8005320755

Thanks! Going after them Big Time!

To whomever in Meridan wrote this:
I am not going to forget that I was scammed and I will pursue this so no one else goes through this misery. Just trying to refinance shouldn't make one a victim...and I don't intend to let this go by.

Emily,

you need to report them on ripoffreport.com

This is the kind of person that James is.


News: 2007 Press Release


For Release: February 16, 2007
Media Calls Only: 916-492-3566
Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner Announces Orange County Insurance Fraud Arrests
ORANGE COUNTY - Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced today the arrests of five people in four separate cases of insurance fraud in Orange County.    

"Today's announcement of multiple arrests illustrates that we will find fraud wherever it exists," said Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. "Our investigators are combing through the county, in search of those who seek to fleece the system. If you cheat the system, you could be next."  

The arrests include:

• The arrest of an Irvine man for filing an insurance claim for rental car payments he allegedly made to himself. James Toufic Assali, 32, was arrested at his residence on January 23, 2007 by the Irvine Police Department on three felony counts of Insurance Fraud, and one felony count of Attempted Grand Theft. Assali was booked into the Orange County Jail, and his bail was set at $20,000.00.

According to Orange Regional Office of the CDI Fraud Division Investigators, James Toufic Assali submitted a fraudulent rental car invoice to Infinity Insurance claiming $5,235.00 in rental charges. The invoice showed payment for the vehicle was to be made to "Fortis Rental Solutions." When Assali was questioned about the invoice, he said he never heard of the company Fortis Rental Solutions and that his wife had made all of the car rental arrangements.      

During the CDI investigation, documentation discovered indicated that Fortis Solutions was a company that was registered and owned by James Toufic Assali since November 20, 2003. A pre-trial hearing is set for Assali in February 2007.

I received a call from a person named Amy, She stated I could lower my rate to 5.375 with no money upfront or money added to my loan. I called back and spoke to an Anos. He asked some questions. I asked him how much this would cost me and he stated $3000. He would need $1000 here in January and another in Febuary and March. Before doing anything I said I would need to do some thinking. Glad I did. Finding these reviews will save me some money

Hey you  must be a scammer too! if you work with James thats all you can be! He took my $500 lock in fee 7 moths ago!! no refi, no refund , no return of ALL my calls...until he called a week ago to tell me not to call anymore, I'll never see MY money again.... Great guy HUH?

The owner of Meredian Financial has known ties to Al Queda! Assali has been taking funds from customers of funded loans to use to purchase drugs and explosives. This guy is a Terrorist!

asked alot of questions, no address on form letter, etc. must do it in two days.

Fraud!!!!!!!  This company writes bad checks! I've spoken to James several times nothing but a flake and conartist.  Since December of 2009 I have been trying to collect on a bad check he wrote to his employee just gives me the run around. Never keeps his word! Bad business man!

they called me and got me for $500 lockin fees, back in july o9! won't answer calls or return them, finnally got his cell # from this site and James said "he would spend thousands of dollars before he would refund my  money back"!  He had no intention of refi. my house, the co. is just a telemarketing scam to get as much money as they can, and keep you waiting, with paperwork, that you never see!even the feds are after him....James you are a real piece of work. Run James they are getting close!

why would anyone give money to any company up front? That is one of the first lessons anyone learns in a fraudulent company. Never give any company money that asks you for it upfront. I knew right away this company was a scam from the gate. Why would anyone do business with a company that has this many negative remarks about them and the owner was investigated for insurance fraud. There are literally thousands of mortgage and Loan Modification solicitors out there - Many of them are very reputable and truly have good standing.

This James is obviously criminally minded and it seems quite greedy. This kind of predatory human being who doesn't have the conscience to run an real/legal business will be exposed - that is a guarantee.

A firm female voice asking me to call 1 800 540-1288 to help me get a lower rate mortgage.
I do not have a mortgage on my property,

Department Press Release


01-07-2008
Terence McElroy
(850) 488-3022
mcelrot@doacs.state.fl.us

Bronson Files Lawsuit Against Company
For Violating Do Not Call Law

TALLAHASSEE - Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson announced today that he has taken legal action against a California company for violating Florida’s Do Not Call law.

A lawsuit filed in Leon County Circuit Court alleges that Meredian Financial Corporation, of Costa Mesa, California made at least 19 calls to Florida residents on the state’s Do Not Call list in 2006 and 2007. In addition, the company is accused of playing a recorded message when consumers answered their phones, which is a separate violation of state law.  

“This company has repeatedly called consumers on the Do Not Call list, intruding on their  privacy despite the fact that the citizens went to the effort to get their phone numbers placed on the list”, Bronson said. The message is that this activity will not be tolerated.

The legal action seeks an injunction prohibiting the company from making any future calls to residents on the list and fines of up to $10,000 for each of the calls it made to prohibited phone numbers.

Bronson’s department has collected or obtained judgments of more than $1.5 million against companies that have called residents on the list, and several such legal actions are pending in courts throughout the state.

The Commissioner encourages Floridians to join the program, which prohibits most commercial telemarketers from calling numbers on the list. For more information about the program, consumers can call the department's toll-free hotline - 1 800 HELP FLA (435-7352) - or visit the Division of Consumer Services website at www.800helpfla.com.  
-30-

Bummer man...  :-)
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Meredia ... ation-100058332

Meredian Financial Corp has a F rating from the BBB!

BBB Reliability Report for  
Meredian Financial Corporation  

BBB Rating F

Meredian Financial Corporation

Address:     3080 Bristol Street, Suite 430
Costa Mesa, CA  92626
Tel: (800) 532-0755
Fax: (800) 540-1533  
» See more photos on TrustLink
Web Site:     http://www.meredian.com

Contact:     James Assali - Complaint Contact

Business Start Date:     8/1/2000

Company ID:     100058332  

Nature of Business:
This company's business is providing mortgage and loan modification services.

LicensingAgency: Department of Real Estate
License Number: 01303565
Status: Licensed

Our complaint history for this company shows that the company responded to and gave proper consideration to most complaints. However, one or more complaints are unresolved meaning the company failed to properly address the complaint allegations or their response was inadequate.

They have an F rating with the BBB

Got a call stating that they were the wholesale underwriters for my mortgage company and they can offer a better rate.  Did not give any info and got quickly off the phone.

My wife and I made the mistake of trying to refinance with this company!  Around December 3, 2009, we began refinancing our house with Meredian Financial Corporation of Costa Mesa, CA. They were going to get us a fixed 30-year mortgage at 5.125% interest rate. We paid already close to $3000.00 in a lock, down that was supposed to go towards closing costs, and an appraisal, which occurred on December 20th.

The loan still hadn't closed after the new year and they said it couldn't because they needed more financial proof that we wouldn't default on the loan. When they required complete tax returns from 2007 and 2008, we began doing come investigating (talking with friends that are mortgage brokers, this is not an uncommon practice but one that we had never experienced with a refinance).

Through the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI - a division of the Attorney General in Washington State), we discovered that they are neither licensed in Washington state to broker mortgages, nor do they have a surety bond. I immediately filed a complaint with the DFI and filed a fraud alert with the Social Security Administration.  That week I wrote no less than three e-mails ending the transaction and demanding a total refund.  The replies avoided the refund, justified their position and requested a return telephone call to discuss the matter, of which I refused - I requested to only correspond via e-mail.  Below is a list of people who initially handled the account, followed by those up the chain of command who contacted me:

Broker:  Michael Iriarte(michael.iriarte@meredian.com); Loan Processor:  Jennifer Mitchell(jennifer.mitchell@meredian.com);  Russell Howerton (russell@meredian.com); John Huizar (john.huizar@meredian.com);  j (j@Meredian.com)   - I would assume that's James Assali, but can't confirm for certain.

This is a breakdown of the expenses: $1707.13 payment that was to be applied to closing costs $12.99 wire transfer reimbursal $750.00 lock in fee $450.00 appraisal.  To keep from going into default on our mortgage with our current mortgage lender, Bank of America, we had to pull money from our adoption fund that we've been saving up for the past year. We are right on the cusp of adopting - all of the paperwork/classes are done and we are just waiting for the child. We live on one single-teacher's income, as my wife stays at home with our 4-yr-old daughter.

After a week of waiting for a reponse, I then filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau of Southland, Inc - Southern California.  Note this - when we originally started the loan, they had the BBB symbol on their website; they even had the logo on their e-mails, rating them an "A-."    They are not members of the BBB and the BBB logo is now absent from their website.  After two attempts to contact them with no response, the BBB has now closed the file.   You can access the BBB's rating of them at http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Meredia ... ation-100058332 which now gives them an "F" rating.

In the meantime, I sent Meredian two more e-mails demanding a total refund.  Again, no response, so I filed a complaint with the Department of Real Estate of California http://www.dre.ca.gov/ and the National Fraud Information Center.  www.fraud.org

I waited a month to file this report, hoping that Meredian would make good on the refund.  Seeing that they have not, I'm hoping the goverment will do their part.

James Assali's email is jassali@meredian.com .....He is violating every real estate law you can imagine!! James is the owner although Paul Ferris only holds the licenses. Russell is in house title, which is the one who takes the money.

Yup, James even said he refunded Emily's money...Besides, she can sue him for defimation of character, slamming her name all over the web. He still takes people's money to this day and not do anyting for them