I started with Ammend in 2004 after a friend used them.
At the time I started with 7 cards with the program.
It started well enough, but then I quickly started getting calls from credit card companies telling me that they hadn't received payments, etc.
I'm at the tail end of being on the program after a painful bunch of years. Here is what I have learned and suspect is happening:
1) One Man Show - Ammend is a one person operation. Many of the credit card companies I spoke with have verified this and stated that he has a horrible reputation in the credit counseling industry. However in any emails from him he always refers to the accounts payable dept or other depts. At Ammend.
2) Don't expect any detail in your emails! - Any emails sent to them to get clarity and details are responded with generic emails. They always have the "We have verified that payment was made as scheduled... God Bless You" language nothing else.in addition any questions that he can't answer are ignored by him
3) Missing payments appear only after you email him about 10 times to find out why it was missing - He always blames the credit card company, even though the payment address, account number, etc never changed Of course this is after he verified with his AP department.
4) He doesn't listen or follow up on instructions: As credit cards have been paid off I've instructed him to stop making payments, only to find out he didn't stop and I've had to chase the credit card company for refunds.
5) You will never get a full accounting from him as to where the payments have been made, dates, amounts, etc - once again his email is always a generic email
6) He tries to pass the blame on you - Always telling you that you need to monitor your statements and balances. Problem is that even when you identify and tell him about a problem he doesn't fix it
7) You will spend tons of time cleaning the mess he creates
8) I suspect he takes advantage of people by maintaining fuzzy records, and not giving you information.
I have countless examples of everything above, but the bottom line is this: Stay away from Ammend. I'm sure there are many of us who got screwed by them, and I dream of a day when they get in trouble for the sham of a company they are
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