I made the mistake of hiring another credit repair company after my fiasco with Lexington. I just didn't feel qualified to do what was needed to fix mine and my husbands credit. I signed with these sob's 10/10/01. While they were doing their thing I found this board. The first smart thing I have done in years. Anyway, since 10/10/01 I have not received any credit reports. I finally got through today and was on a conference call with 2 people. I told them very calmly that I wanted my money back. Yes, I paid in advance. I told them that according to the FCRA the time limit for the disputes was up and I would deal with it now. Well, that got to them. How did I, a mere mortal, know about the FCRA? I told them I had read it. They said that they called the CRA's and were told that my credit reports had been sent and they were sending new ones today and I should receive them in 10-30 days. Once again, I said I want my money back. No we can't do that our regulations don't allow for that. I hung up and promptly faxed them a copy of CROA. I haven't heard from them. I am going to fax again tonight and tell them if I don't hear from them by 10:00am tomorrow I will go online with the FTC. My point is until I started reading this board I would not even have the courage to ask for my money back. And I will go to the FTC if they don't comply! Thanks you guys, for all of your support. It does really means a lot to someone who never could stand up for herself. Bobbi
Frankly, Bobbi, there are a few aspects of your story that don't make sense to me. The credit repair organization you hired CALLED THE CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES AND ASKED ABOUT YOUR REPORTS? I'm aware that neither Lexington Law Firm, nor Junum, nor BradleyRoss.org, nor ManhattanLegalService.com, nor Jack Schrold would even begin to consider doing something like that. Those firms are the "big five"; did you use another group? Second, you mentioned that you joined with the second group (the "sob's") on October 10 and that you haven't received any reports since. Didn't they require you to get your own fresh set of credit reports that first round, and didn't that take at least a week (at minimum)? The next normal course of action would be for you to send those reports where the credit repair firm would prepare the first round of disputes. Since courts have ruled that the reasonable amount of time the CRA can take is 30 to 45 days (we consumers like to hang onto the lower number at 30 days, while the CRAs like to quote 45, lol), I'm assuming that would at least take you to November 25. Wasn't this the procedure used by the sob's? In order to give you the best feedback I can, I'd really like these points clarified. Doc
Interesting -- I have heard of one other person mentioning Financial Link Services, but I don't remember whether it was pro or con. Well, needless to say, it sounds like that group should take lessons from the more established credit repair organizations. Their handling (or mishandling) of your reports is terrible. You mentioned that THEY PULLED YOUR CREDIT. ARGH. That should NOT happen EVER. (Sorry for the caps, but I'm taking lessons from George, lol. No, actually, I'm YELLING about this.) This group sounds unusual to say the least. I can hardly believe what I'm hearing. What's their web site? Doc
Doc: They don't have a web site I was refered to them, and I don't remember who it was right now. Melsy: That's what the CROA says. And that is what I am using to get my money back. I just hope they haven't screwed things up even more than they were. Bobbi
http://www.labbb.org/scripts/cgiip....fault.htm?hCompID=13031079&hAKAID=1&hAddrID=2 The guy has three BBB listings - the other two are mortgage related - one is mortgage underwriting/mortgage broker, the other is mortgage underwriting/credit analysis and repair.
Breeze: Will any of what you found hamper my efforts in getting my money back? He still has to comply with the CROA doesn't he? I never even thought to look him up on BBB-what did they say? Anything juicy I can use? I just want this a**hole to be totally intimidated by me. I'm so big and bad LOL Bobbi
Breeze: I looked it up, sorry I was lazy, I'm in the middle of doing a graphic layout that is really getting to me. Anyway, I printed it out and that will be included in my little fax. We're on a roll. Can anyone else think of anything that will just make them give me my money back. That's all I want. And of course world peace, my dogs to behave and a new car. LOL Bobbi
Welcome back, KC. (Everyone should ignore that cryptic remark, lol.) No, Bobbi, what Breeze found out will not impact your entitlement to a refund. Doc P.S. Speaking of credit repair organizations, did anyone here realize that the state of California imposes some really stiff requirements for credit repair firms? In fact, those requirements go MUCH farther than the federal CROA. The California law is titled the "California Credit Services Act"; among other things, credit repair firms in California are required to POST A ONE-HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR BOND and to register with the Office of the California Attorney General. How about those beans? That's why you don't see too many credit repair firms (or credit consultants, for that matter) operating in California anymore. I wonder if California-based Unity International Credit Repair (http://www.unity-international.com), which just started up two months ago, is even aware of those requirements. It looks like California-based "Financial Link Services" isn't. Cough, cough.
Doc: I read that too. The BBB reported Financial Link as not registering or posting their bond as of 9/29/98. I think I will call them in the morning and see if there is an update to this. If there isn't maybe threatening to go to the BBB, California AG and the FTC might get me somewhere. Of course, after I signed up with them, I heard that it's illegal to charge for these services in California. That has to be a misnomer or they have found a way around it. Or I could be totally wrong. I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken. I forget who said that. Bobbi
