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Guardian Litigation Group Reviews, Complaints & Contacts

Guardian Litigation Group, LLP is an Irvine, California law firm that negotiates settlements of unsecured consumer debt and defends clients sued by creditors. It also lists offices in Jacksonville, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Washington, DC, and both founding partners hold active State Bar of California licenses. BBB rates the firm A+ and lists 101 complaints in the last three years; two federal telephone-call lawsuits against it were both dismissed with prejudice.

REVIEWS & COMPLAINTS0none submitted to USAComplaints yet · see external reviews
PHONE(949) 569-9006General Line
WEBSITEguardianlit.com
HEADQUARTERSIrvine, CA
PROFILE CHECKED2026-10-27
Submit a Complaint Call (949) 569-9006 Official website ↗
VERIFIED

Contacts

PhoneAddress

Customer service & general contact

Other contacts

VERIFIED

Locations

  • Headquarters17850 Fitch Irvine CA 92614
  • Branch office6622 Southpoint Drive, Suite 200 Jacksonville FL 32216
  • Branch office5301 Alpha Road, Suite 80 Dallas TX 75240
  • Branch office2001 L Street Northwest, Suite 500 Washington DC 20036
EDITORIAL

Is Guardian Litigation Group Legitimate?

BBB, ComplaintsBoard, Trustpilot

Legal name
Guardian Litigation Group, LLP
Founded
2018
Business type
Law firm offering debt settlement and collection defense for consumers with unsecured debt
Website
guardianlit.comSource: Guardian Litigation Group website, checked 2026-10-27
Headquarters
Irvine, CASource: BBB profile and the firm's Contact Us page, checked 2026-10-27
  • Name: Guardian Litigation Group, LLP. BBB also lists Guardian Litigation Group PLLC and Guardian Litigation Group LLP as alternate names and gives the entity type as a limited liability limited partnership.
  • Website: guardianlit.com.
  • Offices: 17850 Fitch, Irvine, CA 92614 (headquarters); 6622 Southpoint Drive, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32216; 5301 Alpha Road, Suite 80, Dallas, TX 75240; 2001 L Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036.
  • Phone: General Line (949) 569-9006; Debtor's Rights line (949) 444-5474.
  • Managing partner: John T. Greenway, listed by BBB as Johnathan Thornton Greenway.
  • Founded: 2018, per the firm; BBB gives a business start of January 30, 2018.
  • Bar licenses: both founding partners are active members of the State Bar of California.
  • BBB: Accredited since July 22, 2019, rated A+.
EXTERNAL SOURCE

Independent Sources

Shown for context — not merged with USAComplaints' own numbers.

BBBBBB Accredited, A+ rating, complaints in the last 3 years
1,052 reviews · 101 complaints · BBB business grade A+ · average customer rating 4.65 / 5
ComplaintsBoardOne review about the firm's debt resolution program
1 review
TrustpilotClaimed profile, TrustScore and all-time review count
1,549 reviews · TrustScore 4.7 / 5
YelpClaimed business page, star average and review count
36 reviews · average customer rating 1.7 / 5
EDITORIAL

Complaint record: BBB, reviews and posts on this site

No published complaint reports are currently linked to this profile.

BBB. Guardian Litigation Group in Irvine, CA is BBB Accredited with an A+ rating. BBB shows 101 complaints in the last 3 years, 26 of them in the last 12 months, and a 4.65 out of 5 average from 1,052 customer reviews. Of the 101 complaints, BBB marks 84 as answered and 17 as resolved. BBB lists the business start as January 30, 2018, its file as opened January 31, 2019 and accreditation from July 22, 2019.

What recent BBB complaints allege. These are consumers' allegations, and the firm posted a reply to each. The ten newest complaints, filed from March to September 2026, describe (one gives no details): a final payoff that came in higher than the estimate the client had paid; a creditor lawsuit over an account the client believed was settled, plus charges for filing fees; a creditor suit over a debt the client said the firm had not addressed in two years; a client who thought the program was a loan; automatic withdrawals taken before the agreed dates; a creditor case the client said was neglected, ending with funds seized; months of $500 charges without settlement papers; an elderly parent enrolled, according to the family, without their consent and charged after a cancellation request; and a client who said fees consumed most of the payments. In reply the firm says estimates were subject to change, settlements had been reached on some or most enrolled accounts in several matters, filing fees and contingency fees were set out in the signed agreement, withdrawal timing is set by the processing schedule of Forth Pay, the account administrator, and that it does not make or guarantee loans. In some cases it offered a courtesy fee reduction, a disengagement letter with documents, or a return of the savings balance through Forth Pay. Read the full complaint and reply on BBB before relying on any summary.

Other review sites. Trustpilot shows a claimed profile, active since April 2019, with a 4.7 TrustScore from 1,549 reviews. Yelp's claimed page for the Irvine office is far more negative, with a 1.7 average from only 36 reviews; a small sample on one site can differ sharply from a large one on another. On ComplaintsBoard a single reviewer, dated July 24, 2024, describes settlement reductions of under 10 percent on four of six accounts, a performance fee lowered from 28 to 22 percent after a complaint, and a dispute over paying off settled accounts. Each site counts reviews its own way; the figures are not combined.

Had an experience with Guardian Litigation Group? Tell other people what happened.

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EDITORIAL

Guardian Litigation Group: fees, cancelling and complaints

What the firm offers. Guardian calls itself a law firm providing debt settlement services and defense against debt lawsuits. The client saves a set amount each month in a dedicated account; when the firm negotiates a settlement with a creditor, it sends the client a formal offer letter to review and approve. The firm requires at least $7,500 in total enrolled unsecured debt and estimates programs at 24 to 40 months, adding that the length is "an estimate and not a guaranteed time frame." It is not taking new cases in Oregon or Minnesota.

Fees. The firm's Debt Resolution page says: "We never charge fees before successfully settling or reducing a client's debt," and calls the program performance-based. In replies to BBB complaints it says its fees are contingency-based, are earned once a settlement on an account is negotiated and payments on it begin (not only after every account is settled), and that clients agree at sign-up to pay court filing fees if an account goes to litigation.

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The firm's website does not publish its fee percentage. Your engagement agreement sets the percentage, how it is calculated on each settled account, court-cost terms and what happens to fees already earned if you leave.

Where the money sits. The firm says clients "own and control their dedicated, FDIC-insured savings accounts." In BBB replies it names Forth Pay as the account administrator and says withdrawal dates follow Forth Pay's processing schedule; a draft due on a weekend or holiday may show as pending on the business day before. The account statement shows every deposit, fee and payment to creditors, so check it against each settlement letter.

If you want to stop. The firm's page says clients "may withdraw from the program at any time without penalties." Call the General Line, (949) 569-9006, or the Debtor's Rights line, (949) 444-5474, then confirm the request in writing. Mail it by a trackable method to the headquarters, 17850 Fitch, Irvine, CA 92614, ask on the call for an email address to send a copy to, and keep proof of both. In it, ask the firm to stop all scheduled drafts, to tell Forth Pay to close the account and return the remaining balance, and to send a final accounting and the settlement letters for every account it resolved. Under the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule, a debt relief provider that has clients save in such a dedicated account must let them withdraw at any time without penalty and return the account funds, other than fees already properly earned, within seven business days of the request. If drafts from your bank account continue after you have withdrawn your authorization, tell your bank; under the federal Electronic Fund Transfer Act rules, report an unauthorized debit within 60 days of the statement that first shows it.

If you have a dispute. Start in writing with the firm: ask for the settlement documents, an accounting of deposits, fees and disbursements, and the status of every enrolled account. If that does not resolve it:

  • File with BBB, where the firm replies to complaints.
  • Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general; the FTC lists both for problems with debt relief companies.
  • Submit to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint under "Debt and credit management," or "Debt collection" for a collector.
  • For an attorney's conduct, or a disagreement over legal fees, contact the state bar that licenses the attorney; in California that is the State Bar of California, whose fee arbitration program (calbar.ca.gov, "Resolving fee disputes with your attorney") has a neutral arbitrator review the fee agreement and the work done.
  • If a creditor has sued you, the deadline to respond in that court keeps running whatever the program status, so confirm in writing who is filing your response.
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What the FTC says. The FTC's guide "How to Get Out of Debt" says a debt settlement company "can't collect its fees from you before they settle your debt." The underlying Telemarketing Sales Rule, which covers debt relief sold by phone, applies this debt by debt: a fee may be taken on an account once that debt is settled and the client has made at least one payment under the settlement, even while other accounts are still open. That matches the firm's own description of when it earns fees, and the firm says it strictly follows FTC regulations. How the rule applies to a particular law firm, and whether a given charge was proper under your engagement agreement, are questions for the FTC or the state bar.

EDITORIAL

Bar licenses and regulators

State Bar of California. The firm's two founding partners are licensed in California. Johnathan Thornton Greenway (bar number 313850, admitted December 23, 2016) and Jonathan Hyun Yong (bar number 310444, admitted July 5, 2016) are both shown as active at 17850 Fitch, Irvine, and the license history on each record lists no disciplinary or administrative action. Because Guardian is a law firm, the State Bar is the body that handles complaints about its California attorneys' conduct, and it runs a fee-dispute program for disagreements over what a lawyer charged. Clients in other states can check the attorney who handles their file with that state's bar.

More on regulatorsShow less

Consumer regulators. The FTC and state attorneys general take reports about debt relief services, and the CFPB accepts complaints under "Debt and credit management" and "Debt collection." BBB notes that the firm is in an industry that may require licensing, bonding or registration and suggests confirming that with the relevant agency.

EDITORIAL

Court dockets naming the firm

Court records

CourtListener lists two federal lawsuits with the firm as defendant, both citing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (47 U.S.C. § 227), the federal law on unwanted calls, texts and robocalls:

More on the lawsuitsShow less
  • Rojas v. Guardian Litigation Group, LLP, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 1:25-cv-10342. Filed August 28, 2025 by an individual over an unsolicited phone call. The court granted the firm's motion to dismiss on February 19, 2026 with leave to amend; when no amended complaint was filed, the case was dismissed with prejudice on April 15, 2026.
  • Contreras v. Guardian Litigation Group, LLP, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, 3:24-cv-00416. Filed November 15, 2024. The plaintiffs moved to dismiss their own case with prejudice against all defendants, and the court granted that on March 3, 2025. The docket shows no settlement terms.

Both cases are closed and both ended in dismissal with prejudice, meaning the claims cannot be refiled. Neither court made a finding on whether the firm broke the telephone law; what the plaintiffs claimed remains an allegation.

PUBLIC RECORD

Court & Public Records

Rojas v. Guardian Litigation Group, LLP

Dismissed

U.S. District Court, N.D. IllinoisDocket 1:25-cv-10342Source ↗

Dismissed

The dismissal followed the failure to amend; it was not a ruling on whether the call broke the law.

Case details: Rojas v. Guardian Litigation Group, LLPShow less

Individual Telephone Consumer Protection Act suit (47 U.S.C. § 227) over an unsolicited phone call the plaintiff alleged the firm made, before Judge John Robert Blakey. The firm moved to dismiss. On February 19, 2026 the court dismissed the complaint and gave the plaintiff until March 12, 2026 to file an amended one. The plaintiff did not amend or contact the court, so on April 15, 2026 the case was dismissed with prejudice, judgment was entered and the case was closed.

Contreras v. Guardian Litigation Group, LLP

Dismissed

U.S. District Court, W.D. TexasDocket 3:24-cv-00416Source ↗

Dismissed

The docket shows no settlement terms and no court finding on the claims.

Case details: Contreras v. Guardian Litigation Group, LLPShow less

Telephone Consumer Protection Act suit (47 U.S.C. § 227) brought by Alan Contreras and Nubia Herrera, with the firm among the defendants, before Judge Kathleen Cardone. On February 28, 2025 the plaintiffs themselves moved to dismiss the case with prejudice against all defendants; the court granted the motion on March 3, 2025 and the case was closed.

EDITORIAL

Who runs Guardian Litigation Group and how the program works

The firm. According to its About Us page, attorneys John T. Greenway and Jonathan Yong founded Guardian Litigation Group in 2018 and the firm now handles debt settlement and collection defense cases "in 48 states" (the home page counter says 47). Greenway is the managing partner and Yong a senior partner, both licensed in California; the page also lists partner Mitchell Ortega and several junior partners. The home page claims "25+" attorneys, "50,000+" satisfied clients and "$600M+" in total settlements; these are the firm's own figures.

Eligible debts. Unsecured debts only: credit cards, personal loans, medical bills, payday loans, store cards, auto loans after repossession and private student loans. The firm says it is not a debt consolidation loan, credit repair, a government program, debt validation or a debt management program.

More company historyShow less

Lawsuits. The firm says that if a creditor sues over an enrolled account it provides legal representation "at no additional cost," provided at least 10 days remain to respond from the verified date of service. It cannot help once a judgment has been entered, for example where wages are already garnished, a lien is placed on property or a bank account is levied. In BBB responses the firm says clients agree at sign-up to pay court filing fees if an account goes to litigation, so check your agreement for that cost.

Credit effect. Settlement programs work by stopping payments to creditors while money builds up for offers. In a BBB response the firm says this strategy "negatively affects credit during the engagement period" and that it tells clients so before they sign. The FTC adds that late fees and interest can pile up if creditors do not agree to settle, that a creditor can sue while you wait, and that forgiven debt may count as taxable income.

Endorsement. The home page says the firm is "Nationally Endorsed by The Ramsey Show" and has a separate landing page for that audience with its own phone number. The site does not describe the terms of that arrangement.

EDITORIAL

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Guardian Litigation Group do?

Guardian Litigation Group is a California law firm that negotiates settlements of unsecured debts such as credit cards, personal loans, medical bills and private student loans, and defends clients sued by creditors. Clients save a monthly amount in a dedicated account, the firm negotiates with creditors, and each settlement offer is sent to the client for approval. Enrolled debt must total at least $7,500.

How does Guardian Litigation Group charge fees?

The firm says it never charges fees before successfully settling or reducing a client's debt and calls the program performance-based. In BBB replies it says fees are contingency-based and earned on each account once a settlement is negotiated and payments begin, and that court filing fees are the client's cost if an account is litigated. The website does not publish the fee percentage; it is set in your engagement agreement.

How do I cancel Guardian Litigation Group?

The firm's Debt Resolution page says clients may withdraw at any time without penalties. Call the General Line, (949) 569-9006, or the Debtor's Rights line, (949) 444-5474, then confirm in writing by trackable mail to 17850 Fitch, Irvine, CA 92614. Ask the firm to stop all scheduled drafts, have Forth Pay return the balance of your dedicated account, and send a final accounting with the settlement letters for every resolved account. Keep a copy of your request.

Who holds the money I deposit?

The firm says clients own and control their dedicated, FDIC-insured savings accounts. In BBB replies it names Forth Pay as the administrator of that account and says withdrawal timing follows Forth Pay's processing. Your account statement shows each deposit, fee and payment to creditors.

What does BBB show for Guardian Litigation Group?

BBB shows the firm as BBB Accredited since July 22, 2019, with an A+ rating, 101 complaints in the last 3 years (26 in the last 12 months) and a 4.65 out of 5 average from 1,052 customer reviews. BBB marks 84 of those complaints as answered and 17 as resolved.

Has Guardian Litigation Group been sued?

CourtListener lists two federal lawsuits naming the firm as defendant under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the law on unwanted calls and texts: Rojas v. Guardian Litigation Group, LLP (N.D. Ill., filed August 28, 2025) was dismissed with prejudice on April 15, 2026 after the plaintiff did not amend a complaint the court had already dismissed. Contreras v. Guardian Litigation Group, LLP (W.D. Tex., filed November 15, 2024) was dismissed with prejudice on March 3, 2025 at the plaintiffs' own request. Neither court ruled on whether the firm broke the law.

Can Guardian help if I am already sued or have a judgment?

If you are sued on an account enrolled in the program, the firm says it represents you at no additional cost, provided at least 10 days remain to respond from the verified date of service. It cannot help once a judgment has been entered, for example after wage garnishment, a property lien or a bank levy. The firm says clients agree to pay court filing fees if an account is litigated, so check your agreement.

Where can I file a complaint about Guardian Litigation Group?

Write to the firm first and ask for an accounting and the settlement letters. Then you can file with BBB, where the firm replies to complaints; report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general; or submit to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint under "Debt and credit management." Complaints about an attorney's conduct or fees go to the state bar that licenses the attorney, which for the firm's founding partners is the State Bar of California.