Equitable Counseling Services

Review: Received info in the mail to re finance mortgage at much lower rate. Sent in info, stated we did qualify for " hardship", we gave them $ 1650.00 to re finance, they come back and say its up to our mortgage company to lower rate to 2 %. All the time they states was a re finance, never said my company would have to make adjustment. My lender is small credit union only holds few notes, they would not drop rate to 2% as promised by this company. I told equitable if they cannot give me 2% as promised then refund my money. They refusedMan I have been doing business with is [redacted], he refuses to refund my moniesDesired Settlement: $ 1650.00 the money we gave them, If we cannot get promised rate then I think they should refund.. I have asked numerous times

Review: Date: 29 September 2014

To: Revdex.com

[redacted].

From: [redacted].

[redacted].

Re: [redacted] (Mission Viejo, CA)

To Whom It May Concern:

I'm writing in regards a business named Equitable Counseling Services, which is said to be located in

Mission Viejo, CA. This business practices country-wide mailing advertisement of their "guaranteed"

services. They provide advice and prepare mortgage modification packets for homeowners for

submission to their mortgage lenders. According to their advertisements, marketed statements, and

coiwersations with their personnel ([redacted]), Equitable Counseling Services guarantees results and

assures that lenders are under a federal obligation to comply with a modification request.

In September of 2013, I responded to one of their advertisements and spoke to an intake representative

(JS) a.nd later on to a [redacted] (Senior Underwriter) -both assured me that the bank was obligated

to "help" me modify per the new programs put in place by the president and that I would be giving away

my money if I didn't take advantage of these new programs. Equitable Counseling Center requested a

payment of $[redacted] dollars payable only by check (no credit cards accepted) and an extensive list of

. documents regarding banking information, ide'ntity, and real estate property information. Since I was

under the impression that the bank was under federal obligation to comply with the modification, was

guaranteed results, and was desperately looking for some sort of financial relief from a $[redacted]/month

mortgage on a 1-family house, on September 24, 2013 I completed payment with them for $[redacted]. 1

received a packet which was poorly put together, leaving me to request an edited packet as there were

major things indicated in the initial packet which were clearly incorrect - such as a statement which

indicated that I was behind on my taxes, which was completely false. AnyhoW, I received a second

packet which was submitted to my bank.

Since the submission of the packet, not only did I get a letter stating my lender's non-participation in

such program, I find myself having paid Equitable Counseling Center $[redacted] dollars and have had no

results as advertised by the mailing I responded to. My bank assured me that NO bank was under legal

obligation to comply with such government program.

After some research I learned that my mortgage lender was pending to merge with [redacted]

([redacted]) and that [redacted] participates with the government modification programs. I

conveyed the denial and the merger information to Equitable Counseling Center which routed the issue

to their "Compliance" department. Equitable Counseling Center also claimed via email they would

prepare 110ther documents appealing the denial"-a service they have not performed.

Page 1 of2

In November 2013, [redacted] stated that the Compliance Department was to do some research on

the matter but no one got back to me. Therefore, after much wait, in March 2014, I made a written

request for a full refund of the $[redacted] due to the lack of guaranteed results as advertised and marketed

by their firm. None of their so called "promises" and assurances ever materialized.

[redacted] emailed me and stated that my file had been transferred to a [redacted] in their

Compliance Department and that he was aware of the situation and would contact me soon. Over a

month later I received a letter (copy enclosed} stating that their role was to "increases my chances of a

modification which they did by preparing the packet. Please note that this response is in NO WAY the

"guaranteed" results I paid $[redacted] dollars for. Also, the last correspondence from Equitable Counseling

Center stated that my case was PERMANENTLY closed and I needed to contact my bank regarding the

new procedures!!!! I My money was not returned.

How many homeowners have been victimized by this firm? Does Equitable Counseling Services have a

success rate, if any at all? All I know is that Equitable Counseling Services lured me into paying them

money by falsely guaranteeing that in retaining their services I would have mortgage relief. It was a lie.

Equitable Counseling Services needs to be stopped and permanently put out of business immediately.

I am asking that the Revdex.com look into the integrity of business practices exercised by this

so-called business and aid in getting me and perhaps countless other their money back. 1 am uphauled

at the fact that those operating Equitable Counseling Center are taking advantage of this national

mortgage crisis and victimize those who are desperate to save their homes, their finances, and credit

ratings. No business should be allowed to get away with such malice.

Please feel free to contact me in case of further questions.

Thank you for your effort in this matter.

[redacted]Desired Settlement: Other

Review: I was solicited for loan modification services. After much discussion, I was told that if my lender did not agree to modification terms similar to that which was discussed I would be entitled to a refund. I was told that by Equitable's employee, [redacted]. My lender refused the modification request and Equitable has refused to provide a refund. I believe the company is going out of business - their website is no longer functional - and they do not return phone calls.Desired Settlement: I would like a full refund of the $1675 I paid for services that were not rendered.

Review: I had hired Equitable Counciling Services to help Modify my home loan. I paid 1475.00 for this sevice.

On or about 10/28/2013 I went into agreement with Equitable Counseling Services to help me file a home loan modification. Total cost charged to me was $1475.00 for the modification paperwork.

During the several calls prior to paying the fee I indicated I was already in the HAMP program and I am in good standing with my bank. They assured me that I still qualified for a lower rate that I currently have and that they did a pre-check and got me approved for the lower home loan modification

After the pre-approval, I paid a deposit of $475.00 in order for them to prepare the final paperwork.

They called me 2 days later and stated they needed an additional $1200.00 dollars before they could release the modification paperwork to me. I told [redacted] that in the beginning no one told me they would not release the paperwork until it was paid in full. In-fact they told me that when my loan was modified I would skip the first month mortgage payment and that would help to pay them. Not only did they not tell me I had to pay before releasing the paperwork they lead me to believe that the loan modification was already approved and ready to go. During this conversation with [redacted], I told him this was not what was told to me in the beginning and before paying the deposit. [redacted] said well you will have to speak to [redacted] because he was the one who originally told you this. Within 1 hour I received an involve with a discount of $200.00 with a rush to pay it or it would expire (I have all the emails). So I paid the additional $1000.00 and then they released the modification paperwork and send fax this to your bank. During all the phone calls they spoke as if they would represent me not that they would have no communication with my bank.

When I got the paperwork I faxed it to my bank as they said I should and I was immediately deigned due to the fact that I was already in the HAMP program and in good standing. This information was all given to Equitable Counseling Services and they still took my money stating if I were deigned that they would keep submitting until they found an appropriate modification. Since I paid in full and was deigned I cannot get the company to respond. I even told them I would take them to small claims court.

This is a company that focus there efforts on people that are in hardships. Its not right and I have every email to them requesting for them to refund my money to no success.Desired Settlement: 1475.00

Review: I retained Equitable Counseling Services for loan modification services in December 2013. At that time I was told that if my lender did not agree to modification terms (HAMP), I would be entitled to a FULL refund. My lender refused the modification request, stating that I did not “fit the criteria” that Equitable presented, and Equitable has refused to provide a refund. E.C. has not replied once to over a dozen calls and emails since July 9, 2014.Desired Settlement: I would like a full refund of the $1675 I paid for services that were not rendered completely and to my satisfaction.