Two operations that allegedly ran student loan debt relief schemes are being targeted by the Federal Trade Commission and regulators in Florida while defendants in a similar action brought earlier this year agreed to a ban from the debt relief business.
The operators of Consumer Assistance Project lure borrowers with promises such as "GET RID OF YOUR DEBT TODAY!" and charge illegal upfront fees for their purported services, typically $250, plus monthly fees of up to $303 for as long as 36 months, according to the FTC’s and the State of Florida’s
The defendants allegedly pretend to evaluate these consumers for eligibility and then tell them they qualify for government student loan forgiveness programs that will reduce their debt by at least 50 to 70%. In reality, the FTC alleges, consumers are not likely to meet the strict requirements of these loan forgiveness programs.
According to the complaint, the defendants also have claimed they would audit consumers’ student loans for errors that would invalidate the loans or reduce the balance and repair consumers’ credit, but then failed to deliver on both promises. The defendants allegedly claim that positive reviews of their services on social media are independent reviews by ordinary customers when, in fact, at least some were posted by the defendants.
The defendants named in the complaint, Chastity Valdes and her companies, Consumer Assistance LLC, Consumer Assistance Project Corp. and Palermo Global LLC, are charged with violating the FTC Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) and the Credit Repair Organizations Act.
"The FTC is not going to stand on the sidelines when it uncovers evidence of fraudsters targeting students,” said Jessica Rich, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. "Consumers should be wary of any company that claims it can eliminate or greatly reduce debt, especially if they ask for money in advance."
In the second case, the FTC and the State of Florida allege that an operation called Student Aid Center Inc., and it’s owners, Damien Alvarez and Ramiro Fernandez-Moris, also known as Ramiro Moris enticed people with promises such as "Get Your Student Loans Forgiven Now!” and "$17,500 in Up Front Forgiveness?"
Student Aid Center also told consumers they were approved or pre-approved for loan forgiveness or lower monthly payments, which they could get by paying upfront monthly fees, typically $199 or more for five months.
The defendants' websites, including studentloanforgiveness.org, included more false claims and their telemarketers deceived people with promises of a 100% money-back guarantee, the complaint alleges. In reality, however, consumers who sought refunds often received a much lower amount or obtained refunds only after complaining to the Better Business Bureau or a state or federal agency. Some people complained that, instead of issuing refunds after they canceled their enrollment, the defendants threatened to send their accounts to collection.
The defendants are charged with violating the FTC Act, the TSR and the FDUTPA.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said, "The Federal Trade Commission has been a steadfast partner in our consumer protection enforcement efforts. These latest joint actions will help protect Floridians, as well as many across the country, from these companies’ unscrupulous debt relief operations and ensure that those responsible will be held accountable."
Finally, in a separate case, the operators of another student debt relief scheme agreed to a settlement with the FTC that will permanently ban them from the debt relief business. The FTC alleged that Tobias West and his wife, Komal West, the owners of Good EBusiness, Select Student Loan Help LLC and Select Document Preparation Inc., charged consumers upfront fees of $500 to $800 based on false claims that they could renegotiate, settle or alter payment terms on student loan debt. The FTC charged that two of the defendants deceptively marketed home loan and student modification services under the name "AAP Firm," illegally charging advance fees ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.Among other things, the FTC settlement also bars the defendants from representing the benefits or performance of a product or service unless is it not misleading and based on evidence. The stipulated order also prohibits the defendants from profiting from consumers’ personal information and failing to dispose of it properly, and imposes a $2,329,456 judgment that will be suspended when they have surrendered any remaining business assets. The full judgment will become due immediately if they are found to have misrepresented their financial condition.
The agency charged Good EBusiness and Tobias West with violating the FTC Act and the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) Rule/Regulation O. All of the defendants were charged with violating the FTC Act and the TSR.
