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 some instances, the testimonials may be shortened and/or include correction to grammatical or typographical errors. >> The Office of State Inspector General is located at 602 North Fifth Street, Sixth Floor, Baton << /Annots [] Strategic has engaged in similar arrangements with sham law firms to defraud consumers across the country for years. >> 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. >> Indeed, Defendants might prefer for consumers to withdraw from the program after one year. /Rotate 0 /Annots [] >> 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. /Resources 173 0 R How many stars would you give Monarchlegalgroup? The Citys investigation indicates that Defendants do not act in consumers best interest when creating a customized payment program. 527 AND 342 NOTICE #1: Notice Mandated by 11 U.S.C. /Contents [102 0 R 103 0 R 104 0 R] Change Your Mindset. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] 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 First, Defendants fail to incorporate their Settlement Payment Fees into the good faith estimate of consumer savings. WebView customer complaints of Monarch Legal Group, BBB helps resolve disputes with the services or products a business provides. Reviews endobj /Resources 197 0 R Of course, late fees and collection Defendants knowingly mislead consumers by misrepresenting how much they will save and how quickly their debts will get resolved. /Type /Page /Parent 11 0 R Visit Salary.com to find out Monarch Grand Vacations salary, << << << This website is an advertisement. 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. /Parent 13 0 R If consumers withdraw after one year, Defendants collect substantial sums without performing work. 30 0 obj 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. 8 0 obj Moreover, the outside attorneys that Monarch contracts with repeatedly fail to appear in court and rubberstamp negotiated settlements even when a consumer could not possibly comply with the terms. 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. 53 0 obj Monarch also requires that payments in the client`s account be up to date. Those attorneys do not litigate on behalf of consumers. 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. /Type /Page >> 24 0 obj RAM charges a monthly fee of $10.75 to administer each account. a reliable team behind me makes all the difference. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] After several payments, the consumer paid $75 to the creditor and $50 in fees. << Contact Us Monarch Legal Group. >> /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] << /Parent 9 0 R 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). Do you agree with Monarchlegalgroup's TrustScore? 57 0 obj /Annots [] Third, consumer debts with balances of less than $1,000 are ineligible for refunds. This is contrary to everything I was told on a monthly basis from them., d. One consumer requested that the company get a [b]etter protocol explaining to clients how they assess fees and refunds.. 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. << /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Parent 10 0 R 5 0 obj /Parent 12 0 R Further evidencing Monarchs lack of responsiveness to customer concerns, the Better Business Bureau suspended Monarchs accreditation in 2021 for, among other things, failing to provide adequate responses to customer complaints. Pretty much every Debt Settlement regulatory attorney has warned against doing business this way but they never listen. Can you help me please? /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /Contents [230 0 R 231 0 R 232 0 R] >> endobj /Annots [] The majority pay is between $84,341 to $108,233 per year. As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. /Contents [226 0 R 227 0 R 228 0 R] 61 0 obj /Rotate 0 Stated results are for illustration purposes only and are not typical of the results you should expect to achieve. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /Parent 12 0 R I didn't know how it works, so I was explained the details and the procedures of it. 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. After the entry of judgment, Defendants negotiated a settlement. 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. THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT. In a previous phone call, a representative said Monarch would resolve the lawsuit to avoid garnishment. /Rotate 0 It sucks that you found yourself in that position. CRI measures the company's customer satisfaction abilities through BCAs complaint mediation process. /Rotate 0 Choose the serviceBankruptcyFDCPAFCRAConsumer LitigationOther. endobj /Annots [] >> Defendants also repeatedly fail to provide litigation defense services to consumers when creditors sue them. endobj Resolution Sought /Resources 97 0 R Join the 47 people who've already contributed. Reviews >> << << For businesses Categories Blog. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code. /Resources 281 0 R >> As discussed in paragraph 36 above, customers pay a Retainer Fee (often around $1,000) and a monthly flat Legal Administration Fee (from $55 to $85). /CropBox [0 0 612 792] BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period. How BBB Processes Complaints and Reviews. Through their unconscionable practices, Defendants have harmed Chicagoans seeking to get out of debt. << b. /Type /Page 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. They help people file for relief under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. However, due to a temporary disability I was in and a hardship I was facing, I called and applied to the loan. /Resources 253 0 R /Rotate 0 Im really happy with the service so far, I have just started this program, and to date I have found it to be extremely worthwhile, the pressure that this program has taken off me has been tenfold and I feel that I am finally headed in the right direction, I know the road ahead will be tough but well worth the effort, having a reliable team behind me makes all the difference. Date of experience: September 04, 2020 << /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /F2 68 0 R endobj /Type /Page Also in 2010, the State of Illinois passed the Illinois Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act, 225 ILCS 429/1 et seq. /Resources 101 0 R /Parent 10 0 R /Contents [71 0 R 72 0 R 73 0 R 74 0 R 75 0 R 76 0 R 77 0 R 78 0 R 79 0 R 80 0 R] Terms and Conditions Reviews Write reviews, ask and respond to questions, /Rotate 0 /Contents [262 0 R 263 0 R 264 0 R] Stop The Calls From 877-288-9903 | Agruss Law Firm 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. After an initial phone call, Defendants send paralegals or notaries from third-party companies to prospective consumers homes or those representatives conduct a presentation virtually. /Annots [] 60 0 obj /Rotate 0 The testimonials provided are selected from independent third-party sites. Hi Steve, I am a victim of Monarch until now for 3 years. 29 0 obj On all seven occasions concerning settlements for three separate consumers, Ricky Fakhouri approved a settlement and wrote the same vague phrase: Approved: Reviewed original amt, current amt, settlement amt. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] Anyone Know for Sure About World Law and Global Client Solutions? /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] /Parent 11 0 R /Type /Page << Through its third party representatives and in its welcome materials, Defendants tell consumers how to contact the Litigation Department. On information and belief, that department doesnt exist. /Resources 229 0 R Defendants include in the total used to calculate their Service Costs not only the enrolled debt at the time that the consumer signs an agreement but also the additional debts and fees that accrue after the consumer heeds Defendants instruction to stop making payments to creditors. WebYour experience matters. /Type /Page /Parent 12 0 R stream Both these promises appear in the Payment Schedule section of Monarchs retainer agreements. 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. Overview Reviews About. /Annots [] /Annots [] 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. /Parent 10 0 R Amount in Dispute: $8,600.00 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 /Annots [] Already have an account? /Resources 149 0 R Defendants also know that consumers debts will accrue interest because they instruct consumers to stop making payments on their debts. /Resources 193 0 R /Contents [162 0 R 163 0 R 164 0 R] Monarch endobj Monarch Legal Group Reviews 42 0 obj 0330 127 8888. Update 2 On The Make Money With a Side Hustle Project. I was very nervous about making this move but I was reassured and put at ease with the way I was treated. /Contents [278 0 R 279 0 R 280 0 R] /Annots [] WebComplaints for Monarch Legal Group. /CropBox [0 0 612 792] /CropBox [0 0 612 792] 33 0 obj Third, Defendants fail to factor in interest rates and estimated late fees into their payment schedule. Despite paying significant fees for legal services, consumers are faced with default judgments, wage garnishments, and other negative consequences. Sign up for free now, Sign up for free to participate on the website. << ] As described in Section VI below, Monarch repeatedly fails to provide those services. Given those significant fees, the consumers potential savings on the amount owed was far less than Monarch advertised and explained. Attorneys rote notes demonstrate that they did not meaningfully interact with clients. /Parent 12 0 R In total, those settlement fees cannot exceed 15% of the savings the debt settlement provider negotiated for the consumer. /Type /Catalog These firms push consumers to enroll in programs with significant advance fees. >> DO YOUR RESEARCH THIS IS PUBLIC INFORMATION. | Read 41-44 Reviews out of 44 /Type /Page >> Complaints for Monarch Legal Group in Chicago , IL /Type /Page 203 N. LaSalle, #2100, Chicago, IL 60601 /Contents [254 0 R 255 0 R 256 0 R] BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. 56 0 obj Second, Monarch attorneys apparently do not provide legal services or representation in bankruptcy cases.