monarch legal group complaints

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). The City therefore alleges that at least insofar as the practices at issue here are concerned, neither Defendants nor their employees engage in the practice of law. If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] WebMonarch Legal has completely shut me down. Monarch Legal Group The truth about debt settlement companies like Freedom 45 0 obj /Annots [] Debt Settlement Industry - Sued in RICO Complaint, Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Defendants Debt Resolution Program and Oppressive Fee Structure, Defendants Debt Resolution Program is Designed to Mislead and Exploit Consumers, Defendants Create Payment Plans without Regard for Consumers Financial Status, Leading Consumers to Fail in Defendants Program, Monarch Lures Consumers into Defendants Debt Resolution Program with a Deceptive Refund Policy. /Count 10 /Parent 12 0 R >> /Count 52 /Parent 9 0 R /Contents [254 0 R 255 0 R 256 0 R] /CropBox [0 0 612 792] Amount in Dispute: $8,600.00 endobj The same can happen to you! A reasonable consumer would conclude that Defendants higher fee structure is warranted because the company offers legal expertise. 23 0 obj /Contents [178 0 R 179 0 R 180 0 R] WebMonarch Grand Vacations average salary Updated on March 28, 2023 $95,818 View Hourly Rate Per Year Individually reported data submitted by users of our website 25% $84,341 75% $108,233 $95,818 50% (Median) Highest Paying Job At Monarch Grand Vacations Document Manager - $116,392 See Other Titles Most Popular Job At Monarch Grand /Rotate 0 Defendants to change their business practices and would likely result in diminished profit. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] Reviews /Contents [158 0 R 159 0 R 160 0 R] None of the many publicly accessible consumer complaints filed against Monarch mention bankruptcy proceedings, even though one consumer inquired about it. The attorney did not appear in the proceeding and the creditor received a default judgment against the consumer. Based on examples that the City has seen, the payment schedules include at least three omissions or deceptions. BBB reports on known marketplace practices. /Type /Page /Rotate 0 22 0 obj Read and understand all program materials prior to Defendants Do Not Provide Contracted-For Litigation Defense Services, Leaving Chicago Consumers to Defend Themselves in Court, Timothy Burnette Controlled and Directed Monarchs Conduct, Defendants Deceive Potential Customers by Posting Fake Reviews, Strategic Engages in Unfair and Deceptive Practices in its Debt Resolution Business Across the Country, https://brokercheck.finra.org/individual/summary/4890437, https://www.finra.org/rules- guidance/oversight-enforcement/finra-disciplinary-actions?search=2013035572001, Former Credit Counseling Executive and Serial Dirtbag, Andris Pukke Arrested, Litigation Practice Group Lawsuit by Business Partner All Service Financial We Want Our Money, Refunds Sent to Students Deceived by Student Advocates Debt Relief Scam, Clay Advisors Same Debt Consolidation Loan Mailer, Different Name, https://getoutofdebt.org//20126/how-to-try-to-get-refund-from-debt-relief-company, https://getoutofdebt.org/20126/how-to-try-to-get-a-refund-from-a-debt-relief-company, How to Get Out of Debt Without Getting Scammed and What to Do if You Have Been, The Beach Misses You: A Financial Fable For Happiness And Internal Peace, Get Out of Debt Guy Podcast - Reader Questions - AMEX Arrrgh, Getting Out of Debt and Making Lots of Extra Money is Easy When You Do This One FREE Thing, Is Your Debt Relief Company a Scam and How to Make an Extra $800 a Month to Make Ends Meet. >> /Contents [98 0 R 99 0 R 100 0 R] /Contents [266 0 R 267 0 R 268 0 R] >> In one case, Defendants settled a debt worth $3,943, agreeing to pay between 40-60% of the debt. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] Copyright 2020 Business Consumer Alliance All Rights Reserved. From 2013 to 2014 he pled guilty to state criminal charges and settled with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)s disciplinary body for creating ATM cards and withdrawing money from client accounts without authorization. /Rotate 0 endobj << *In Canada, trademark(s) of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, used under License. Defendants deceive vulnerable consumers in the process. 1 0 obj The City of Chicago filed a lawsuit against Strategic Financial Solutions, Burnette Legal Group, Timothy Burnette, and Monarch Legal Group on July 26, 2022. Consumer complaints to the Better Business Bureau show that many consumers do not understand the very limited circumstances in which Monarch will refund fees: a. endobj /Annots [] /Parent 12 0 R - 1:22-cv-03705. /Parent 8 0 R /Count 10 /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] No advance fee Debt Settlement companies couldnt survive with that mentality. Hiring a lawyer is an important process that should not be based solely on any advertisement. I was reassured that in 24 moths I would be able to get out of debt and conserve if not improve my credit score. 2023, International Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc., separately incorporated Better Business Bureau organizations in the US, Canada and Mexico and BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, Inc. All rights reserved. endobj /Parent 8 0 R Defendants unrealistic expense estimates demonstrate their complete indifference to the welfare of their consumers. /Contents [234 0 R 235 0 R 236 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. /Type /Page For example, one person complained to the City that a customer service representative hung up on him when he called to ask why his wages were being garnished. /Rotate 0 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. The Law Offices of Robert G. Androsiglio, P.C. /Type /Page /Rotate 0 DO YOUR RESEARCH THIS IS PUBLIC INFORMATION. Defendants documents reveal that attorneys approve settlements that non- attorney Strategic employees have negotiated without significant review. >> /Type /Page How BBB Processes Complaints and Reviews. If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. /Parent 12 0 R /Annots [] They help people file for relief under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. If you are able to qualify which should not be too difficult I recommend their services most highly. Monarch Third, Defendants fail to factor in interest rates and estimated late fees into their payment schedule. Monarch retainer agreements identify Law Firm Contacts. Those contacts are not employed by Monarch, and instead work for Strategic or a related entity. But when a consumer stops making payments to creditors, he or she is likely to face adverse effects, including (1) a sharp decrease in their credit score; (2) calls from collections agencies; (3) a rise in debt due to late fees and additional interest; and (4) lawsuits by creditors, who often seek to garnish wages and enforce judgments by other means. Another consumer wrote: I requested a refund because no work had been done. /Parent 8 0 R What do you think? The agreement included small monthly payments of $15 to $30 (to be allocated from the consumers monthly payments to Defendants), but each payment accrued a Settlement Payment Fee of $10. Steve Rhode is the Get Out of Debt Guy and has been helping good people with bad debt problems since 1994. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /Type /Page << /Type /Pages Complaint Resolution Index (CRI) Explained. /Type /Catalog How many stars would you give Monarchlegalgroup? << /Resources 141 0 R The representatives read from a script about Monarchs program and ask consumers to sign an agreement after the meeting. The Citys investigation indicates that neither Monarch nor Strategic employ lawyers to handle Litigation Defense. Instead, Monarch acts as a referral service by attempting to contract with outside lawyers to handle those matters for small flat fees. 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. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Type /Page /Parent 8 0 R /Parent 12 0 R Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] 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. /Parent 4 0 R >> Individual customers who submitted testimonials to a third-party site were not compensated for their submission. endobj /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] << >> /Annots [] The Citys investigation indicates that even when Defendants agents negotiate settlements with creditors on consumers behalf, they do not act in consumers best interest. First, that program is most profitable for Defendants. Despite paying a monthly retainer fee for a lawyer, the consumer responded to the summons and defended himself in court. /Contents 66 0 R 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 /Contents [174 0 R 175 0 R 176 0 R] /Font << WebMONARCH LEGAL GROUP AKA BURNETTE LEGAL GROUP INVOLVES TIMOTHY BURNETTE AND JASON BLUST. 46 0 obj /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] >> Employee and customer online reviews suggest that Strategic works with as many as ten law firms:. /Rotate 0 /PageLabels 3 0 R BTW, I was able to get $14k refunded by following the steps detailed on your blog, so thank you for that blog post! The user dev_teampresumably a Strategic employeenegotiates a settlement and then creates a debt settlement plan in Defendants database. Suggested companies. 57 0 obj Monarch promises in the Performance Standard section of its contract to refund consumers for the share of all Monarch fees & costs for work on [the] individual debt if Monarch (through Strategic) fails to reduce that debt by more than 35% of the amount owed at the time of the agreement. Defendants charge a percentage of the consumers total debt as a Service Cost to the non-legal servicesrelated [to the] debt resolution plan. In examples the City has seen, that cost has been as high as 19%. Amount Settled: $0.00. 20 0 obj For example, Defendants recorded and estimated a budget based on the fact that one Chicago consumer had only housing, food, and auto expenses. >> /Contents [242 0 R 243 0 R 244 0 R] 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] /Type /Page WebThese instructions are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice or substitute for the provisions of any statute, rule, or regulation. << We are a debt relief /Subtype /XML Voice your opinion today and hear what 44 customers have already said. << We appreciate any help you can give. City of Chicago Goes After Strategic Financial Solutions In total, those settlement fees cannot exceed 15% of the savings the debt settlement provider negotiated for the consumer. >> I was very nervous about making this move but I was reassured and put at ease with the way I was treated. >> WebYour experience matters. 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. - 1:22-cv-03705) /Title (Briggs v. Strategic Financial Solutions, LLC et al. The Honest and Unvarnished Truth. After accounting for Defendants various fees, consumers end up paying only a small amount into their reserves for settlement of their debts. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] >> << One Google reviewer wrote that all the good reviews [about Strategic] reviewer are FAKE. For example, Monarchs homepage advertises that the attorneys at Monarch Legal Group have the skill and experience to fight for your rights, mount a defense and protect your property:. I enrolled with 9 accounts in the program. BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. The City of Chicago filed a lawsuit against Strategic Financial Solutions, Burnette Legal Group, Timothy Burnette, and Monarch Legal Group on July 26, 2022. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] << << In November 2020, BBB investigated Monarch Legal Groups Hi Miss Anne, Hopefully I have the courage to do what you did to get my refund also. 2 0 obj RAM charges a monthly fee of $10.75 to administer each account. In its client retainer agreement, Monarch explains that bankruptcy is another option but discourages that option by stating that it will be reflected as a permanent record on a Clients credit report for up to 10 years.. /Resources 89 0 R /Resources 277 0 R /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] In one example, a consumer paid $320 in Settlement Payment Fees. /Type /Page /Parent 9 0 R /Annots [] endobj endobj endobj Contact Us. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] >> But the Citys investigation indicates that Defendants services are not performed by lawyers, and lawyers do not actually supervise the non-attorneys settling debts. Monarchs agreement misleads consumers and contradicts other statements the company makes in prominent promotional materials that consumers rely on. << Atty Approved.. After working with them all these time, in which I have paid the total of $15,216.90 to the company plus $2,800 I paid directly to one of the creditors, /Annots [] First, Defendants fail to incorporate their Settlement Payment Fees into the good faith estimate of consumer savings. endobj In one of those files, Monarch included a call script for a different legal entity, Option 1 Legal. Terms and Conditions Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said that Legal Helpers lawyers were a front to collect hefty fees from struggling consumers. Legal Helpers agreed to refund $2.1 million to Illinois consumers in a settlement. >> << /Contents [238 0 R 239 0 R 240 0 R] /Contents [246 0 R 247 0 R 248 0 R] /CropBox [0 0 612 792] 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. At the completion of the program the consumer would have paid between $500 to $800 in fees. 58 0 obj /Contents [210 0 R 211 0 R 212 0 R] /Type /Page The We would appreciate it if you could take a BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. Defendants state that these two promises are good faith estimates. But closer inspection of these estimates show that the estimates are often, if not always, improbable because of the high fees charged for Monarchs and Strategics services. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] WebComplaints for Monarch Legal Group. << Complaints for Monarch Legal Group in Chicago , IL According to the script that outside paralegals or notaries read at these short meetings, a Monarch attorney reviews the consumers file after the meeting and calls the consumer within a few days of the meeting. /Annots [] /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] Type in the email address you registered with. To reduce its fee and finish the last two settlements! Monarch refers to itself as a debt relief agency and law firm on its website, www.monarchlegalgroup.com. Reviews of Defendants on various online platforms like Glassdoor, Google, and Better Business Bureau paint starkly different pictures. CALL NOW 888-572-0176. /Type /Page /Parent 9 0 R /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Contents [222 0 R 223 0 R 224 0 R] Current and former Strategic employees have noted that Monarchs and Strategics practices confuse consumers. /Annots [] /Type /Page 10 0 obj << Therefore, Monarchs attorneysboth in- house lawyers and those hired on a contract basisare not engaged in the practice of law. monarch legal group complaints /Rotate 0 << /Contents [106 0 R 107 0 R 108 0 R] 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. These requirements include, for example: a. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] Both these promises appear in the Payment Schedule section of Monarchs retainer agreements. 15 0 obj Each of the lawyers on this site are either Managers, Members, Partners, Limited Partners or staff attorneys. /Contents [218 0 R 219 0 R 220 0 R] 28 0 obj | Read 41-44 Reviews out of 44. Its deceiving, unethical and gives the Industry and the legitimate companies a black eye. I have been pleased by the results Monarch has gotten for me so far. Monarch Legal is unfortunately, a poorly run business that appears to be criminal in its handling of the client's money. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] 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. /Resources 133 0 R endobj /Resources 81 0 R /Resources 129 0 R /Resources 161 0 R 53 0 obj In the scripted presentations that third-party notaries and paralegals make to prospective clients, the representatives state that [t]he law firm is prepared to do what is necessary to represent you, and, if appropriate, defend you against creditor or collector lawsuits. The script also instructs representatives to state that legal fees for your defense are covered by your retainer payments.. The Citys investigation found no bankruptcy case filings by Monarch. /Contents [214 0 R 215 0 R 216 0 R] In exchange for the advertised services, Defendants charge significant up-front costs and monthly fees. /Type /Page /Resources 205 0 R 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. /Resources 101 0 R endobj /Rotate 0 Fax (877) 300-6215. TrustPilot Reviews Monarch Legal Group Reviews /Type /Page /Annots [] For example, after 10 months in a program, only 4% of one consumers payments went to settlements. All photos are of models and do not depict clients. Defendants promise that through negotiating with creditors, consumers will be able to settle their debts for less than the amount owed. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] Defendants charge a slew of other fees, including a Retainer Fee and a monthly flat Legal Administration Fee. In the contracts viewed by the City, Defendants Retainer Fee was $995 and the monthly Legal Administration Fee ranged from $55 to $89. The following example from a Chicago consumer illustrates Defendants failure to provide legal advice related to a settlement. << endobj /Parent 9 0 R 26 0 obj /Parent 8 0 R /Annots [] /Type /Page For businesses Categories Blog. WebGoogle Business Reviews Monarch Legal Group Reviews Google Business Reviews 5.0 5 5 out of 5 stars (based on 3 reviews) Excellent 100% Very good 0% Average 0% Poor 0% Terrible 0% Latest Reviews: Professionalism 5 Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value T M Great organization that helps people 5 /Kids [55 0 R 56 0 R 57 0 R 58 0 R 59 0 R 60 0 R 61 0 R 62 0 R 63 0 R 64 0 R] Monarch Solicitors. START REPORTING THEM TO THE ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE 1-800-243-0618 AND BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU SO THEY CAN BE SHUT DOWN AGAIN. /Contents [150 0 R 151 0 R 152 0 R] << >> Defendants have a surprising range of exclusively 5-star and 1-star reviews, with no scores in the middle of the range. On information and belief, Defendants find program participants by engaging in telemarketing, and Monarch outsources this telemarketing to Strategic Financial Solutions and related entities. /Parent 11 0 R /CropBox [0 0 612 792] We only had 1 year left on our contract and they canceled. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT - LREC The completed form will be automatically submitted to the State Inspector Request a call back. These firms push consumers to enroll in programs with significant advance fees. Anne that is so good to hear about the refund. /Type /Page The information on this website is not legal advice, and does not take the place of consulting with a lawyer. On information and belief, Defendants deliberately obscure the fee structure in these estimates to induce consumers to contract with them. << Those attorneys do not litigate on behalf of consumers. Meanwhile Defendants collect thousands of dollars, money that consumers could have used to pay down their debts but for Defendants unrealistic promises and reassurances. /Rotate 0 Anyone considering a lawyer should independently investigate the lawyers credentials and ability and should not rely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise. The credentials of the person negotiating down debts is material to prospective clients. WebWe are personally invested and highly committed to the success of the project at every phase. By an Act of Congress and the President of the United States, Monarch Legal Group, is a federally designated Debt Relief Agency. Read and understand all program materials prior to enrollment. Categories Blog For businesses. 55 0 obj endobj << Moreover, the outside attorneys that Monarch contracts with repeatedly fail to appear in court and rubberstamp negotiated settlements even when a consumer could not possibly comply with the terms. >> /Resources 233 0 R >> Monarch Legal Group Complaints Webinfo@monarch-legal.co.uk; 17 Fitzroy Place, G3 7RW; DX 512208; 0141 366 0003; Dundee Office: info@monarch-legal.co.uk; 87 Commercial Street, DD1 2AB; DX DD152; 01382 472 391; Quick Links. | Read 21-40 Reviews out of 44 /Resources 213 0 R /Type /Page Anyone Know for Sure About World Law and Global Client Solutions? 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. The State of Illinois sued Legal Helpers and its principals for similar consumer-protection violations in 2012. /Contents [250 0 R 251 0 R 252 0 R] /Annots [] >> /CropBox [0 0 612 792] Im really happy with the service so far, I have just started this program, and to date I have found it to be extremely worthwhile, the pressure that this program has taken off me has been tenfold and I feel that I am finally headed in the right direction, I know the road ahead will be tough but well worth the effort, having a reliable team behind me makes all the difference. /Contents [138 0 R 139 0 R 140 0 R] More egregiously, Monarch mischaracterizes the refund policy and uses it to induce consumers into joining the debt resolution program when they otherwise would decline to do so. /Resources 249 0 R As an industry, companies continue to allow their niche to be destroyed by not speaking out about the bad actors. Monarchs website says that the company can assist people in debt by helping them file for bankruptcy or through its debt resolution program. When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints. endobj The testimonials provided are selected from independent third-party sites. GCS also charges a $10.75 monthly fee for payment processing., Though they immediately begin collecting fees, Defendants inform prospective consumers that it typically takes Monarch 7 to 9 months to reach the first settlement.. Lessons Learned. Follow my guide here https://getoutofdebt.org/20126/how-to-try-to-get-a-refund-from-a-debt-relief-company. As the sole member and manager, Burnette has controlled and continues to control Defendant Monarchs conduct, including its arrangements with Strategic and other third-party vendors that carry out the debt resolution program. enquiries@monarchsolicitors.com. /Resources 265 0 R endobj /Type /Page endobj In other instances, Defendants assure consumers that Defendants will handle the litigation and, when an attorney fails to appear, the court enters a default judgment against the consumer. endobj >> After several payments, the consumer paid $75 to the creditor and $50 in fees. 41 0 obj The policy, as written, does not provide consumers with adequate relief. RESPONSE: Complaint was not answered << Can you help me please? c. Another consumer wrote: I called and then they told me after I had paid them a little over $300 a month for 7-9 month period that there was nothing in my account just $100 and that the rest went to their fees, fees for providing no service. WebMonarch Legal has completely shut me down. As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. /Annots [] /Rotate 0 This information is also relevant to determine whether bankruptcya service Defendants pretend to offeris the right path for the consumer. endobj 52 0 obj By the time Defendants began negotiating down the debt, the $910 debt had risen to $1,827.01. /Rotate 0 /Contents [146 0 R 147 0 R 148 0 R] WebWe are committed to offering top-notch legal services to our clients and the best way for us to do that is to get your honest feedback.

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monarch legal group complaints

monarch legal group complaints