Page Individual customers who submitted testimonials to a third-party site were not compensated for their submission. Strategic provided similar services, albeit operating under a different structure, to the now-shuttered Carolina Legal Services firm, as described in paragraph 12 above. endobj Defendants also assume the same settlement rate for all consumers without regard to the amount or type of consumers debts (for example, whether the bill has been sent to collections). | Read 21-40 Reviews out of 44 /Annots [] /Annots [] endobj Monarch Investment and Management Group Engaged Employer Overview 261 Reviews 105 Jobs 565 Salaries 39 Interviews 77 Benefits 67 Photos 93 Diversity + When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.
City Of Tampa Code Enforcement Special Magistrate, Jacksonville Housing Authority Portal, Describe Something Important You Have Learned Recently, Articles M