I, along with other consumers, contacted Consumer Credit Counseling of America to help resolve personal debt issues. I was assured by their representative that the ONLY fee associated with the desired services was my first month's payment. Then, along came Hess Kennedy Company.
In dealing with Hess Kennedy since May of I have received no correspondence from them other than a "welcome" letter with instructions from Andrew Hersant. Since I started to contribute to my settlement account, I have never received any correspondence from Hess Kennedy regarding contributions made to my account, an account number, account balance or deals made with creditors. And this alone is grounds for disciplinary action by the Florida Bar against Hess Kennedy.
With this in mind, I was too uncomfortable to continue. Every time I called their office and left a message, my calls were never returned. I asked that correspondence with creditors be faxed to me, and I received nothing.
I faxed a letter to their accounting department, attention Adam Foremain, requesting a refund of my money. This request was not answered. All this time I assured by CCCA that Hess Kennedy was obligated to return my money, and to not worry.
Realizing that I was up against a deceptive company (CCCA included), I have filed formal complaints with the Minnesota and Florida Attorney General's offices, Broward County, Florida Consumer Protection Division (DACS), The Florida Dept. Of Agriculture, The Better Business Bureau of Southwest Florida, The Federal Trade Commission, The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, The Massachusetts Better Business Bureau, and, as of today, the Florida Bar Department of Lawyer Regulation, and the Florida Bar UPL Department (Unlicensed Practicing Lawyers) naming Walter Chen of Hess Kennedy Company specifically. This is only the start of my plans to expose this so-called law firm.
Hess Kennedy is a predatory company with multiple addresses in the Coral Springs area, and must be exposed. I live in Minnesota, and my Attorney General has sent three letters to this "law firm" to no avail. Any company that is professionally run and conducts such company with morals and standards would surely reply to a State agency regarding it's morals and conduct with a consumer.
Hess Kennedy has not responded to the State of Minnesota whatsoever. Hopefully the Florida Bar will pop their tires and slow this down for consumers in the future. I have excessive documentation supporting my allegations, and I will not stop until my money is back in my bank account, and the wrong doings of Hess Kennedy is brought to the forefront of the proper authorities.
As with the rest of you reading this, I tried to do the right thing and avoid bankruptcy. I thought I had a good plan through CCCA, and did my part. I have also filed complaints against CCCA in the same manner as stated above.
If only I would have known what I was really getting into. Hopefully, with reports like this and others, we can protect future consumers from making the mistakes we did... If you are like me, don't lay down and take the abuse - STAND UP AND FIGHT! Use your resources in government, document and stay the course.
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