Monarch Legal Group /Rotate 0 /Annots [] Second, Defendants predict that they will negotiate settlement agreements at around 40% of the debt consumers owe when they enter the payment plan. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. 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. 0330 127 8888. Defendants also know that consumers debts will accrue interest because they instruct consumers to stop making payments on their debts. | Read 21-40 Reviews out of 42. << WebMONARCH LEGAL GROUP AKA BURNETTE LEGAL GROUP INVOLVES TIMOTHY BURNETTE AND JASON BLUST. On information and belief, Defendants estimates for other Chicago consumers contained similar inaccuracies. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] In the examples that the City has seen, and on information and belief in other instances too, Monarch lawyers do not perform debt settlement work. << /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] endobj | Read 41-42 Reviews out of 42. endobj Despite paying significant fees for legal services, consumers are faced with default judgments, wage garnishments, and other negative consequences. /Resources 165 0 R Mr. Robert G. Androsiglio, Founding Managing Partner. The Citys investigation indicates that Defendants do not act in consumers best interest when creating a customized payment program. >> Former and current employees have reported that this discrepancy is part of Defendants marketing agenda. Regardless of how many times I have told your representatives over the phone to call Monarch Legal Group at 877-450-8853, they keep calling me and my wife. endobj Monarch Investment and Management Group Reviews Monarchs website states that Timothy Burnette is the attorney responsible for the content of this Site.. Whether youre dealing with threats of foreclosure, wage garnishment, creditor harassment or excessive debt, the experienced team at Monarch Legal Group can help you get your finances back on track. /Resources 161 0 R /Rotate 0 - 1:22-cv-03705) /Annots [69 0 R 70 0 R] /Resources 229 0 R /Rotate 0 /CropBox [0 0 612 792] BTW, I was able to get $14k refunded by following the steps detailed on your blog, so thank you for that blog post! In total, those settlement fees cannot exceed 15% of the savings the debt settlement provider negotiated for the consumer. << 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. /Annots [] 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. %PDF-1.5 /Type /Page Monarchs status as a law firm also provides the basis for the companies to incorrectly claim that they are exempt from debt settlement regulations. All photos are of models and do not depict clients. /Type /Page /Parent 4 0 R /Type /Page /CropBox [0 0 612 792] Sign up for free now, Sign up for free to participate on the website. Its deceiving, unethical and gives the Industry and the legitimate companies a black eye. /Annots [] endobj Monarch Investment and Management Group Engaged Employer Overview 261 Reviews 105 Jobs 565 Salaries 39 Interviews 77 Benefits 67 Photos 93 Diversity + >> >> BBB is here to help. endobj Another consumer wrote: I requested a refund because no work had been done. /Type /Page endobj Monarchs agreement misleads consumers and contradicts other statements the company makes in prominent promotional materials that consumers rely on. 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. endobj /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] But the Citys investigation indicates that Strategics customer service team does not make attorneys available for client calls. 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. HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT - LREC /Resources 137 0 R I have been pleased by the results Monarch has gotten for me so far. >> << Charles was born at Buckingham Palace on 14 November 1948 at /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Rotate 0 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. xMs0+"N'53=tzAe8H~W28I;.,%$,IO %' ~NTbK /Q*YQ> ~BO> B0~6IfA>rDN+dT0Q.BcywS Ocs^K~1,WlbAVrnSy3lAb@ Fax (877) 300-6215. >> >> /Type /Pages Hi Steve, I am a victim of Monarch until now for 3 years. /Resources 225 0 R Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating, Need to file a complaint? 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. /Resources 129 0 R BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. Amount Settled: $0.00. /Annots [] Monarch also requires that payments in the client`s account be up to date. >> /Contents [242 0 R 243 0 R 244 0 R] The >> Over the course of 2 years, I sent Monarch almost $1200 per month and I stopped paying my cards as they instructed me to do. /Rotate 0 /Type /Page /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] Settlement is within acceptable firm parameters. After the entry of judgment, Defendants negotiated a settlement. 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. 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. % /S /D /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Parent 9 0 R The attorney did not appear in the proceeding and the creditor received a default judgment against the consumer. The same can happen to you! endobj In one of those files, Monarch included a call script for a different legal entity, Option 1 Legal. /Count 10 business practices. /Contents [206 0 R 207 0 R 208 0 R] How to Try to Get a Refund From a Debt Relief Company, The Ultimate Guide to Dealing With Student Loans You Cant Afford. Attorneys use scripts for these calls. 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. /Contents [190 0 R 191 0 R 192 0 R] What Are Your Spending Habits? >> Standard phone and data charges will apply. A customer representative then told the consumer that Monarch could not guarantee that a lawyer would be available to represent the consumer at the hearing. >> /Rotate 0 Income and expense information dictates consumers capacity for monthly payments. /Annots [] << 63 0 obj endobj But because Defendants provide inaccurate estimates and fail to consider consumers financial situations, Defendants know that their representations are inaccurate and impossible for many consumers. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] For example, Monarch reserves the right to refuse to provide legal defense services if the client does not have to submit all pages of the subpoena, complaint, evidence, and briefs to Monarch and be filed within 15 or 7 days, depending on the state. In some instances, the testimonials may be shortened and/or include correction to grammatical or typographical errors. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes. 46 0 obj /Rotate 0 I accept the offer and signed a contract on June of 2020 with Monarch legal group. 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. /Resources 97 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] It is this unique and continuous involvement that separates Monarch from the competition and drives superior returns for our investors and employee owners. 27 0 obj >> /Contents [134 0 R 135 0 R 136 0 R] /Resources 233 0 R Voice your opinion today and hear what 47 customers have already said. Defendants do not hold consumer funds in a client trust account. Change Your Mindset. Well guide you through the process. Not all clients are able to complete our program for various reasons, including their ability to save sufficient funds. Skip to main content Better Business Bureau The Law Offices of Robert G. Androsiglio, P.C. 203 N. LaSalle, #2100, Chicago, IL 60601 /Rotate 0 /Rotate 0 2 0 obj Several days later, user r-fakhouri, likely Ricky Fakhouri, an outside attorney who has contracted with Monarch on a case-by-case basis, approved the plan. 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. See 815 ILCS 505/2JJJ. >> /Rotate 0 The State of Illinois sued Legal Helpers and its principals for similar consumer-protection violations in 2012. << - 1:22-cv-03705 Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. /Parent 4 0 R /Resources 209 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /Kids [8 0 R 9 0 R 10 0 R 11 0 R 12 0 R 13 0 R 14 0 R] WebView customer complaints of Monarch Legal Group, BBB helps resolve disputes with the services or products a business provides. 5 0 obj 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. RAM charges a monthly fee of $10.75 to administer each account. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] I had been paying all of my credit cards both person and business. Your consent to the above terms is not required as a condition of purchasing or receiving our services. 21 0 obj WebComplaints for Monarch Legal Group. If you are able to qualify which should not be too difficult I recommend their services most highly. 15 0 obj /Resources 133 0 R Defendants deceive vulnerable consumers in the process. >> /Annots [] /Type /Page This consumer had paid $3,616.80 to Defendants, but Defendants charged over 96% of these paymentsor $3,476.21 as fees. 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. In response to the Citys subpoena, Monarch provided information from a limited number of consumer files. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Rotate 0 Login - Monarch Legal Group FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS EASTERN /CropBox [0 0 612 792] 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. /Annots [] The Citys investigation indicates that Defendants do not employ defense attorneys and often tell consumers to defend themselves. First, Defendants fail to incorporate their Settlement Payment Fees into the good faith estimate of consumer savings. << 34 0 obj WebHow many stars would you give Monarchlegalgroup? Hi Miss Anne, Hopefully I have the courage to do what you did to get my refund also. 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). /Contents [126 0 R 127 0 R 128 0 R] << This kind of attitude destroys the debt relief space for good people that want to do good things. /Type /Page Be the first one to write one. << I do not know what accounts have been paid, haven't been paid, etc. /Parent 8 0 R The City of Chicago filed a lawsuit against Strategic Financial Solutions, Burnette Legal Group, Timothy Burnette, and Monarch Legal Group on July 26, 2022. 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. /Kids [65 0 R] /Parent 11 0 R Two hours later I was informed that I was denied due to my debt to income ratio. /Rotate 0 endobj Join the 47 people who've already contributed. /Rotate 0 Steve Rhode is the Get Out of Debt Guy and has been helping good people with bad debt problems since 1994. /Rotate 0 No advance fee Debt Settlement companies couldnt survive with that mentality. The Honest and Unvarnished Truth. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Parent 11 0 R /Count 10 They answer my questions promptly and accurately. /Type /Page 19 0 obj Phone (877) 450-8853. ] As described in Section VI below, Monarch repeatedly fails to provide those services. >> /Resources 269 0 R /Contents [270 0 R 271 0 R 272 0 R] Nothing in this website is to be construed as an offer for legal services. Its the exact reason Veritas stopped working with them altogether, many of our participating attorneys will not work with them either. << An obligation to make oral and written disclosures to prospective consumers, including a warning that debt settlement services may not be suitable for all consumers and that consumers should inquire about other means of dealing with debt, including, but not limited to, nonprofit credit counseling and bankruptcy. 225 ILCS 429/115(a). endobj WebEmail this Business (212) 742-0001 File a Complaint Overview Monarch Law Group offers personal injury, commercial litigation, corporate law, matrimonial/family law and real >> /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] 26 0 obj 40 0 obj >> << >> Defendants promise that through negotiating with creditors, consumers will be able to settle their debts for less than the amount owed. /Parent 11 0 R /Resources 221 0 R << 65 0 obj 6 0 obj get quotes and more. This program started in September of 2019 and has consumed a large amount of our finances. /Annots [] One day I received in the mail, a personal loan offer. Monarchlegalgroup Reviews | Read Customer Service 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. << 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). /Annots [] /Annots [] I was a victim of Monarch and I filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy as a result of trusting them. Reviews Significantly, consumers pay legal fees even if Monarch refuses to provide those services. 17 0 obj /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] The representatives read from a script about Monarchs program and ask consumers to sign an agreement after the meeting. Your experience matters. Monarch Legal Group is a private law firm and is not affiliated with any governmental agency, quasi-governmental agency, or charitable organization. How to Get Out of Debt. Already have an account? 225 ILCS 429/125(c). 2013035572001), at 4, available at https://www.finra.org/rules- guidance/oversight-enforcement/finra-disciplinary-actions?search=2013035572001.]. WebReview your credit report. Defendants knowingly mislead consumers by misrepresenting how much they will save and how quickly their debts will get resolved. endobj /Contents [98 0 R 99 0 R 100 0 R] Complaint Form - Office of State Inspector General /Contents [214 0 R 215 0 R 216 0 R] If we can verify it in our system, an email will be sent to you with your password. >> 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. /Annots [] 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. Follow my guide here https://getoutofdebt.org/20126/how-to-try-to-get-a-refund-from-a-debt-relief-company. 30 0 obj << | Read 41-44 Reviews out of 44 /Parent 11 0 R /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Contents [262 0 R 263 0 R 264 0 R] Amount in Dispute: $8,600.00 Reviews I didn't know how it works, so I was explained the details and the procedures of it. /Contents [230 0 R 231 0 R 232 0 R] /Parent 13 0 R Read More Business Details and See Alerts, International Association of Better Business Bureaus. /Parent 11 0 R WebThese instructions are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice or substitute for the provisions of any statute, rule, or regulation. /Contents [218 0 R 219 0 R 220 0 R] /Contents [90 0 R 91 0 R 92 0 R] Because so much of each payment goes to Defendants fees (particularly at the beginning of the agreement), consumers with multiple accounts to settle continue accruing significant interest and late charges for months, if not years. Individual customers who submitted testimonials to a third-party site were not compensated for their submission. 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. 29 0 obj Defendants have attempted to avoid these rules by operating under the name Monarch Legal. /Parent 11 0 R 37 0 obj /Rotate 0 In which an option of consolidating all my unsecured debt into a single monthly payment was advertised. /Type /Page /Resources 281 0 R BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. 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. /Rotate 0 The Cohn Law endobj | Read 41-44 Reviews out of 44. Monarch retainer agreements identify Law Firm Contacts. Those contacts are not employed by Monarch, and instead work for Strategic or a related entity.
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