Angel of Chicago, IL on Dec. 13, 2010
This company has no respect for its customers nor for the Better Business Bureau. If you are considering them, keep away. They will only refer you to a better, more reputable company called A New Horizon who will handle your account in full. For this referral, Christian Debt will earn $10 a month (at least in my case) for the extent of your payment plan. I started a consolidation program in 2006 and completed it in October 2010. At that point (and per our initial contract), I was to receive back my initial payment. The contact states, "I hereby agree to pay Christian Debt Consolidators a non-refundable fee in the amount of $315. It is further understood that this fee will not be dispersed to any of my creditors and has been fully earned by Christian Debt Consolidators for the services provided.
I also understand that this fee will only be refunded with the successful completion of the program without late payments, NSFs, personally paying off my creditors who are included in the program". Once I completed the plan (successfully, on time with no NSF payments) I reached out to them to find out if they had everything needed to issue my refund. Instead, I got sent to voice mail multiple times to leave messages with Mr. Patrick **. After getting the runaround a lot (no call backs, no answers to emails for nearly two weeks), I decided to file a complaint to the Better Business Bureau in order to expedite this resolution. Imagine, the day after I file this complaint I speak to an actual person!
Sadly, this was only for them to ask me to remove such complaint so that my account can be reviewed to see if I qualify for this refund. I said no, I'm not removing this complaint until you issue my refund. I'm not sure where they learned how to run a business but they laugh on the phone, they act like this is a personal vendetta. I can understand getting this type of attitude from a friend or family member who you've loaned money to and now refuses to pay you back but not ever from a "reputable" business. Anyway, here are excepts from answers from them to my Better Business Bureau complaints to show you exactly what type of professionalism I encountered. This answer was submitted 11.22 (it is now 12.13) and mind you still no refund has been issued (or has as of yet been received). "This client admitted she jumped the gun by filing this complaint. She filed the complaint the same day she faxed over her information not giving us time to refund. Is it possible this complaint can be removed?".
I didn't admit to jumping any gun, I also didn't complain about my refund, I complained about not getting calls to confirm if my information was submitted correctly (or received since I was faxing them over). I actually got the details of what I must submit for this review in two different calls (with many more in between going to voice mail). My complaint was that they never got back to me or answered my emails or calls. I knew perfectly well refunds may take some time, I just wanted to ensure they had everything needed to process it. Not only that, they specifically told me on a different call by Mr. ****** "bottom line, because you filed this complaint you won't get your refund". I asked if I should tell the Better Business Bureau that they told me this and he said "go ahead". I also asked them to provide where in our contract it stated they can keep my money because they don't call back and I in turn must seek outside help (BBB) and they've yet to provide this as well. This was a "manager" I was speaking with.
Anyway, another quote from them- "Christian Debt Consolidators apologizes to Ms. ***** for getting her out of her debt. It is a shame the program worked for her and she is now debt free. I compare this to going out to a nice restaurant and drinking a nice bottle of wine. Then complaining it was no good and refusing to pay for it. The program did what it was supposed to and Ms.** is now debt free. She then complains to the BBB because we did not call her within 24 hours of receiving her fax. Ms. ** should be ashamed of herself for complaining about the company that helped her accomplish her goal of being debt free. If Ms. ** wishes to pursue this further she may contact our company attorney. That info would be provided if requested". Isn't this crazy?
Again, if they were at all professionals they would know that they got paid to "get me out of debt" by collecting from me (aside from the initial payment I would get back of $315 which actually later went up to $367 but that's a different story) about $600 so they didn't really "help me get out of debt", but profited from me being in debt (which I didn't care about, sure they provided a service but again my complaint was for my owed credit). They are completely disregarding our contract, which they sent me and had me sign saying yes after I become debt free you will give me back my initial payment! They admit I'm now debt free but not that they owe me what we contractually agreed to. Also, which attorney fights contracts he himself created?
It is my goal now that until I get my refund I will do whatever possible to ensure no other people are scammed by this company. I will continue this with the attorney general if needed as people like these shouldn't be allowed to be in business and deceive others, much less call themselves Christian. I was fine paying them $600 for their "service" but not have them blatantly steal an amount that by our contract, I was to receive back. I have had to take a lot of personal time to call them, email them, get harassed, etc. This seems excessive and ridiculous for a business transaction.
