Freedom Debt Relief has been ranked as one of the most prominent debt settlement firms in the United States. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit against the company. Freedom Debt is accused by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of engaging in misleading and unethical activities that have resulted in consumers being hurt. CFPB seeks monetary and civil sanctions against Freedom Debt.
According to the CFPB, Freedom Debt Relief didn't inform consumers that they had the right to cancel their participation and get a refund. It further claims that Freedom Debt Relief misled its customers about the savings they would make from their debts. It also says that the company did not inform consumers that their money was held in an account that was theirs.
Freedom Debt Relief was accused of violating several consumer protection laws, including the Telemarketing Sales Rule as well as the Consumer Financial Protection Act. These charges are in addition to the accusations that Freedom Debt Relief is accused of engaging high-pressure sales tactics and committing fraud. The CFPB requests injunctive as well as monetary relief.
New York State Attorney General's Office is also sueing Freedom Debt Relief. They claim that Freedom Debt Relief failed to give clients adequate notice about their rights to withdraw from its program, and that this led to consumer harm. Freedom has also been accused of making false statements about the company's ability to negotiate with creditors.
The complaint also states that Freedom has not been transparent about the billing and payment process. Freedom did not have access or control over the consumer's accounts. They negotiate with the creditors to reduce the customer's debt when they are part of the program. Freedom will collect the full fee if the creditor refuses negotiations. And this does not always happen.
One complaint against Freedom Debt Relief is that it charged upfront fees to the client even if the debt was not settled. This was because the company said that it was not allowed charge the customer until the debt had been settled. Many of the clients who signed up for the program ended losing the money they had saved. The company could have advised clients to withdraw from the program in order to receive a refund. This would have helped prevent some fraud.
Freedom Debt Relief's operating model is also problematic. Andrew Housser, co-founder and coCEO of Freedom Debt Relief, continues to supervise operations and approve policies. He was also reported to have known that Freedom's creditors weren't willing negotiate with him. So, he might have known Freedom was taking money from consumers and not negotiating with creditors.
Consumers should be aware that Freedom uses deceptive, unethical practices regardless of the reason they are suing Freedom. Anyone who has suffered similar problems with Freedom is advised to speak to a lawyer in order to understand their rights. A lawyer can help you create a strategy and gather evidence to support your case.
FAQ
What is personal financing?
Personal finance is the art of managing your own finances to help you achieve your financial goals. This means understanding where your money goes and what you can afford. And, it also requires balancing the needs of your wants against your financial goals.
By mastering these skills, you'll become financially independent, which means you don't depend on anyone else to provide for you. You can forget about worrying about rent, utilities, or any other monthly bills.
Not only will it help you to get ahead, but also how to manage your money. It can make you happier. Positive financial health can make it easier to feel less stressed, be promoted more quickly, and live a happier life.
So, who cares about personal financial matters? Everyone does! Personal finance is the most popular topic on the Internet. Google Trends reports that the number of searches for "personal financial" has increased by 1,600% since 2004.
Today's smartphone users use their phones to compare prices, track budgets and build wealth. They read blogs such this one, listen to podcasts about investing, and watch YouTube videos about personal financial planning.
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. It leaves just two hours each day to do everything else important.
You'll be able take advantage of your time when you understand personal finance.
How can a beginner generate 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! But if you don't, start thinking about where you could add value and how you could turn those thoughts into action.
Find a job that suits your skills and interests to make money online.
You can create websites or apps that you love, and generate revenue while sleeping.
Writing is your passion, so you might like to review products. Or if you're creative, you might consider designing logos or artwork for clients.
Whatever topic you choose to focus on, ensure that it's something you enjoy. If you enjoy it, you will stick with the decision for the long-term.
Once you have found a product/service that you enjoy selling, you will need to find a way to make it monetizable.
There are two main options. The first is to charge a flat-rate for your services (like freelancers) and the second is per project (like agencies).
Either way, once you have established your rates, it's time to market them. This includes sharing your rates on social media and emailing your subscribers, as well as posting flyers and other promotional materials.
These are three ways to improve your chances of success in marketing your business.
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When marketing, be a professional. You never know who could be reading and evaluating your content.
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Be knowledgeable about the topic you are discussing. Fake experts are not appreciated.
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Do not spam. If someone asks for information, avoid sending emails to everyone in your email list. 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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You can monitor your results by tracking how many people open your emails, click on links and sign up to your mailing lists.
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Your ROI can be measured by measuring how many leads each campaign generates and which campaigns convert the most.
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Ask your family and friends for feedback.
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To find out which strategy works best, you can test different strategies.
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You must continue learning and remain relevant in marketing.
How much debt are you allowed to take on?
It's essential to keep in mind that there is such a thing as too much money. Spending more than you earn will eventually lead to cash shortages. Savings take time to grow. When you run out of money, reduce your spending.
But how much can you afford? Although there's no exact number that will work for everyone, it is a good rule to aim to live within 10%. That way, you won't go broke even after years of saving.
This means that you shouldn't spend more money than $10,000 a year if your income is $10,000. You shouldn't spend more that $2,000 monthly if your income is $20,000 Spend no more than $5,000 a month if you have $50,000.
Paying off your debts quickly is the key. This applies to student loans, credit card bills, and car payments. After these debts are paid, you will have more money to save.
You should consider where you plan to put your excess income. If you decide to put your money toward stocks or bonds, you could lose money if the stock market falls. However, if you put your money into a savings account you can expect to see interest compound over time.
As an example, suppose you save $100 each week. This would add up over five years to $500. Over six years, that would amount to $1,000. You'd have almost $3,000 in savings by the end of eight years. By the time you reach ten years, you'd have nearly $13,000 in savings.
In fifteen years you will have $40,000 saved in your savings. It's impressive. However, this amount would have earned you interest if it had been invested in stock market during the exact same period. Instead of $40,000, your net worth would be more than $57,000.
It is important to know how to manage your money effectively. If you don't, you could end up with much more money that you had planned.
Which side hustles are most lucrative?
Side hustle is a term used to describe any side income streams that can supplement your main source.
Side hustles can be very beneficial because they allow you to make extra money and provide 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: active and passive side hustles. 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.
Side hustles that are right for you fit in your daily life. Consider starting a business in fitness if your passion is working out. Consider becoming a freelance landscaper, if you like spending time outdoors.
Side hustles are available anywhere. You can find side hustles anywhere.
Why not start your own graphic design company? 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. This way, when the opportunity arises, you'll be ready to jump right in and take advantage of it.
Side hustles aren’t about making more money. Side hustles are about creating wealth and freedom.
And with so many ways to earn money today, there's no excuse to start one!
What is the distinction between passive income, and active income.
Passive income can be defined as a way to make passive income without any work. Active income requires hardwork and effort.
Your active income comes from creating value for someone else. Earn money by providing a service or product to someone. Selling products online, writing ebooks, creating websites, and advertising your business are just a few examples.
Passive income is great as it allows you more time to do important things while still making money. However, most people don't like working for themselves. They choose to make passive income and invest their time and energy.
The problem is that passive income doesn't last forever. You might run out of money if you don't generate passive income in the right time.
It is possible to burn out if your passive income efforts are too intense. It is best to get started right away. If you wait until later to start building passive income, you'll probably miss out on opportunities to maximize your earnings potential.
There are three types of passive income streams:
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Business opportunities include opening a franchise, creating a blog or freelancer, as well as renting out property like real estate.
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These include stocks and bonds and mutual funds. ETFs are also investments.
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Real Estate - this includes rental properties, flipping houses, buying land, and investing in commercial real estate
Is there a way to make quick money with a side hustle?
If you really want to make money fast, you'll have to do more than create a product or service that solves a problem for someone.
You also have to find a way to position yourself as an authority in whatever niche you choose to fill. It is important to establish a good reputation online as well offline.
Helping other people solve their problems is the best way for a person to earn a good reputation. You need to think about how you can add value to your community.
Once you answer that question you'll be able instantly to pinpoint the areas you're most suitable to address. There are many online ways to make money, but they are often very competitive.
But when you look closely, you can see two main side hustles. One involves selling products directly to customers and the other is offering consulting services.
There are pros and cons to each approach. Selling products or services gives you instant satisfaction because you get paid immediately after you have shipped your product.
But, on the other hand, you might not have the success you desire if you do not spend the time to build relationships with potential clientele. Additionally, there is intense competition for these types of gigs.
Consulting is a great way to expand your business, without worrying about shipping or providing services. However, it can take longer to be recognized as an expert in your area.
To be successful in either field, you must know how to identify the right customers. This can take some trial and error. However, the end result is worth it.
Statistics
- 4 in 5 Americans (80%) say they put off financial decisions, and 35% of those delaying those decisions say it's because they feel overwhelmed at the thought of them. (nerdwallet.com)
- U.S. stocks could rally another 25% now that Fed no longer has ‘back against the wall' in inflation fight (marketwatch.com)
- These websites say they will pay you up to 92% of the card's value. (nerdwallet.com)
- According to the company's website, people often earn $25 to $45 daily. (nerdwallet.com)
- While 39% of Americans say they feel anxious when making financial decisions, according to the survey, 30% feel confident and 17% excited, suggesting it is possible to feel good when navigating your finances. (nerdwallet.com)
External Links
How To
How to make money online without any experience
There are many ways you can make money online. While some people like to use computers for work, others prefer to be outside and interact with others.
However, regardless of what kind of person you are, there is always room for improvement. Here are some simple ways that you can improve your daily life.
Since its inception, the popularity of blogging has increased exponentially. Anyone with a computer can now start a blog to make money.
A blog is free and easy to set-up. It doesn't matter if your knowledge is limited to hosting and domain names.
One of the best ways to make money online is by selling photos. It doesn’t really matter what your skills are with photography.
A decent image editing program such as Adobe Photoshop Elements and a high-quality digital camera are all you need. Once you've got those things, you can upload your images to sites like Fotolia where millions of people visit daily for high-quality photos to download.
If you have skills in something, then why not sell them? Whether you're great at writing articles or speak several languages fluently, there are plenty of places online where you can sell your expertise.
Elance, a website that connects freelancers to businesses looking for their services, is one example. People post projects they need help completing, and freelancers bid on them. The project will be completed by the highest bidder.
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Create An Ebook And Sell It On Amazon
Amazon is the most popular e-commerce site on the Internet. They offer a marketplace that allows people to sell and buy items.
This allows you to create an ebook and make it available through Amazon. This is a great option because you get paid per sale instead of per page read.
Another way to make extra money is to teach abroad. Teachers Pay Teachers allows you to connect with teachers who are looking for English lessons.
Any subject can be taught, including history, geography and art.
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Google Write Adsense Pages is an alternative method of advertising your website. You place small ads on your website when someone visits it. These ads appear when visitors visit any page.
The more traffic you have, the more you will make.
You can also sell artwork digitally. You can also sell your artwork digitally through sites such as Etsy.
Etsy allows users the ability to create virtual stores that behave like real shops.
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You can become a freelancer
College graduates are increasingly attracted to freelancing. As the economy improves, more companies outsource jobs for independent contractors.
It's a win-win situation for both employers and employees. Employers are able to save money as they don't have to pay any benefits or payroll taxes. Employees gain flexibility in their schedules and an increase in income.