Frauds!! Scam!! Liars!! DO NOT USE this company. They say they will close your accounts in 6 months, lie! they allow your accounts to go to collections before negotiating. They allow the accounts they are responsible for to get so far behind that you get sued from the creditors you are told to stop paying on. They claim after 6 months of timely payments you can get a loan. Lie!!!! After 10 months only 2 accounts were settled. I cancelled the program and the global escrow account on the 13th. Requested a refund and they took my remaining escrow balance for "Fees" on the 18th out of a closed account. They will ruin your life! Do not use them! read more

Start New Financial - Financial Advising Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Startnewfinancial should make customers aware when they sign on, that when one of the credit card companies included in the contract agreement files suit, Startnewfinancial does not attempt settlement negotiations unless the customer pays an additional 70 to 75% of the credit card suit amount to Startnewfinancial and that Startnewfinancial does not provide legal representation for the customer when suit is filed, even though the customer has made and is still making all monthly contract agreement payments. The suit papers were emailed to customer service at Startnewfinancial with a request for the financial transaction history or information on how to access them before the scheduled hearing date, the hearing date has passed and the suit is to be continued. There has been no reply to the email. I would give 0 stars if it was an option. read more

The absolute horrible company. First of all, they project an estimated time frame that you would be done with the debate program. They set up a drafted payment schedule. You make payments thinking your debt is being handled. Come to find out that they are only settling one debt at time. If you want to experdite the program, you have sent the company more money where they would put in an escrow account to "pay off the settle debt." They take forever to settle with each debt company. Then they sell the company they use to draft your payments to keep you in a longer binding contract to pay start new financial even more money. Please do your homework before considering using start new financial. read more

Government needs investigate this company. I paid close to $8,000 to start new financial and they charge me half in fees. Not sure how is this legal. Attaching their charges read more

See all

Read the above negative reviews. I am having a similar experience. I had perfect credit store and they told me to stop paying my credit cards and they wouldn't negotiate my bills down to 50%. Currently getting sued by American Express, two of the three credit cards that were in debt. It turns out American Express does not settle and they sue and garnish your bank account. They know this and they did not tell me when they signed me up. The guy who signed me up, told me to sign the contract with her on the phone. I asked him if I could have some time to read over the contract. He said most people don't do that they just sign it and it basically says what he just told me. I was stupid enough to sign. read more

DO NOT USE THIS ORGANIZATION!!!!! This organization is a PREDATORY DEBT RELIEF ORGANIZATION. After completing a 5 year contract, never missing a payment, START NEW FINANCIAL did not notify of policy changes and did not negotiate remaining loans offering only an apology and offering to extend the contract (of course, that is the point, to keep you coming back with hope). READ YOUR CONTRACT if you are foolish enough to engage their services. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. There are other fine organizations to use. This is not one of them. If I could give them a -5 stars I would. https://difs.state.mi.us/Complaints/ https://secure.ag.state.mi.us/complaints/consumer.aspx In Michigan the most a firm can legally charge is 15% of the amount of the debt to be liquidated, NOT 25% as charged by Start New Financial. read more

If I could do a negative star, I would. Charles Shinalo, You are a liar and a scam artist. You told me over and over again that legal action would not be taken against us by any creditors, you told me not to contact any creditors, period, because they would only try to sway me from this deal and charge me far more interest, you told me that our accounts would not be closed, you told me that my credit score dropping so low would not affect my ability to rent another home in the future, you told me that after 30 days of being in the program, each contact from the creditors would be a hit against them to the tune of $1500, you told me that I would not receive a 1099-C from any creditors, and you sat there multiple times and spat many, many more lies in direct contradiction of the contract and the facts because you were desperate for another closed deal. Shame on you! My beloved husband was also scammed by you and he died one day before the first payment was drafted from our account and only two weeks after we signed your god-awful contract that has completely wrecked my finances, credit score, and life. If you had told me the truth at any point when I contacted you in December or January, the MANY accounts closed due to lack of payment and communication would still be OPEN and my credit score would not be so awful that I now have to fight to rent a new home for myself and our three young children. I've not only had accounts closed, but programs where I built up loyalty and rewards that were EXTREMELY important to me were closed right along with them. Things that took years to build up came crashing down on your lies. The awful part is that people like you, people who only care about making money, lies, and greed, are still walking this Earth, while a good man, father, and honest worker died for nothing. Exactly two small accounts have been settled by Start New Financial and the settlement fees almost total the amounts of the settlements. You told us, because I wrote down what you said, that the balances would go down in 60-90 days. It took 4 months for 2 out of 19 accounts to even be touched. The others still haven't even been contacted and almost all HAVE CLOSED! I also found out just now that I will be receiving a 1099-C, however, because you had me change the address for correspondence, I wouldn't even have received it. I have to notify all of the other accounts to have the address changed back as well. Then you have ALL of the CFTPay bank fees, which again, you assured us were not going to cost what they have when I asked you directly about them. I have already closed this contract, after a lengthy discussion with an attorney that I also had to pay. You are the scum of this planet and I will be leaving this review in multiple places to warn people about you, Gold West Financial, Start New Financial, and Crossroads Financial Technologies. You and these companies have cost me thousands of dollars, lost time, a 400 credit score, closed accounts that I needed, and pain. An incredible amount of pain. Oh, and let me just tell you, I have you on record on my phone. You can record calls in Texas and I did just that, so if you wish to deny any of this, I absolutely do not mind sending the recordings of your lies to these companies. Have a nice day, Jenny Westmark read more

Horrible scam!!!! Don't do this. You are way better at negotiating yourself and working with your creditors. I ruined my credit and what they solved was worthless because their fee is so ridiculously high it comes to the same like nothing. It is awful. I learned the hard way. I was so vulnerable for help. it messed me up so much. We are way worse off, I wish I had never done this. It is a straight scam and hussle. read more

This is a scam. After fulfilling the obligations of my contract, they contacted me 3 months after I was finished paying them $17,598 and told me that I have to pay an additional $7123. read more

I wouldn't recommend this company. My experience didn't go too well with them. They dropped the ball more than once and left me with a 18K debt with a credit union that was named on the account from the start. Like many reviewers mention, their strategy is for you to stop paying your bills, ruin your credit, and put you in collections. This makes it easier for them to settle with your debtors. However, in my case, I moved once during the process. Then they dragged their feet with one of my debtors and that debtor took me to court and I never received the court notice/date and so I lost the case. I was court ordered to pay the full amount. No discount settlement on this debt. All SNF had to say was oops too late after they dragged their feet too long on that debt. I ordered them to pay off that debt to the court-ordered amount right away before things got any worse. Finally, I received a notice from Global Holdings, their bank associate company, that they were done and closing my account. SNF never informed me they were done with my account. I logged on and went through everything and saw that SNF left me with a 18K debt still in collection by my credit union. I called SNF and they claimed that the CU wouldn't settle. I called my credit union and had a very friendly voice on the phone and they accepted a offer of half (.50 on the dollar) as a settlement to clear my debt which I am doing on my own. When I asked the CU if SNF ever called to settle. They looked through my records and saw that I had provided the number to SNF, and they logged several attempts to contact SNF and settle, but they never received a call back. If you use these people stay on top of what's going on because they can drop the ball on you and things can get worse. And by all means, if by any chance you have the resources to negotiate and settle on your own with the creditors, do so, and don't use these people. read more

I joined the program last year. Paid a total of over $6000. Then in June the debtor contacted me directly to settle for significantly less. I called Start New to ask if I'll be refunded ALL of the money I've paid into the program if I cancelled it and they said yes, if I cancel by June 25. So I called back before June 25 and cancelled. The rep told me I'll be issued a refund for ALL $6000 within 10 days and that I'll receive a text to confirm that I want to cancel. I received that text on June 29 and confirmed. Then I received a check for $5. That's right, $5! I called them on July 19 to ask about the check for $6000 and told Kim I received a check for $5. She said that's an error from the bank holding the escrow account and that she'll email them to release the full $6000. When I didn't a get a call back, I called on July 20. Shay told me the problem was Start New never notified the bank holding the escrow to release the full $6000. When I asked how did this happen, she said they make mistakes. I insisted a call back that same day to confirm this error has been corrected. So she called back about an hour later and said what she said earlier was wrong and that the $5 check I received is the only refund I'll be receiving. I was livid! Add there's no supervisor to take a look at this. So here I am on July 21 waiting on a call back from a supervisor to call me back. I've been told 3 different things and given the run around. If there's no resolution TODAY, I will be contacting the BBB, Texas attorney general, and anyone else I need to until this scam is resolved read more

See all

Settled multiple accounts All reps were courteous and helpful I do recommend their services if you have multiple credit cards with high interest rates that keep piling uo read more

I wish I could give this company 0 stars. They're predatory. They kept contacting me to join their program, and I was paying my bills just fine. They brought my credit drop by over 100 points. They call you and make it sound like they're going to save you money and make your credit better. You barely save anything after their fees, and it's definitely not worth the huge hit to your credit. What they do should be unethical. You ask to speak with a supervisor and they refuse to do so, and then hang up on you. read more

This place is a scam. Do not use them. I unfortunately believed them. I ended up in court by one of my credit cards then when my brother talked to them for me to get me out of their program they gave him a hard time. Once I did get out they never refunded any of my money. These people should be arrested! read more

This company sends reps to your property claiming that they are working with someone in the neighborhood and want to offer debt consolidation. They claim they've sent something to your home offering debt consolidation and that "you ask them to come visit". I can assure you that never occurred, and I went through 62 days worth of informed delivery scans to make sure they never mailed anything. They go door to door in neighborhoods that clearly have a no soliciting sign on their property nor do they spend the money to get door to door permits for the towns they are in. During a pandemic, they do not offer any sort of card but insist you scan their badge - which is only 12 inches away from them. When you question them on their purpose there, they are elusive albeit friendly. This would be 1 star, except that when I contacted them via facebook they reasonably responded and had their compliance manager reach out to me personally. Which is great, and unexpected. read more

These guys are not going to help you. They will ruin your credit and you'll save nothing. By the time they add all the fees in you are paying what you owe anyway but your credit is ruined. Additionally, they will LIE to you about fees and transactions. They are in this for themselves not you. read more

SCAM, SCAM, SCAM. Beware of start new financial and debt Advisors. They are not a debt relief company. They are liars preying on people looking for help with their debt. You can negotiate with the company yourself and do much better than these scam artists. read more

We were told not to pay anything further to creditors only to find out they paid NOTHING to creditors and were holding our payments to them until they had 50% of the money we owed before negotiating with creditors. Our credit score went down the toilet. They promised to send us copies of all correspondence to creditors but we received NOTHING. We told them we were quitting the program and wanted a refund of what we had paid them but to date have NOT RECEIVED ANY REFUND! THEY ARE A SCAM !!!!!!! read more

CRIMINALS. That's really the first word that comes to mind. Totally incompetent. Not in the business to help people - they actually strive to make your financial situation worse. Dishonest, incompetent overall bad, greedy people. Was told something different every time I spoke to someone - when they would take my calls that is. Never ever respond to emails. They disappear and take your money with them. Refused to let me speak to a supervisor - actually told me no. I don't know how any of them sleep at night (especially Charles, Justin and Victoria who tells you what you want to hear then magically disappears without any follow through). If you decide you need debt consolidation go somewhere, anywhere, else. There are a ton of reputable companies to use. This is not one of them. And FYI I ended up getting better deals when I call creditors directly. STAY AWAY. read more

DO NOT CALL!! I feel like I'm gonna see an episode of these guys on American Greed. I received a letter, gave them a call and they began by trying to tell me I owed a crazy amount in credit card debt. When I tried to correct the representative he kept trying to talk over me (strike 1). Then he goes on to say "so your telling me you don't have credit cards and no debt?" Like some punk little smart ass. When I said yea I do he tell a me that I qualify for a federally regulated program to reduce my debt (how the heck can I qualify without him knowing anything about me! Strike 2). Then when he asked if he could review my information I told him I didn't feel comfortable and didn't want to move forward. He has the balls to challenge me and ask if I'm a man of my word!! (Strike 3). I immediately hung up the call and thought to check reviews. Glad I did, this sounds like the type of show I'm gonna see on American Greed about how they scammed people out of their money to help them out of their situation. Word to everyone, if it sounds amazing and an answer to your prayers that you got a letter out of the blue about credit card negotiations you never initiated. Then well, it is! read more

Beware! These sales people they send basically STALK you! See the other negative comments....IT'S TRUE. Unfortunately, I had a terrible experience with these very questionable sales tactics. They sent someone to my house after dark, no face mask, didn't introduce who they were or what company they were with just held up some piece of paper saying they sent me some information. I had told them no thank you 3 times and we were not interested. They said they would come back again we said no don't come back. They don't take no for an answer. This escalated to us demanding him to leave our property (we have no trespassing signs posted). He said he felt threatened and called the police.....funny thing is the police never showed up and this sales guy hung around for close to an hour. Now if you felt threated would you hang around? Very predatory tactics. I definitely would not do business when they are using such a shady approach. read more