Capital Debt Relief
Capital Debt Relief Inc. is a debt settlement company that we have had several requests recently to review. In several requests, it was stated that consumers could not find any information about them other than what is at their website. After digging in ourselves, we had similar results…
The Capital Debt Relief website states the name of the their company as Capital Debt Relief Inc. based in Margate Florida. However, the Better Business Bureau has no record of such company. After doing some research we discovered the reason there is no record with the BBB is because Capital Debt Relief Inc. is actually Capital Debt Relief, LLC and is a brand new company incorporated in February 2009. Because they are a brand new company there is no way for us to do any real evaluation of their performance.
A standard word of caution to anyone considering the services of Capital Debt Relief or any company operating in the debt consolidation/debt settlement industry with less than 5 years of business history. Companies in this industry come and go frequently, so it is recommended to work with a company that has been in business at least 5 years, 10+ is even better. The longer they have been in business, the more their true colors show (so to speak).
On January 14, 2010 Tom Fitzgerald wrote:
Due to my wife being diagnosed with cancer, she had to cease her employment leaving us in a bind in getting our monthly bills paid. All my credit cards up to this time were paid monjthly up to date. I contacted this company looking for assistance and assured me that they could put me on a program that would lower my monthly payments, lower any interest rates and remove any penalties that might be incurred for non payment so I signed up to their program.
I was told to stop all payment to these creditors and one monthly payment would be made to them instead. They would have power of attorney to deal with these creditors, that they would contact my ctreditors and let them know about this program.
That was four months ago.. I am receiving phone calls from these creditors constantly at all hours of the day and night asking for payments and telling me that they have received no information whatsoever that I am on this program and that no proposals had been sent to them by Capital Debt Relief.
I am now told by Capital Debt Relief that my payments to them are put into a special account, and when there is enough monies in the account to pay my creditors, only then do they offer them a proposal to reduce my debts and interest rates.
What I don’t understand is if these people are not agreeing to a proposal in the beginning, all of this interst and penalties aere adding up to make my original debt to each creditor even bigger!
Some of the companies have offered to deal with me personally to reduce the interest rates, erase any penalties and even settle for less than the original amount owed. Capital Debt Relief is telling me “NO” “Do not send them payments or agree to any deals because it then prevents them from getting a better deal through them. In the meantime I continue to get phone calls every few minutes asking for payments.. At this point, I don’t know what to do.. I may have to get legal assistance (which I can’t afford) to get payments made to Capital Debt Relief returned and settler my debts in another manner..
On January 22, 2010 ChoiceREVU Editor wrote:
Tom:
From your comments above, it is clear that you don’t have a good understanding about the program in which you are enrolled. A debt settlement program is for those people that can no longer make their minimum monthly payments to pay off their debts without borrowing additional funds or putting themselves into further financial hardship. If that is your case, then the advice you are getting from CDR is correct. Once you are enrolled in the program making payment arrangements with your creditors directly can jeopardize negotiations and possibly cause you further problems with that creditor. Keep in mind that each creditor feels they are entitled to all the money you have. They don’t like to hear you are putting money aside to take care of all your debt responsibilities. If you are in a debt settlement program, you will continue to get calls, perhaps during the entire duration of your program. The calls will come and go, and you can choose to answer them or not. Hopefully you were told all of this up front by the individual that enrolled you. If you have the funds to make all your payments and pay more than your minimums, then you may have been able to accomplish more and get out of debt faster all on your own.
On February 15, 2010 brandy wrote:
I too have decided to use this company. I was current on all my things as well. Now im in the same boat as Tom. Beware of this company. I am currently trying to reach this company, but i was informed that today was a holiday. Go figure!
On April 19, 2010 Tom Fitzgerald wrote:
Yes, the ChoiceREVU Editor was correct.. I did no have a complete understanding of the program when I first enrolled. I had thought that they would immediately make proposals to my creditors and I was wrong. Apparently they do not make any proposals until you have enough money deposited to them to satisfy any of the proposals, which makes sense.. But what I wasn’t aware of was that my agreement to pay them 16% of your total debts is taken out of your payments each month prior to them having enough money aside to pay the creditors.. A major portion of the monthly payment that I make each month goes to the company (Capital Debt Relief) and a small portion put aside to satisfy debts.. Example: Over the past six months I have paid $5443.88 to this company.. At present, there is only $1500.00 set aside to pay to the creditor.. They want to be sure they get paid first before setteling your debts.
However.. I did learn today that you may proceed to settle any of your debts if it’s possible, and that debt will be removed from the list held by Capital Debt Relief.. but more than likely, you will still have to pay them the same amount calculated on the original list of debts..
Hope this will help others who may be looking to go this route rather than doing it on their own..
Tom..