Freedom Debt Relief ranks among the top debt settlement companies in America. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit against the company. The agency claims that Freedom Debt has engaged in deceptive and unethical practices that have harmed consumers. CFPB seeks monetary relief and civil penalties against the company.
The CFPB alleges that Freedom Debt Relief did not warn consumers about their right to withdraw from the program and receive a refund. It claims that customers were misled about the savings they would receive from their debts. The company also failed to inform customers that their money was in an account that belonged to them.
According to the CFPB, Freedom Debt Relief violated several consumer protection laws including the Telemarketing Sales Rule and the Consumer Financial Protection Act. Additionally to these allegations, Freedom Debt Relief was accused of engaging with high-pressure sales tactics as well as fraudulent activities. The CFPB is seeking monetary relief and injunctive relief.
New York State Attorney General's Office is also sueing Freedom Debt Relief. The company is accused of failing to inform clients about their rights to withdraw and causing harm to many consumers. Freedom was also accused of lying about its ability to negotiate with creditors.
Freedom failed to provide transparency about billing and payment processes, according the complaint. Freedom had no access to the customer's account. Once the customer has enrolled in the program, they can negotiate with their creditors for a reduction of the debt. Freedom can collect the full fee if a creditor refuses negotiate. But this is not always the case.
Freedom Debt Relief was criticized for charging clients upfront fees, even though they had not paid the debt. It claimed that it wasn't allowed to charge customers until the debt was paid. Many clients who enrolled in this program lost the money they had saved. Some fraud could have been prevented if the company had advised clients that they could withdraw from this program and be reimbursed.
Freedom Debt Relief's other problem is their different ownership. Andrew Housser was the co-founder and chief executive officer of the company. He still oversees the company's operation, including the approval of its policies. He also knew that Freedom wasn't willing to negotiate with certain creditors. He may also have known that Freedom took payments from consumers, but not with the creditor.
Freedom's deceptive or unethical business practices should not be ignored, regardless of the legal reason. Anyone who has had similar issues with Freedom should consult a lawyer for more information about their rights. A lawyer can help with the development of a strategy or gathering evidence that will support your case.
FAQ
What is the easiest passive source of income?
There are many different ways to make online money. Some of these take more time and effort that you might realize. How do you find a way to earn more money?
You need to find what you love. Find a way to monetize this passion.
For example, let's say you enjoy creating blog posts. Start a blog where you share helpful information on topics related to your niche. You can sign readers up for emails and social media by clicking on the links in the articles.
This is called affiliate marketing. You can find plenty of resources online to help you start. Here's a collection of 101 affiliate marketing tips & resources.
A blog could be another way to make passive income. You'll need to choose a topic that you are passionate about teaching. You can also make your site monetizable by creating ebooks, courses and videos.
While there are many options for making money online, the most effective ones are the easiest. If you really want to make money online, focus on building websites or blogs that provide useful information.
After you have built your website, make sure to promote it on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. This is known content marketing.
What side hustles are the most profitable?
Side hustle is a term used to describe any side income streams that can supplement your main source.
Side hustles are very important because they provide extra money for bills and fun activities.
Side hustles may also allow you to save more money for retirement and give you more flexibility in your work schedule. They can even help you increase your earning potential.
There are two types of side hustles: passive and active. Passive side hustles include online businesses such as e-commerce stores, blogging, and freelancing. Some examples of active side hustles include dog walking, tutoring and selling items on eBay.
The best side hustles make sense for you and fit well within your lifestyle. You might consider starting your own fitness business if you enjoy working out. You might consider working as a freelance landscaper if you love spending time outdoors.
Side hustles can be found anywhere. Consider side hustles where you spend your time already, such as volunteering or teaching classes.
One example is to open your own graphic design studio, if graphic design experience is something you have. You might also have writing skills, so why not start your own ghostwriting business?
Whatever side hustle you choose, be sure to do thorough research and planning ahead of time. So when an opportunity presents itself, you will be prepared to take it.
Remember, side hustles aren't just about making money. They are about creating wealth, and freedom.
With so many options to make money, there is no reason to stop starting one.
What is personal finances?
Personal finance involves managing your money to meet your goals at work or home. It is about understanding your finances, knowing your budget, and balancing your desires against your needs.
If you master these skills, you can be financially independent. This means you are no longer dependent on anyone to take care of you. You don't need to worry about monthly rent and utility bills.
It's not enough to learn how money management can help you make more money. It will make you happier. When you feel good about your finances, you tend to be less stressed, get promoted faster, and enjoy life more.
Who cares about personal finances? Everyone does! Personal finance is one of the most popular topics on the Internet today. Google Trends shows that searches for "personal finances" have increased by 1,600% in the past four years.
Today, people use their smartphones to track budgets, compare prices, and build wealth. They read blogs like this one, watch videos about personal finance on YouTube, and listen to podcasts about investing.
Bankrate.com estimates that Americans spend on average 4 hours per day viewing TV, listening to music and playing video games, as well reading books and talking with friends. There are only two hours each day that can be used to do all the important things.
You'll be able take advantage of your time when you understand personal finance.
How much debt is considered excessive?
It is vital to realize that you can never have too much money. You'll eventually run out cash if you spend more money than you earn. It takes time for savings growth to take place. Spend less if you're running low on cash.
But how much can you afford? There isn't an exact number that applies to everyone, but the general rule is that you should aim to live within 10% of your income. Even after years of saving, this will ensure you won't go broke.
If you earn $10,000 per year, this means you should not spend more than $1,000 per month. Spend less than $2,000 per monthly if you earn $20,000 a year. Spend no more than $5,000 a month if you have $50,000.
The key here is to pay off debts as quickly as possible. This includes credit card bills, student loans, car payments, etc. After these debts are paid, you will have more money to save.
It is best to consider whether or not you wish to invest any excess income. If you decide to put your money toward stocks or bonds, you could lose money if the stock market falls. If you save your money, interest will compound over time.
For example, let's say you set aside $100 weekly for savings. That would amount to $500 over five years. After six years, you would have $1,000 saved. In eight years, your savings would be close to $3,000 In ten years you would have $13,000 in savings.
In fifteen years you will have $40,000 saved in your savings. This is quite remarkable. If you had made the same investment in the stock markets during the same time, you would have earned interest. Instead of $40,000, your net worth would be more than $57,000.
That's why it's important to learn how to manage your finances wisely. If you don't, you could end up with much more money that you had planned.
How can a beginner earn passive income?
Begin with the basics. Once you have learned how to create value, then move on to finding ways to make more money.
You may even have a few ideas already. If you do, great! If you do, great!
The best way to earn money online is to look for an opportunity matching your skillset and interests.
If you are passionate about creating apps and websites, you can find many opportunities to generate revenue while you're sleeping.
But if you're more interested in writing, you might enjoy reviewing products. Or if you're creative, you might consider designing logos or artwork for clients.
No matter what you choose to concentrate on, it is important that you pick something you love. It will be a long-lasting commitment.
Once you find a product/service you love helping people buy, it's time to figure out how you can monetize it.
There are two main options. You can charge a flat price for your services (like a freelancer), but you can also charge per job (like an agency).
In both cases, once you have set your rates you need to make them known. You can share them on social media, email your list, post flyers, and so forth.
To increase your chances of success, keep these three tips in mind when promoting your business:
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When marketing, be a professional. You never know who will review your content.
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Know your subject matter before you speak. After all, no one likes a fake expert.
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Spam is not a good idea. You should avoid emailing anyone in your address list unless they have asked specifically for it. Do not send out a recommendation if someone asks.
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Use a good email service provider. Yahoo Mail or Gmail are both free.
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Monitor your results. Track who opens your messages, clicks on links, and signs up for your mailing lists.
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How to measure ROI: Measure the number and conversions generated by each campaign.
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Get feedback. Ask friends and relatives if they would be interested and receive honest feedback.
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Try different strategies - you may find that some work better than others.
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Learn and keep growing as a marketer to stay relevant.
Why is personal financing important?
A key skill to any success is personal financial management. In a world of tight money, we are often faced with difficult decisions about how much to spend.
Why should we save money when there are better things? Is there nothing better to spend our time and energy on?
Both yes and no. Yes, most people feel guilty saving money. Because the more money you earn the greater the opportunities to invest.
If you can keep your eyes on what is bigger, you will always be able spend your money wisely.
To become financially successful, you need to learn to control your emotions. You won't be able to see the positive aspects of your situation and will have no support from others.
You may also have unrealistic expectations about how much money you will eventually accumulate. This is because your financial management skills are not up to par.
After mastering these skills, it's time to learn how to budget.
Budgeting is the act of setting aside a portion of your income each month towards future expenses. Planning will help you avoid unnecessary purchases and make sure you have enough money to pay your bills.
So now that you know how to allocate your resources effectively, you can begin to look forward to a brighter financial future.
Statistics
- According to a June 2022 NerdWallet survey conducted online by The Harris Poll. (nerdwallet.com)
- U.S. stocks could rally another 25% now that Fed no longer has ‘back against the wall' in inflation fight (marketwatch.com)
- According to the company's website, people often earn $25 to $45 daily. (nerdwallet.com)
- Mortgage rates hit 7.08%, Freddie Mac says Most Popular (marketwatch.com)
- Etsy boasted about 96 million active buyers and grossed over $13.5 billion in merchandise sales in 2021, according to data from Statista. (nerdwallet.com)
External Links
How To
How passive income can improve cash flow
It is possible to make money online with no hard work. There are many ways to earn passive income online.
Automation could also be beneficial for an existing business. You might be thinking about starting your own business. Automating certain parts of your workflow may help you save time as well as increase productivity.
The more automated your business, the more efficient it will be. This means you will be able to spend more time working on growing your business rather than running it.
Outsourcing tasks can be a great way to automate them. Outsourcing allows you to focus on what matters most when running your business. You are effectively outsourcing a task and delegating it.
This allows you to concentrate on the core aspects of your company while leaving the details to someone else. Outsourcing can make it easier to grow your company because you won’t have to worry too much about the small things.
You can also turn your hobby into an income stream by starting a side business. You can also use your talents to create an online product or service. This will help you generate additional cash flow.
You might consider writing articles if you are a writer. You have many options for publishing your articles. These websites allow you to make additional monthly cash by paying per article.
Making videos is also possible. Many platforms now enable you to upload videos directly to YouTube or Vimeo. Posting these videos will increase traffic to your social media pages and website.
Another way to make extra money is to invest your capital in shares and stocks. Investing in shares and stocks is similar to investing real estate. Instead of renting, you get paid dividends.
These shares are part of your dividend when you purchase shares. The amount of dividend you receive depends on the stock you have.
If you sell your shares later, you can reinvest the profits back into buying more shares. This way you'll continue to be paid dividends.