Cambridge Credit Counseling Sued By State Of Illinois
Illinois sues Cambridge Credit Counseling
The state of Illinois is suing Cambridge Credit Counseling, both for apparent conflicts of interest and illegally high fees. Cambridge Credit Counseling offers debt management services. They help customers create budgets and get rid of debt.
The Attorney General of Illinois alleges in the lawsuit that Cambridge Credit Counseling has an inappropriate relationship with companies such as Brighton Credit and Brighton Debt. Gather.com says: Cambridge actuallypaid them to service debts instead of the for-profits paying Cambridge for directing business to them.
Cambridge Credit a curious case
Im not sure why Cambridge paying the companies is somehow worse than if the Brighton companies had paid them. One can see why Brighton paying Cambridge would be a crime, but not the opposite. I guess Im no financial expert. However, you can check out Cambridge Credit Counselings conflict of interest policy on the companys web site.
Also at issue in the lawsuit is the very valid matter of startup fees. Illinois law states that companies like Cambridge Credit Counseling can only charge $ 50 for startup fees. However, Cambridge has been charging startup fees equal to their monthly credit card charges. If someone enlists help from a credit counseling service, this can add up quickly.
Future for Cambridge Credit Counseling
Cambridge Credit Counseling is a nationwide company, so its possible that more states could jump in on the lawsuit. So far, there hasnt been word of anyone else joining in, but it probably isnt far off.
The company has not yet made a statement about the suit. Cambridge Credit Counseling is the largest credit counselor in the nation. The lawsuit won’t put them out of business, but it could lead to a change of policy, which could be what the Attorney General of Illinois had in mind all along.
