After researching a few ways to get our debt under control and discussing options with a few companies, I decided to use Debt Decisions aka. Accounting Service Center to help me in resolving my debt issues. I felt like they were more reputable because they were being 'run' by an attorney, Stanley Collesano.
Of course, everything was fine in getting 'approved' for the program and getting the paperwork completed. I even understood that they fees for doing this work were pretty standard at 6% of your total outstanding debt. This fee, or 'retainer' as they called it, would be paid first - then the monthly payments I was making would accumulate in a bank account that I had under my control. They could not take any money or pay any negotiated debt until it was approved by me. They were very accommodating in answering questions and were prompt in calling me back.
Letters were sent to all of my debtors with the contact information for Stanley Collesano, the attorney for the program, letting them know that I had entered into an agreement with him and he would be representing me in all contact. He provided an 800# for the debtors to contact him for future communication.
After 3 months I finally had the $6800 retainer paid (I did mention before I had a lot of debt right?!?) and I was ready to make some progress on getting these debts paid off! This is where the problems began!
Now I was being handled by a "Debt Negotiator". Her name was Leslie Arthur. She was possibly to most impossible person to get on the phone. She also did not answer emails for weeks on end. She was my only contact. So, I started to call the attorney, Stanley Collesano for assistance in getting responses from Leslie. I wanted to know what the 'plan of attack' was for my debt. What was I supposed to do when a collector continued to call me after I gave them the Debt Decision phone number to contact? The usual questions.
Stanley assured me that they were handling things and that I should send continue to give the creditors the contact phone number for Debt Decisions and send Leslie an email with the information from the creditors that were still calling me directly. So, I sent daily emails with the information - as I was getting numerous daily calls. I never got a response from anyone there acknowledging my emails and the calls continued. Then, I got a very curious message.
I got a call from one of the creditors that said the 800# that was provided to them to contact Debt Decisions was disconnected. I tested the number and it was indeed disconnected. I called Stanley, Leslie, and also sent them emails to let them know there was a problem. It was at this same time that I got our first notice of a pending law suit. Things were piling up but I was still confident that since I had a lawyer working on my side that he would guide me through the process.
I called Stanley and Leslie (but was only able get in touch with Stanley of course) and also sent him scans of the summons that I had been served. As soon as he got those scans that was the last time I ever talked to him. I called him every day for 2 weeks asking for guidance on what I needed to do and was never answered. I was completley shut down. But, I searched and searched and finally found another phone number to contact them.
Of course, communication was still a problem. There were no real times during the day that someone answered the phone. It was very hit and miss. It was very sketchy and I was very, very nervous. I had gotten a name from Stanley Collesano, the attorney, for the Leslie's manager - his name was Dan White.
So, I started callling multiple times a day to talk to Dan White to find out what the plans were for attaching my debt, what I need to do about the summons and why it was so very hard to contact them - and most importantly, I needed to find out why the 800# for the creditors was disconnected and why there were not additional letters mailed to them when the contact information changed.
I attempted through calling and email to talk to Dan White for over 6 weeks!!! My calls were NEVER returned - and only ever got 1 email response from him to say that they were working on my account and that I should be more patient as they were professionals. Some professional! They never returned calls, returned emails or made proactive contact with me. Their phone numbers CONSTANTLY changed - this was a HUGE clue that there was a problem.
I got the remainder of my money out of the 'holding account' and immediately contacted a credit law attorney in the Atlanta area to respond to the summons and to also discuss what I could do to get my 'retainer' back. I have joined a class action lawsuit against Debt Decisions. They are a COMPLETE FRAUD!!! Do not do business with these people!!! THEY ARE DISHONEST!!!
I can't even begin to put into words the frustration I felt over the 6 months of trying to deal with Debt Decisions. Let me know if you want information on the class action suit against Debt Decisions! I will be happy to give you the contact info for the lawyers. GET YOUR MONEY AWAY FROM THESE PEOPLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE!!! THEY ARE CROOKS!!!
I'm sure that I'm going to get lots of people commenting that it's my own fault for trying to negotiate debt, but I really want to make sure that other people don't make my mistake! Please don't do business with these people! They are crooks!!!
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