888-452-8129

Who is this number 888-452-8129 calling me about my credit card debt? Nice girl called me with a non-profit company. How did she get my info? She was sweet but is she for real?

Legitimate non-profits do not cold call.

Anyone can file for 501(c)(3) (non-profit) status and still use the activity to line their pockets.  Non-profit is more about accounting methods than it is about altruism.  This is an all too common way to operate scams.  Fake charities, dubious debt settlers, and others, do this all the time.

Anyone can lie about being a non-profit when they are not.

The "debt reduction" industry has a terrible reputation.  You may find yourself scammed out of a lot of money, and that your debt situation has gotten much worse, because the creditors have not received a penny.

They really aren't doing anything that you can't do for yourself, although I appreciate the emotional burden people face in handling such unpleasant matters.  But that burden will be a lot worse if you have been ripped off, AND the creditors have gone months without payment.

If you must use such an organization (and I strongly recommend against doing so) you should know that the FTC has banned upfront fees to such companies.  You should also know that they are extremely unlikely to be able to deliver what they promise in the way of debt reduction.  If you educate yourself, you can do as well or better than they can, and I am about to tell you how to educate yourself.

Better choices are some or all of the below:  

Go check "The Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey <www.daveramsey.com> out of your public library or buy a copy.  The book is available most places that sell books, but his web site often has them on sale for $10.

Work with a legitimate Credit Counselor. <www.nfcc.org/> is the place to start that process.

Or just make out a budget and be firm but proactive in dealing with your creditors.  

Clark Howard's web site <www.clarkhoward.com> is also a good resource.

Please, do not make your problems worse than they already are.  Be VERY careful who you deal with.

You should also read the following before proceeding:

<http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/12/26/consum ... irt-the-new-ft/>

<http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre19.shtm>

<http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/credit/debt.shtm>

<http://www.bankrate.com/finance/debt/ftc-bans ... ent-fees-1.aspx>

It is currently my personal opinion that all of these positive posts are being made by shills, who are trying to market a very questionable "business", possibly an outright scam, to an unsuspecting public.  Am I wrong to contemplate this possibility?

Please, post your VERIFIABLE bonafides, so that we may all learn the truth about you.

Thanks for your assistance.

I'm no fan of the BBB, or its ratings, pro or con.  But here are the details, FWIW

Golden State Debt Management, Inc.

(866) 624-4690 23842 Hawthorne Blvd. Suite 201, Torrance, CA 90505

Advertising / Sales Issues     1
Billing / Collection Issues     2
Problems with Product / Service     3
Total Closed Complaints     6

If these guys are legit (I don't know, and haven't commented on them) that's fine, but I still maintain that this is an entire industry to be avoided, not so much any particular member of that industry.  

I do find the sudden influx of positive posts suspicious and shill like, but I certainly allow for the possibility that I am being overly cynical in my assessments.  I stand ready to be persuaded by solid and verifiable facts, in all matters.

Tell me, are these law firms working pro bono?  How is this group funded?  Are they getting referral fees from the law firms?  Any info you have to share would be helpful to us all.

Thanks.

The fake positive posts were removed. Thank you for the alerts.