48 0 obj /Parent 11 0 R /Rotate 0 >> /Annots [] 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. 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.. /Resources 277 0 R >> Phone (877) 450-8853. A reasonable consumer would conclude that Defendants higher fee structure is warranted because the company offers legal expertise. endobj /Type /Page Based on examples that the City has seen, the payment schedules include at least three omissions or deceptions. /Contents [102 0 R 103 0 R 104 0 R] /Type /Page 43 0 obj /Parent 8 0 R /AA 5 0 R I asked several times to make sure I understood correctly the proposal of the program- the calls were recorded, they said yes, in 24 moths you will be out of debt and your credit score would not get affected. >> Monarch Legal Group /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] 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. In one example, Defendants collected 19% of a consumers total debtor $6,771.60during the first 22 months of a 48-month payment plan. << /Contents [226 0 R 227 0 R 228 0 R] endobj /Type /Page /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /Annots [] 63 0 obj 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. /Type /Page Despite paying a monthly retainer fee for a lawyer, the consumer responded to the summons and defended himself in court. /Parent 12 0 R /Type /Page Instead, Defendants require consumers to sign an Account Servicing Agreement with Reliant Account Management, LLC (RAM). >> Stop The Calls From 877-288-9903 | Agruss Law Firm 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. It sucks that you found yourself in that position. Defendants Trick Consumers into Believing that Attorneys Will Negotiate their Debt Settlements, When that Work is Actually Performed by Non-Lawyer Contractors. I was current with all my creditors and had a respectable credit score. /Parent 4 0 R It is not a lawyer referral service or prepaid legal services plan. WebView customer complaints of Monarch Legal Group, BBB helps resolve disputes with the services or products a business provides. >> /Annots [] Though the Defendants program makes many consumers worse off, the companies succeed by collecting substantial fees, refusing to provide contracted-for services, and continually attracting new program participants by deceptive marketing tactics like fake reviews. /Parent 11 0 R /Resources 85 0 R << /Resources 225 0 R /Count 52 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. stream endobj 52 0 obj endobj Your experience matters. 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. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] Monarchlegalgroup Reviews | Read Customer Service 34 0 obj /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] In fact, Defendants settled the debt for more than the consumer owed when the consumer contracted with them. Its deceiving, unethical and gives the Industry and the legitimate companies a black eye. /Annots [] /CropBox [0 0 612 792] In 2010, the Federal Trade Commission issued a final rule amending the Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 CFR Part 310, to regulate debt relief companies that use telemarketing to contact potential consumers or receive calls in response to mailers and other advertisements. It is not a lawyer referral service or prepaid legal /Annots [] /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] << /Contents [130 0 R 131 0 R 132 0 R] Given those significant fees, the consumers potential savings on the amount owed was far less than Monarch advertised and explained. << BBB is here to help. WebReview your credit report. 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. Reviews << Acknowledging the harm that debt resolution programs create for consumers with debt and credit issues, governments have increased regulation in this area. /Type /Page endobj Based on information and belief, attorneys affiliated with Monarch rubberstamp all settlements, do not supervise the non-lawyer debt negotiators, and do not give reasoned legal advice to consumers about whether to accept a settlement. 49 0 obj A reasonable consumer likely would decline to contract with Monarch had she known that debt negotiation and customer service would be outsourced to another company in another state that is staffed by non-lawyers. << /Type /Page /Title (Briggs v. Strategic Financial Solutions, LLC et al. WebContact Us. Do you agree with Monarchlegalgroup's TrustScore? Monarch refers to itself as a debt relief agency and law firm on its website, www.monarchlegalgroup.com. Third, Defendants fail to factor in interest rates and estimated late fees into their payment schedule. Reviews /Type /Page /Parent 4 0 R Write reviews, ask and respond to questions, BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. /Type /Page /Parent 4 0 R I was told that I would only receive $200 left in my savings after they had withdrawn over $3500 in fees from my account. In fact, Monarch will only refund fees if Monarch is unable to settle a debt for less than 35% of the amount owed. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] 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 [] endobj /CropBox [0 0 612 792] Defendants have a surprising range of exclusively 5-star and 1-star reviews, with no scores in the middle of the range. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Annots [] /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /Type /Pages For example, on the Better Business Bureau website, where Monarch has a 1.15/5-star rating, the company has 39 reviews: 1 5-star review, 1 3-star review, and 37 1-star reviews. /Resources 165 0 R 46 0 obj Hiring a lawyer is an important process that should not be based solely on any advertisement. Your experience matters. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My Guide to Getting Out of Debt With Proven Methods and Smart Ideas, Major Changes to All Your Federal Student Loans to Be Eliminated in Bankruptcy, Those That File Bankruptcy Do Better Than Those That Dont, Why Income-Based Student Loan Payments Can Be a Terrible Trap. 44 0 obj /Parent 9 0 R /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Rotate 0 /Contents [98 0 R 99 0 R 100 0 R] << 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. WebMonarch Legal Group Profile and History . /Parent 10 0 R This fee structure makes it difficult for consumers to save funds for potential settlements, increasing the amount of time that the consumer pays fees to Monarch and decreasing the likelihood that the consumer will be able to afford any settlements. >> /Kids [45 0 R 46 0 R 47 0 R 48 0 R 49 0 R 50 0 R 51 0 R 52 0 R 53 0 R 54 0 R] Atty Approved.. To further reduce the likelihood of providing legal representation, Monarchs retainer agreements place severe restrictions on the provisions of those services. /Annots [] << /Contents [274 0 R 275 0 R 276 0 R] /Type /Page /CropBox [0 0 612 792] My wife and I enrolled in a program to negotiate our debts with Monarch Legal Group. /Parent 11 0 R /Rotate 0 /CropBox [0 0 612 792] >> Steve Rhode is the Get Out of Debt Guy and has been helping good people with bad debt problems since 1994. Defendants have also completely neglected to administer the settlement. /Rotate 0 Current and former Strategic employees have noted that Monarchs and Strategics practices confuse consumers. We are seeing this action a lot more lately, Im surprised it was just the City of Chicago and not the CFPB or the FTC. /Parent 12 0 R endobj << Date of experience: September 04, 2020 /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] << /Parent 9 0 R On information and belief and as described more fully below, Strategic and Monarch jointly operate the debt settlement program. endobj But on information and belief, most consumers cannot invoke that policy because the terms and conditions are restrictive and exclude most consumers. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] Answer your financial questions. << ffxiv mastering magic iv; benefits of businesses giving back to the community; monarch legal group complaints. 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 /Type /Page International Association of Better Business Bureaus. /Parent 10 0 R /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Resources 133 0 R /Type /Page /Rotate 0 64 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. << /Parent 9 0 R Charles was born at Buckingham Palace on 14 November 1948 at /Contents [90 0 R 91 0 R 92 0 R] Defendants promise that through negotiating with creditors, consumers will be able to settle their debts for less than the amount owed. 60 0 obj /Parent 11 0 R /CropBox [0 0 612 792] Pretty much every Debt Settlement regulatory attorney has warned against doing business this way but they never listen. /Type /Page << /Type /Page The attorney did not appear in the proceeding and the creditor received a default judgment against the consumer. 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:. 51 0 obj City of Chicago Goes After Strategic Financial Solutions /Parent 4 0 R Attorneys rote notes demonstrate that they did not meaningfully interact with clients. /Resources 233 0 R /Nums [0 7 0 R] Our reviews are authentic and unbiased, providing you with a complete picture of the company, its products or services, and their customer service. /Parent 8 0 R Cash Made. 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. /Contents [238 0 R 239 0 R 240 0 R] These firms push consumers to enroll in programs with significant advance fees. MRM has received many consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collections Standard phone and data charges will apply. 16 0 obj The Bureau revoked Monarchs accreditation less than a year after publishing an alert about Monarchs business practices and its failure to respond to a request for investigation: Timothy Burnette holds himself out as the owner of Monarch Legal. Resolution Sought /Type /Page /Contents [210 0 R 211 0 R 212 0 R] /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] Furthermore, consumers do not even know that they are talking to Strategic employees. endobj 225 ILCS 429/125(c). 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. Type in the email address you registered with. monarch legal group complaints /Rotate 0 How many stars would you give Monarchlegalgroup? Defendants also know that consumers debts will accrue interest because they instruct consumers to stop making payments on their debts. *In Canada, trademark(s) of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, used under License. 27 0 obj /CropBox [0 0 612 792] 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. 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. >> << /Rotate 0 /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] endobj /CropBox [0 0 612 792] The Cohn Law Firm - Baton Rouge, Louisiana Bankruptcy, /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Contents [86 0 R 87 0 R 88 0 R] endobj To get away with Defendants scam, Monarch structured itself as a law firm in an attempt to evade responsibility under consumer-protection laws and to leave consumers without meaningful redress. I accept the offer and signed a contract on June of 2020 with Monarch legal group. The Citys investigation indicates that even when Defendants agents negotiate settlements with creditors on consumers behalf, they do not act in consumers best interest. >> endobj << 2013035572001), at 4, available at https://www.finra.org/rules- guidance/oversight-enforcement/finra-disciplinary-actions?search=2013035572001.]. /Contents [202 0 R 203 0 R 204 0 R] ] As described in Section VI below, Monarch repeatedly fails to provide those services. /Resources 149 0 R Your experience matters. 42 0 obj Defendants ultimately settled this debt for $1,096, over 60% of the amount owed at the time the debt was settled. /Annots [] Two hours later I was informed that I was denied due to my debt to income ratio. /Parent 10 0 R /Annots [] /Parent 8 0 R /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] View Site. >> /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /Annots [] RESPONSE: Complaint was not answered << << << /Resources 209 0 R HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT - LREC The policy, as written, does not provide consumers with adequate relief. By structuring its debt relief program as an offering from a supposed law firm, however, Monarch purports to avoid the requirements and restrictions of the DSCPA and similar laws. 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. It also requires debt relief companies to make several disclosures about their services, including how long it will take to get results, how much it will cost, and the negative consequences that could result. endobj >> Overview Reviews About. 29 YEARS OF OPERATION 2,227 EMPLOYEES 72,097 UNITS 305 COMMUNITIES 20 STATES Many debt resolution businesseslike Strategic Financial Solutionshave not organized themselves as law firms. This program started in September of 2019 and has consumed a large amount of our finances. /Type /Page /Contents [114 0 R 115 0 R 116 0 R] The following example from a Chicago consumer illustrates Defendants failure to provide legal advice related to a settlement. Follow my guide here https://getoutofdebt.org/20126/how-to-try-to-get-a-refund-from-a-debt-relief-company. Anyone considering a lawyer should independently investigate the lawyers credentials and ability and should not rely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise. /Parent 11 0 R endobj /Parent 8 0 R Defendants did not make any settlement payments from the consumers account. I was very nervous about making this move but I was reassured and put at ease with the way I was treated. /Annots [] xMs0+"N'53=tzAe8H~W28I;.,%$,IO %' ~NTbK /Q*YQ> ~BO> B0~6IfA>rDN+dT0Q.BcywS Ocs^K~1,WlbAVrnSy3lAb@ PAID ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT: Monarch Legal Group is a law firm. /Type /Page The same can happen to you! | Read 41-44 Reviews out of 44 The agreement also provides that Monarch will advise and represent clients in their defense of litigation initiated by creditors or collectors[. /Parent 8 0 R << /Resources 93 0 R endobj endobj << endobj Although one section of Monarchs nearly 40-page agreement states that third parties may perform some work related to the program, it later explains that Monarch has a non-exclusive reciprocal referral agreement with independent contractors to provide what it calls non-legal services related to the implementation, management, and maintenance of Clients debt negotiation plan. Monarchs agreement and other promotional materials misrepresent the truth: non-lawyers at Strategic do not merely provide some administrative services, they carry out Monarchs debt resolution service. /Parent 8 0 R WebFiling a Complaint Complaint Form Please enter the information requested below, and then click Submit. /Resources 229 0 R 66 0 obj On information and belief, Defendants estimates for other Chicago consumers contained similar inaccuracies. Money Personality Quiz and Test. The refund policy appears to exclude most aggrieved consumers. The text of the call script for Option 1 Legal and for Monarch are the same, except for the law firm name. /Type /Page /Annots [] /CropBox [0 0 612 792] Monarch Legal Group Complaints Biryani Maxx /Type /Page - 1:22-cv-03705. 58 0 obj >> /Annots [] We each had to appear in court on our own because one of their attorneys could not be present. To reduce its fee and finish the last two settlements! Monarch Investment and Management Group Engaged Employer Overview 261 Reviews 105 Jobs 565 Salaries 39 Interviews 77 Benefits 67 Photos 93 Diversity + 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. /Parent 9 0 R /Type /Page 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. /Rotate 0 Despite paying significant fees for legal services, consumers are faced with default judgments, wage garnishments, and other negative consequences. /Type /Page Participating in debt resolution programs carries significant risks. If consumers withdraw after one year, Defendants collect substantial sums without performing work. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] First, that program is most profitable for Defendants. << /CropBox [0 0 612 792] 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. /Parent 8 0 R Hi Steve My partner and I have just been canceled from monarch for unclear and deceptive reasons. Violations of the DSCPA are also violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. 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%. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] First, consumers who are behind on monthly payments to Defendants are not eligible for any refund. /Resources 201 0 R 41 0 obj Another consumer called with a question about how the debt settlement process worked, and the customer service representative refused to connect her with a lawyer. 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. /Count 10 /Annots [] BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes. << Disclosures Required Under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. /Parent 10 0 R endobj /Contents [118 0 R 119 0 R 120 0 R] 17 0 obj >> /Parent 11 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /F2 68 0 R 33 0 obj The testimonials provided are selected from independent third-party sites. 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. endobj Copyright 2020 Business Consumer Alliance All Rights Reserved. Monarch claims on its website that through its debt resolution program, it can often negotiate with creditors to settle for pennies on the dollar. Monarch also tells consumers they will be on [their] way to a future free of burdensome debt:. This website is an advertisement. >> BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. 14 0 obj /Resources 221 0 R /Count 10 /Rotate 0 Through their unconscionable practices, Defendants have harmed Chicagoans seeking to get out of debt. 39 0 obj /Rotate 0 /Rotate 0 /CropBox [0 0 612 792] endobj The credentials of the person negotiating down debts is material to prospective clients. Defendants to change their business practices and would likely result in diminished profit. The DSCPA excludes from regulation the services of an attorney engaged in the practice of law. 225 ILCS 429/10. The Complaint Resolution Index (CRI) is an indicator on how responsive a company is in addressing and resolving customer complaints brought to their attention by BCA. /Kids [25 0 R 26 0 R 27 0 R 28 0 R 29 0 R 30 0 R 31 0 R 32 0 R 33 0 R 34 0 R] Based on public legal filings and on information and belief, Strategic also worked with Legal Helpers Debt Resolution, a Chicago-based consumer debt company that operated nationally as a supposed law firm. /Resources 89 0 R /Parent 9 0 R /Parent 10 0 R 57 0 obj We would appreciate it if you could take a /Parent 10 0 R But the Citys investigation indicates that Defendants services are not performed by lawyers, and lawyers do not actually supervise the non-attorneys settling debts. Source: New Reviews /Rotate 0 30 0 obj But Defendants repeatedly break this promise and leave consumers to defend themselves in court, even though consumers pay hundreds to thousands of dollars in legal fees. On information and belief, Monarch and Strategic Financial Solutions primarily or even exclusively steer clients to the debt resolution program for two reasons. /Rotate 0 endobj Well guide you through the process. Timberline entered into a consent agreement and order with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for violating Pennsylvanias Debt Settlement Services Act. The State of Illinois sued Legal Helpers and its principals for similar consumer-protection violations in 2012. 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 /Annots [] /CropBox [0 0 612 792] After the first 22 months, over 53% of this consumers payments were earmarked as going to the Service Cost.. Another consumer wrote: I requested a refund because no work had been done. Monarch >> BBB reports on known marketplace practices. >> /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Filter /FlateDecode /Contents [230 0 R 231 0 R 232 0 R] No statements on this website are intended to suggest or convey any guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of any legal matter. >> Suggested companies. The testimonials reflect individuals experience with our services. WebThe average annual salary of Monarch Grand Vacations is estimated to be approximate $95,818 per year. Monarch Media Group >> b. The Citys investigation indicates that in reality, Monarch employs only the few attorneys needed to complete rote and scripted check-in calls with clients to suggest that an attorney is involved in the consumers program. 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. In one example, a consumer owed $910 on a debt at the time the consumer signed a contract with Defendants. /Annots [] I didn't know how it works, so I was explained the details and the procedures of it. >> /Contents [246 0 R 247 0 R 248 0 R] /Parent 4 0 R endobj In some instances, the testimonials may be shortened and/or include correction to grammatical or typographical errors.
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