My husband and I had good credit and were looking over our bills and figuring out how long it would take us to pay off. We had heard about debt consolidation and I looked into several different companies. I had been contacted via email to Debticated Consumer Counseling, Inc. And was connected to Stephen Beck.
I talked to him for about 2 weeks before signing up and was satified that he was going to be able to minimize our debt and help us pay off the cards in 2 1/2 years. He indicated that they were in a business to improve credit and would certainly not do anything to jeopardize our credit report. Basically, he said we send him the creditors name, address, phone, account numbers and balances as well as due date and he would do the rest. Thought that it was too good to be true so I requested something in writing from him.
Got the information and decided to go ahead and sign up. Sent him all the information and he said based on what he figured out, we could pay $375.00 per month. But then said that the first payment that we made was going to be a "donation" and it was for the lawyers to draw up and submit their "proposals". I told him that a donation indicated that it was voluntary and what if I couldn't or didn't want to send in that amount? He said to send in what I could and once they had received the $375.00 they would go ahead with the proposals.
Then I got a call a day later and told that my payments would actually be $395.00 as one company that they talked to would not accept less money. He also said that why we were in the negotiation period to not send money to the credit card companies as all of them would reage back to 0 (meaning not past due).
It wasn't until we received our welcome package that we found out that what he had said was all a lie. It said that we should continue to make the payments. It said that we were responsible to notify our creditors that we were going with a debt consolidation agency. It said that no accounts would be closed (and they all were by Debticated).
It said that if we received calls from the creditors to notify Debticated and they would take care of it.in actuality, you have to keep a log of the date, time, and person that you talked to and submit it to Debticated before they do anything. I started having doubts and tried to call Stephen Beck. He would not accept nor return my calls. And when I called the Customer Service number for Debticated and told them about Stephen Beck, I was told that he did not know how the program worked and would not be able to help me.
Bottom line... Because they did not make all the payments to my creditors as promised and did not reset my due dates (something else that I was told that they would do but then was told was my responsibility) I was assessed late fees, over limit fees and not one of my balances went down in 6 months. Then when I tried to qualify for their loan (they promise you this after 6 months of consistant on time payments) I was told that I was not eligible because the APR has to be over 12% and none of mine were.
Every single on of my credit cards has told me that they do not understand why I signed up with them as I had a perfect payment history and my credit report indicates that prior to 7 (I signed up in May) that the cards were never late.
I have filed a complaint with the BBB and was contacted by someone at Debticated named Kristin who told me that she was the last word and based on what she saw, I would not get a refund. I had asked for the name of the CEO and was given the name Andre Pukke and told that he was not in anyway affiliated with this organization.
She lied to the BBB and they closed my case. I also complained to the FTC and now am in contact with the United States Postal Inspector because apparently this company has a bunch of complaints against them. I asked Debticated to refund all of my late fees, over limit fees and my "donation " (around $2700.00) and they flat out refused. You would think that they would try to accommodate me seeing how I have complained to everyone.
I guess the USPI will just have to close them down.
Bottom line... Because of them, I get to declare bankruptcy at 29 years old. Thanks Debticated for ruining my life.
Andrea
DHS, California
U.S.A.
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