West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw's office has announced settlement agreements with two debt relief companies, Allied Corporate Connection LLC, based in Mesa, Ariz., and Premiere Debt Solutions LLC, based in Orlando, Fla., that will result in refunds of nearly $34,000 to 41 West Virginia consumers.
The companies have been under investigation by McGraw's office since last year because of complaints from consumers that telemarketers were asking them to pay an advance fee that ranged from $495 to $1,895 to "guarantee" a reduction in their credit card debt.
Consumers reported that the promised debt relief was never provided.
"My office pays close attention to telemarketing companies that seek to profit at the expense of consumers already facing dire financial circumstances," McGraw stated. "We intervene whenever we learn of companies operating here without required licenses, making illegitimate debt-relief promises, or providing no relief to their customers."
In the settlement agreement, Allied owners Lisa Miller and Emory "Jack" Holley IV, and Premiere owner Shabana M. Khablal agreed to refrain from doing business in West Virginia without complying with the state laws that govern telemarketing and debt relief businesses.
