FAMILY CREDIT COUNSELING CORP FCCC ENROLLMENT CANCELLED IN 2/06 BUT NEW PAYMENT PROPOSALS SENT TO CREDITORS IN 4/07--FCCC STILL UP TO DIRTY TRICKS LAUDERDALE LAKES Florida

This is my 2nd complaint against FCCC. I filed the 1st one in 5/06.

I enrolled with FCCC in 6/05 to consolidate my debt, lower my interest rates, pay off my debts quicker, and streamline my monthly payments, all of which FCCC promised. However, FCCC didn't get acceptance for several payment proposals offered to creditors, didn't make a proposal at all to another creditor, and I was receiving collections calls as well as late-payment fees and over-limit fees. After realizing that I'd done a much better job of paying my bills than FCCC was, I sent them notice by phone, fax and certified mail on 10/26/05 cancelling enrollment in their program.

Depite my cancellation letter, faxes, emails and phone calls, FCCC didn't cancel my enrollment until 2/06. At the time they cancelled my enrollment, they contacted my creditors and informed them that I was being dropped from the program due to "non-payment", which was an utter lie.

My last communication with FCCC was in 2/06 until this moset recent incident.

On 4/11/07, I received a letter from one of my creditors stating that I was enrolled in a 3rd party debt mgmt program. On 4/17/07, after speaking with the creditor, I learned that on 4/11, they'd received a payment proposal from FCCC and despite my insistence to them that FCCC had fraudulently sent this notice, they refused to remove me from the debt mgmt program, and were closing my accounts until they received notice from FCCC. I then called FCCC and asked what happened. I was told that the notices were sent out accidentally because of a "computer error" and that someone would inform my creditors of the error immediately. At that time I asked, since I was no longer a client of theirs and because of my firm belief that FCCC is comprised of scam artists, that my information be removed from their records. I was told that this could not be done.

On 4/23/07 after receiving a letter from another of my creditors, I called FCCC back and asked if my creditors had been contacted regarding the error. I was told that they hadn't and that my case had been referred to the president's office (James Armstrong). I asked to speak with someone in that office, was told that no one was available and that a message would be left for someone to call me back. After not hearing back from anyone and every attempt I made to reach someone ending in voice mail, I filed complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureau, FL Atty General and Florida Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Svcs.

Finally, after being contacted by the BBB, on 4/26/07 someone from FCCC called me promising to contact my creditors and inform them of the error. On 4/27, he called back to let me know that my creditors had been contacted and the matter was resolved.

Also, on 4/27 I received an e-mail from FCCC president James Armstrong threatening legal action against me because I'd stated to the BBB that FCCC was under investigation by the FL Atty General's office. Mr Armstrong said, "You have no clue what you speak of regarding the Attorney General or complaints and in fact some of the items you speak of can be considered Defamation", and, "My suggestion is to get your facts straight before you go blaming companies half cocked. This might find you on the wrong side of a litigation." Mr Armstrong even went so far as to suggest that I, "in fact owe FCCC an apology."

Not only did employees at the Atty General's office tell me that they'd received numerous complaints against FCCC, on 4/26 I received an email from that office confirming that it was investigating FCCC and (and I quote), "looking towards litigation.". In 5/06 they originally sent me an affidavit to complete regarding my complaint against FCCC, and although I didn't receive that copy, I have one now and will do all I can to make sure FCCC doesn't continues taking advantage of people and not being held accountable for their actions.

Therese
Flushing, New York
U.S.A.