The U.S. district court shut down two deceptive mortgage and debt relief operations based out of Halethorpe, Maryland, the Federal Trade Commission announced in a press release on October 4, 2011. Residential Relief Foundation, LLC, Silver Lining Services, LLC, Mitigation America, LLC and their principal owners “allegedly failed to provide promised debt relief services and jeopardized their clients’ privacy by tossing their personal information into unsecured dumpsters,” the release said. The FTC said the settlements ban the defendants from working in the mortgage assistance and debt relief business, prohibit them from the alleged privacy violations, and impose judgments totaling more than $11 million for the amount of consumer harm they caused.
One of the operations allegedly charged consumers a $1,495 up-front fee based on phony promises that that they would get mortgage relief assistance. It is truly deplorable that some companies try to exploit the desperate situations that Washington DC and Maryland residents find themselves in, but you should know that you do have other options if you are seeking some sort of foreclosure help. Maryland bankruptcy attorney Kevin D. Judd can help you eliminate bills and stop foreclosure with a Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy process. Even if you have never heard of a bankruptcy means test, you should know that bankruptcy is a legal right for all consumers to get deserved relief today. If you are struggling to pay your mortgage and credit card bills, contact our office today to set up a consultation that can answer all of your questions about how to file for bankruptcy.
