Date of experience: September 04, 2020 You can read the complaint filed in this case. << June 16, 2022. toyota rav4 2013 specs. /Parent 10 0 R I feel that I can now reach my goal and make my life better in the near future. When, as is often the case, Defendants fail to refer the case to an outside lawyer, Defendants have refused to provide any representation. /Parent 4 0 R Overview Reviews About. 28 0 obj /Type /Page BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes. - 1:22-cv-03705. /Resources 189 0 R >> If they are considering doing business with the company, consumers can use this indicator to forecast the likelihood of having their issues addressed if a problem arises. /Contents [182 0 R 183 0 R 184 0 R] Anyone considering a lawyer should independently investigate the lawyers credentials and ability and should not rely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise. endobj Monarch Legal Group is a law firm. >> Strategic provided similar services, albeit operating under a different structure, to the now-shuttered Carolina Legal Services firm, as described in paragraph 12 above. /Parent 13 0 R Please contact a tax professional to discuss potential tax consequences of less than full balance debt resolution. However, BBB does not verify the accuracy of information provided by third parties, and does not guarantee the accuracy of any information in Business Profiles. Amount in Dispute: $8,600.00 Monarch tells prospective consumers that its client services team (which, in reality, consists of Strategic employees located in another state) will assist [customers] in arranging to speak with an attorney to provide legal advice or respond to legal questions. The text of the call script for Option 1 Legal and for Monarch are the same, except for the law firm name. 62 0 obj /Contents [178 0 R 179 0 R 180 0 R] /CropBox [0 0 612 792] 12 0 obj /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Rotate 0 /Type /Page Monarch nevertheless tells consumers that they pay for legal services and will have the assistance of attorneys. The testimonials selected may include testimonials made by individual customers on the third-party sites. << /Type /Page It sucks that you found yourself in that position. >> endobj /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Contents [190 0 R 191 0 R 192 0 R] /Rotate 0 48457-523 (Aug. 10, 2010). Defendants also assume the same settlement rate for all consumers without regard to the amount or type of consumers debts (for example, whether the bill has been sent to collections). Strategic created a wholly-owned subsidiary called Carolina Client Services, LLC to carry out the solo practitioners debt settlement program. The City of Chicago filed a lawsuit against Strategic Financial Solutions, Burnette Legal Group, Timothy Burnette, and Monarch Legal Group on July 26, 2022. /Type /Page /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] >> In one case, Defendants settled a debt worth $3,943, agreeing to pay between 40-60% of the debt. >> Can I Send a Cease and Desist Letter to a Debt Collector? /Count 10 /Resources 125 0 R Legal services are only offered once a Monarch Legal Group attorney has had an opportunity to review the specific facts of a case and indicates a willingness to take on the representation. This assumption is unrealistic. /Count 10 54 0 obj But the Citys investigation indicates that Defendants services are not performed by lawyers, and lawyers do not actually supervise the non-attorneys settling debts. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] Write reviews, ask and respond to questions, WebExcellent 100% Very good 0% Average 0% Poor 0% Terrible 0% Latest Reviews: Everyone has been extremely nice 5 Everyone has been extremely nice, helpful, explaining everything Former and current employees have reported that this discrepancy is part of Defendants marketing agenda. /Resources 249 0 R In presentations with potential clients, Monarch representatives who in fact do not work for Monarch have explained that Monarch attorneys will provide representation and negotiate with the creditors lawyers. By including these testimonials, Monarch Legal Group does not represent that every consumer will experience the same outcome by employing our services, nor do we intend to represent that these testimonials represent all customers experiences. << /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] They help people file for relief under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. 5 0 obj /CropBox [0 0 612 792] We are a debt relief agency. endobj The creditor filed a motion to reinstate and for default judgment for failure to pay the settlement payments, and the consumer was left vulnerable to wage garnishment and other negative consequences. The Citys investigation indicates that Defendants do not act in consumers best interest when creating a customized payment program. 32 0 obj /CropBox [0 0 612 792] * ekVCwIqhpjZDhWI`kN9R=46lz+5, Briggs v. Strategic Financial Solutions, LLC et al. /Contents [254 0 R 255 0 R 256 0 R] A prohibition on advising consumers, expressly or by implication, to stop making payments to their creditors and to stop communicating with their creditors. 60 0 obj endobj If consumers withdraw after one year, Defendants collect substantial sums without performing work. This business is in an industry that may require professional licensing, bonding or registration. /Parent 9 0 R In some instances, the testimonials may be shortened and/or include correction to grammatical or typographical errors. Write reviews, ask and respond to questions, /Type /Page Based on the foregoing and on information and belief, Monarch attorneys often if not always fail to provide individualized legal advice and therefore are not engaged in the practice of law. On this page, you'll find a comprehensive collection of reviews and complaints from real customers who have used Monarch Media Group's products or services. Do you agree with Monarchlegalgroup's TrustScore? The testimonials provided are selected from independent third-party sites. endobj xMs0+"N'53=tzAe8H~W28I;.,%$,IO %' ~NTbK /Q*YQ> ~BO> B0~6IfA>rDN+dT0Q.BcywS Ocs^K~1,WlbAVrnSy3lAb@ << Be the first one to write one. For example, Defendants recorded and estimated a budget based on the fact that one Chicago consumer had only housing, food, and auto expenses. /Contents [90 0 R 91 0 R 92 0 R] Notify me of follow-up comments by email. How to stop Monarch Recovery Management harassment 225 ILCS 429/125(c). /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] 49 0 obj In a previous phone call, a representative said Monarch would resolve the lawsuit to avoid garnishment. Voice your opinion today and hear what 44 customers have already said. All at ZERO COST to you. I enrolled with 9 accounts in the program. Pretty much every Debt Settlement regulatory attorney has warned against doing business this way but they never listen. BTW, I was able to get $14k refunded by following the steps detailed on your blog, so thank you for that blog post! /Contents [226 0 R 227 0 R 228 0 R] /Type /Page >> endobj Monarch Legal Group endobj /Contents [82 0 R 83 0 R 84 0 R] This program started in September of 2019 and has consumed a large amount of our finances. Flats for sale in Edinburgh City; Homes for sale in Edinburgh City; Apartments for Rent in Edinburgh; << | Read 21-40 Reviews out of 44 Defendants dramatically misstate the consumers estimated savings and program length. Monarch Legal Group << /CropBox [0 0 612 792] If you are in debt run far far away. As depicted in paragraph 91 above, one BBB reviewer expressed skepticism about Monarchs lone positive review. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] << /CropBox [0 0 612 792] endobj For businesses Categories Blog. Update 2 On The Make Money With a Side Hustle Project. >> Copyright 2020 Business Consumer Alliance All Rights Reserved. PAID ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT: /CropBox [0 0 612 792] Reviews >> Login to participate on the website. /S /D /Kids [15 0 R 16 0 R 17 0 R 18 0 R 19 0 R 20 0 R 21 0 R 22 0 R 23 0 R 24 0 R] We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code. Skip to main content Better Business Bureau We are scared and desperate at this point, See if this sounds like a reasonable and logical approach. Your experience matters. 2 0 obj >> At the completion of the program the consumer would have paid between $500 to $800 in fees. >> Reviews from current and former Strategic employees on the career website Glassdoor express similar concerns about the companys business model: Even when Defendants do engage with creditors, non-attorney employees perform the negotiations. The Cohn Law /Annots [] /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /Annots [] >> 18 0 obj /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] If you cant proudly tell clients the real name of your company, there is something seriously wrong.. We do not guarantee that your debts will be resolved for a specific amount or percentage or within a specific period of time and your results will likely vary. endobj Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating, Need to file a complaint? Customer names may also have been shortened or masked to protect privacy. Monarch Legal Group is not responsible for the accuracy or correctness of the opinions or comments. Steve Rhode is the Get Out of Debt Guy and has been helping good people with bad debt problems since 1994. /Type /Page /Parent 12 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] >> I contracted with Monarch Legal on Feb., 2020 because I was unable to pay all of my credit card debts from a serious drop in my business. /Length 445 /CropBox [0 0 612 792] endobj For example, after 10 months in a program, only 4% of one consumers payments went to settlements. 29 YEARS OF OPERATION 2,227 EMPLOYEES 72,097 UNITS 305 COMMUNITIES 20 STATES Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating, Need to file a complaint? /Contents [150 0 R 151 0 R 152 0 R] Defendants have attempted to avoid these rules by operating under the name Monarch Legal. Reviews /Type /Page /Type /Page The representatives read from a script about Monarchs program and ask consumers to sign an agreement after the meeting. /Resources 89 0 R Consumers reported not understanding the terms of the program after these short appointments. /Rotate 0 As an industry, companies continue to allow their niche to be destroyed by not speaking out about the bad actors. >> Both these promises appear in the Payment Schedule section of Monarchs retainer agreements. 59 0 obj /Contents [206 0 R 207 0 R 208 0 R] Strategic drives these unfair and deceptive programs but uses its supposed law firm partners as a front to avoid regulation. Webaction complaint against Defendants Strategic Financial Solutions, LLC (SFS), its subsidiary LLC d/b/a Monarch Legal Group (Monarch), receive a percentage of monthly charges paid by the client to SFSs billing processor (generally between 3% and 10%), with the lions share going to SFS. /Type /Page These firms push consumers to enroll in programs with significant advance fees. Follow my guide here https://getoutofdebt.org/20126/how-to-try-to-get-a-refund-from-a-debt-relief-company. Attorneys rote notes demonstrate that they did not meaningfully interact with clients. /Resources 101 0 R 36 0 obj /Parent 8 0 R Cash Made. Categories Blog For businesses. /Rotate 0 /Rotate 0 endobj endobj /Type /Page /Type /Page >> /Parent 10 0 R /Type /Pages Consumers who are struggling with debt care very much about how much money they will be able to save, and Defendants knowingly overestimate those amounts. WebThese instructions are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice or substitute for the provisions of any statute, rule, or regulation. << /Rotate 0 << Defendants include in the total used to calculate their Service Costs not only the enrolled debt at the time that the consumer signs an agreement but also the additional debts and fees that accrue after the consumer heeds Defendants instruction to stop making payments to creditors. - 1:22-cv-03705) << /Type /Page /Resources 273 0 R endobj The truth about debt settlement companies like Freedom /Annots [] /Contents [202 0 R 203 0 R 204 0 R] We would greatly appreciate any guidance that we need to do at this point to recoup our money paid to them (almost 3 years worth). The day of Debt Settlement companies creating their own non-compliant Legal Plan that provides the consumer with nothing more that a template answer to file themselves is thankfully coming to an end. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] We appreciate any help you can give. Not all clients are able to complete our program for various reasons, including their ability to save sufficient funds. /Rotate 0 /Rotate 0 >> The Act prohibits charging any type of fee other than set up or enrollment fee of no more than $50, and a settlement fee in certain circumstances. WebMONARCH LEGAL GROUP AKA BURNETTE LEGAL GROUP INVOLVES TIMOTHY BURNETTE AND JASON BLUST. Defendants also repeatedly fail to provide litigation defense services to consumers when creditors sue them. /Rotate 0 /Rotate 0 Further evidencing Monarchs lack of responsiveness to customer concerns, the Better Business Bureau suspended Monarchs accreditation in 2021 for, among other things, failing to provide adequate responses to customer complaints. START REPORTING THEM TO THE ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE 1-800-243-0618 AND BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU SO THEY CAN BE SHUT DOWN AGAIN. /Parent 11 0 R 33 0 obj 55 0 obj /Resources 161 0 R Voice your opinion today and hear what 44 customers have already said. /Parent 9 0 R DISCLOSURES REQUIRED UNDER 11 U.S.C. /Rotate 0 King Charles: From excessively shy boy to monarch-in endobj /Annots [] /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] Second, Defendants predict that they will negotiate settlement agreements at around 40% of the debt consumers owe when they enter the payment plan. /Contents [106 0 R 107 0 R 108 0 R] /Type /Page /Rotate 0 /Type /Page /Rotate 0 Change Your Mindset. 46 0 obj /Rotate 0 /Rotate 0 << Stated results are for illustration purposes only and are not typical of the results you should expect to achieve. Monarch also requires that the clients account payments be current. /Annots [] /CropBox [0 0 612 792] << << In the first 12 months, Defendants collect their service costs and retainer fees. /Annots [] 527 AND 342 NOTICE #1: Notice Mandated by 11 U.S.C. The refund policy appears to exclude most aggrieved consumers. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Parent 10 0 R /Parent 11 0 R Monarch Law Group | Better Business Bureau Profile /Type /Page /Rotate 0 << WebContact Us Monarch Legal Group Contact Us Address 203 N. LaSalle, #2100, Chicago, IL 60601 Phone Phone: 877-450-8853 Fax: 877-300-6215 Email endobj /Rotate 0 /Parent 10 0 R << Monarch consumers sign an agreement that says that the company will review the consumers personal hardship and other debt circumstances and formulate a plan to negotiate improved terms. As described further in Section IV below, the Citys investigation indicates that Monarch does not conduct a meaningful financial review. /Annots [] After the entry of judgment, Defendants negotiated a settlement. The complaint filed by the City of Chicago contains the following statements. It is not a lawyer referral service or prepaid legal /Type /Page How to Get Your Money Back From a Debt Relief Company if You Feel Like Youve Been Scammed, What Repaying Your Debt Will Cost You in Retirement Calculator, The Truth About The Success Rates, Failure Rates, and Completion Rates of Credit Counseling, Debt Settlement, Bankruptcy, and Debt Consolidation Loans. BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. /Annots [] When Defendants do negotiate a settlement payment plan, those payments typically last for many months, and for each payment Defendants charge the consumer an extra $10 (Settlement Payment Fees). /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] You also consent to the recording and monitoring of all calls to and from us and you acknowledge and agree to the terms of our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /Annots [] /Rotate 0 14 0 obj 1 0 obj Consumers have no recourse if the program is taking more time than promised or, after relying on Defendants misleading estimates, consumers find themselves unable to make their payments. /F2 68 0 R Nothing in this website is to be construed as an offer for legal services. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] Hi Steve, I am a victim of Monarch until now for 3 years. /Kids [35 0 R 36 0 R 37 0 R 38 0 R 39 0 R 40 0 R 41 0 R 42 0 R 43 0 R 44 0 R] The two contacts excerpted below identify James Katayanagi, an employee of Strategic subsidiary Finance Solutions, and Haider Salas, a former employee of Strategic Financial Solutions, as the consumers Law Firm Contact. Neither Katayanagi nor Salas are lawyers: [Before or concurrent with his employment at Finance Solutions, Katayanagi worked as a personal banker. How to Try to Get a Refund From a Debt Relief Company, The Ultimate Guide to Dealing With Student Loans You Cant Afford. /Rotate 0 >> /Contents [262 0 R 263 0 R 264 0 R] << I followed the steps that Steve outlined in the blog post he linked below and I was able to get a refund of $14,000 from Monarch. /Parent 8 0 R Well guide you through the process. Instead, Defendants require consumers to sign an Account Servicing Agreement with Reliant Account Management, LLC (RAM). >> /Parent 12 0 R I am thrilled that the City of Chicago is going after them. /Resources << Do you agree with Monarchlegalgroup's TrustScore? After accounting for Defendants various fees, consumers end up paying only a small amount into their reserves for settlement of their debts. Monarch endobj /Resources 133 0 R /Rotate 0 Complaint Resolution Index (CRI) Explained. endobj /Rotate 0 /Rotate 0 Side Hustle Review - Is It Too Late To Make Money With A Helium Miner? Read this post and report complete it because I'm going to explaining in details how Monarch legal group has violated my rights and is contributing to a substantial emotional pain and disturbance. If you need legal advice, call our expert solicitors or fill in our enquiry form and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Through its third party representatives and in its welcome materials, Defendants tell consumers how to contact the Litigation Department. On information and belief, that department doesnt exist. Suggested companies. BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] Many debt resolution (also called debt settlement or debt negotiation) firms target with significant credit card debt and promise to negotiate with their creditors to settle obligations for less than the consumers owe. According to employee reviews on Glassdoor, Strategic Financial Services asks its employees to post falsified positive reviews to cover up the truthful negative ones: Reviewers on Better Business Bureau and Google also concluded that Defendants positive reviews are inaccurate. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] << /Contents [218 0 R 219 0 R 220 0 R] /Annots [] /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Parent 9 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] Customer service is quick, efficient and professional. In practice, Defendants cannot consistently negotiate such beneficial settlements, and information provided to the City by consumers suggests that many debts are settled for over 60% of the amount owed. endobj 15 0 obj Consumers who receive deceptive and inaccurate information from Strategic are unable to report that conduct to any attorney regulatory bodies because the employees are not lawyers. /Rotate 0 The No advance fee Debt Settlement companies couldnt survive with that mentality. /Rotate 0 /Contents [230 0 R 231 0 R 232 0 R] /CropBox [0 0 612 792] | Read 41-44 Reviews out of 44 The following is My Monarch legal group/reliant account # 25270. I was current with all my creditors and had a respectable credit score. Income and expense information dictates consumers capacity for monthly payments. Monarch Investment and Management Group Reviews RAM collects and deposits consumer payments. Fees for changing banking information, payment plans, and adding new debts to the program vary from $19.95 to $299. Hi Steve My partner and I have just been canceled from monarch for unclear and deceptive reasons. How BBB Processes Complaints and Reviews. The consumer signed a settlement agreement requiring significant monthly payments, which the consumer understood would come from his account with Defendants. /Rotate 0 The agreement also provides that Monarch will advise and represent clients in their defense of litigation initiated by creditors or collectors[. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /Rotate 0 /Resources 197 0 R << Through their unconscionable practices, Defendants have harmed Chicagoans seeking to get out of debt. /Resources 281 0 R >> In response to the Citys subpoena, Monarch provided information from a limited number of consumer files. In a review on the professional website Glassdoor, one former employee explained that if you say the real company name [Strategic] most people are confused as to why your [sic] are calling them. Another former employee implored Strategic to [b]e honest about what you are doing. WebMonarch Recovery Management is a collection agency based in Pennsylvania. /Contents [198 0 R 199 0 R 200 0 R] /Annots [] Attorneys use scripts for these calls. /Resources 233 0 R /Pages 4 0 R /Annots [] >> The City reviewed each of the three separate consumer files that Monarch provided to identify a clear pattern. Reviews BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. /Contents [142 0 R 143 0 R 144 0 R] I had been paying all of my credit cards both person and business. /Contents [170 0 R 171 0 R 172 0 R] On information and belief, Defendants deliberately obscure the fee structure in these estimates to induce consumers to contract with them. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /Annots [] /Filter /FlateDecode /Resources 137 0 R /Resources 177 0 R /Resources 221 0 R /Contents [110 0 R 111 0 R 112 0 R] We have since paid a large sum of money in this program as well as handled three of our largest debts on our own because we were not represented in these accounts. We would appreciate it if you could take a /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] I have been pleased by the results Monarch has gotten for me so far. 2013035572001), at 4, available at https://www.finra.org/rules- guidance/oversight-enforcement/finra-disciplinary-actions?search=2013035572001.]. Despite paying significant fees for legal services, consumers are faced with default judgments, wage garnishments, and other negative consequences. /Resources 193 0 R >> Individual customers who submitted testimonials to a third-party site were not compensated for their submission. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Type /Page /Parent 9 0 R BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. Don't have an account? << Login. 16 0 obj View customer complaints of Monarch Legal Group, BBB helps resolve disputes with the services or products a business provides. RESPONSE: Complaint was not answered 20 0 obj Monarch markets the debt resolution program it operates with Strategic as having a generous refund policy. Based on examples that the City has seen, the payment schedules include at least three omissions or deceptions. This company took over $25,000 from me then canceled my account, did not contact me and refuses to give me any information or any access to my online portal. Defendants contracted with a local attorney, not employed by Monarch, to represent the consumer in a lawsuit by a creditor. /Type /Page On all seven occasions concerning settlements for three separate consumers, Ricky Fakhouri approved a settlement and wrote the same vague phrase: Approved: Reviewed original amt, current amt, settlement amt. << Defendants tell consumers that they will not begin settling debts until consumers have made at least seven to nine months of payments. /Annots [] /CropBox [0 0 612 792] On information and belief, Strategic tells representatives to say they are calling from Monarch, not Strategic, so consumers do not realize that they arent speaking to someone at Monarch. 17 0 obj If Defendants provided more accurate estimates based on their fee structure, interest, and creditor fees, consumers would understand that Defendants program does not provide a significant benefit and may in fact make consumers worse off.