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National Consumer Concil
Debt Payoff Plan

National Consumer Council • "Trust funds" • Telemarketing calls --- • Court order closes NCCC

Vanessa of Aurora CO (4/9/04):
In August of 2003, I realized 4 credit cards had large balances and minimums were hefty, so I returned a phone message to the National Consumer Credit Counseling Service to see what they were offering. They took some intake information and referred me to Solidium, a debt management company. Keep in mind that I did not call this company because I was late or behind in payments - my credit was good, I just had a high debt to income ratio.

The people on the phone at Solidium have always been very professional, so I didn't think I was being scammed. The counseling process was done over the phone where I was asked very specific debt/income information. The guy I spoke to convinced me that I was in a terrible financial situation due to the bills, being a single parent, etc. He told me about their services, which basically worked where a "trust" account was set up, but the first 3 payments I made (about $700) would go towards Solidium's fees. In addition, about $40 per month servicing fee would be assesed to my account. I thought this was hefty, but considering I was convinced I had to find a way to get out of the debt, I agreed to the program and signed a lengthy contract.

During the counseling session I was told information about the program and it was recorded. I was told that creditors would prefer to work with their debt management company for negotiations as opposed to seeking legal course of action for non-payment. I was told the creditors still had the option of suing me, but they would likely not do so. I felt relieved that I was being pro-active and taking control of my debt which was all college tuition I put on credit cards (I needed to do anything to finish after going for 7 years).

It is now 8 months later. NO negotiations have been finalized on my account (they say they will only start this process after funds build up in my trust), my balances on these accounts are growing my leaps and bounds, one has increased $4000 in 8 months!!!, my credit is HORRIBLE, AND I am being SUED by 3/4 creditors! After all of this, my trust account after 8 months has a whopping $500 in it. WHAT A RIP OFF!

I REGRET getting signed up with this company. They mislead consumers by convincing them they are in desperate situations, reassuring them that creditors will likely not sue them (when the opposite is the case). Oh yeah, this company also take a 25% fee of the amount they SAVED you through negotiations. I'm sure I signed this in the contract somewhere, but it wasn't obvious to me.

Let's do the math here. My original debt was $20,000. A $700 fee, plus a $40 servicing fee for 6 years is $2880 plus 25% of about 50% debt negotiation (they claim to negotiate debts at about this rate) is $5000. That is $8580! You mean I have to deal with bad credit for 7 years (versus just 3 more with bankruptcy) and only save a net $1420!!! I'm not an idiot. But I feel like one for getting into this program. I have cancelled my contract with Solidium (I can't get any fees back) and now I have to negotiate with my creditors directly after they hate me to try to just get my balances back to what they were before I got into the program.

Georgina of Brighton CO (2/25/04):
I started my contract with NCCC in July of 2003 and was paying $310.00 a month which was to be divided among 5 companies. Each company received around $30.00 a month and I have no idea what happened to the rest. By my tenth month I could not contact the company to continue with making payments. The phone would just ring with no answering service or operator, the address was only good to mail a money order to.

I am still behind with my creditors some up to 130 days, I will have to contact each one individualy and ask for a settlement payment, which will lower my credit rating. and I am out $1000.00 or more and even have long distance charges from contacting NCCC.

Tina of Everett MA (10/8/03):
I made two payments to this company. The first payment was to be a one time refundable fee upon completion of the program. They also said that this is just a voluntary program and can be cancelled at anytime. They lead me in to more debt and never applied the payments to all of my debts. They will not even give me back the refundable fee and say that is for phone calls, faxes etc. I don't believe that all that cost that much and they should give me some of my money back. If you can cancel the program at anytime that is not right and I should get my money back.

I am so far in debt now because they put me off for so long so my credit history now is destroyed even more because of a program that was supposed to help me. All I want is my first fee back and nothing else.

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