My wife and I got into a Debt management program back in September. At the time the person on the phone said they would have us out of debt in 3 and a half years. Well over 5 years later we are finally out of this debt.
When you first start in the program you have to give them a payment up front that sets up the program for you but this is to be reimbursed at the end of the program. This is where my problem started amoung many others along the way. We paid FCC $867.00 up front that they said we would get back. This is called a certificate of completion (very deceptive). On this form it says that you will get this money back if all debt is paid in full through there customer service dept.
In January I was being proactive and called the office of the president and spoke to a genteman there that was very vague. I wanted to complete this program early so I could get the money back in my paycheck so I asked him if I made one last payment to my last creditor if I would be in violation of receiving my initial payment back. The answer was very vague but he never said I would not get the money back... Just that I would not get a certificate that explains that I completed the program. I could really care about a certificate that says "Congratulations you completed a debt management program' so I felt this was fine and went ahead and made the final payment.
About a month later I called to see when my inital payment was going to be sent to me and they said they declined it. I spoke with the office of the president again and he said he denied it since I made one payment outside the program. I told him that when I spoke to him in January he told me that it would not affect this program.
First off, I feel that me being proactive and asking them about this gave them the idea they can screw me out of my money by being very vague. Secondly, he stated he had notes written on my account that were complete lies. Saying I made numerous payments outside the program and quoting what he told me which he never said any of that.
I feel that this company has taken advantage of me and would be surprised if I am the only one. We also had all the other issues I have read about in other posts on this... Late payments being sent to creditors, problems with them not making payments etc. After all I have went through and being in this program for over 5 years, for them to deny my family my initial payment is absurd.
Just another way for them to line their pockets. I am going to go after this company if they do give me my money back by contacting my local action news team, BBB, anyone that can help. They claim to help get familys out of dept and work for us the clients... I disagree... They probably work for the credit card companies and just another way to get money out of hard working people.
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