Turnbull Law Group Debt Settlement Reviews: What You Need to Know
Turnbull Law Group has serious red flags including a BBB investigation, customer complaints about unauthorized charges, and lack of transparency about their attorney's credentials. Better options exist for debt settlement, including direct negotiation with creditors or working with our partner Solo to handle settlements yourself.
Respond to LawsuitLooking for help settling your debts? You need a company you can trust.
Many debt settlement organizations make big promises but fail to deliver. Some take your money and vanish. Others leave you with damaged credit and unresolved debt.
Being Sued by a Debt Collector? Respond in Minutes
Don't let creditors win by default. Our partner Solo helps you draft your Answer and negotiate settlements directly. Respond to your lawsuit today before your deadline passes.
Answer Your LawsuitTurnbull Law Group offers debt settlement services. We evaluated their program to determine if they’re worth your time and money.
How Turnbull Law Group Debt Settlement Works
Turnbull Law Group’s debt negotiation program helps consumers reduce their debt balances through creditor negotiations.
You start by meeting with an attorney to discuss your financial situation. If you enroll, you make monthly payments into a special account.
As your balance grows, Turnbull negotiates settlements with each creditor. You must approve each settlement and pay Turnbull’s service fees. Most programs run two to four years.
Example: Gina owes $10,000 in outstanding debt. She enrolls in Turnbull’s program and pays $250 monthly. After several years, Turnbull settles all her debts and she completes the program.
The program includes attorney oversight and legal representation if creditors sue you for unpaid debts.
Red Flags About Turnbull Law Group
The Turnbull Law Group website looks professional. The debt negotiation service includes legal assistance for debt lawsuits.
However, we found two major concerns.
Lack of Attorney Information
The website provides zero details about Christopher Turnbull’s legal education or practice history. Most legitimate lawyers are transparent about their credentials and case results.
Aggressive Auto-Dialer Consent
The homepage consultation form includes troubling fine print. Your submission authorizes Turnbull to call you using auto-dialers and automated texts. They can contact you even if you’re on a Do Not Call list.
Legitimate companies don’t rely on robocalls to reach customers. We hesitate to recommend sharing your contact information with firms using these tactics.
What Customer Reviews Reveal About Turnbull Law Group
The Better Business Bureau is your best resource for researching debt settlement companies. Valid organizations maintain strong BBB ratings.
BBB Investigation and Alert
Turnbull Law Group has no BBB accreditation. The BBB placed an alert on the company after investigating them in November 2020.
Consumers alleged they made settlement payments that Turnbull never applied to their debts. Others complained they received no legal representation after getting sued, despite promises in their agreements.
The BBB asked Turnbull for fee disclosures and written agreements. Turnbull refused to provide supporting documentation. The BBB states they cannot offer confidence in the company’s business practices.
Customer Complaints
The company averages 4.64 out of 5 stars on BBB. However, several complaints reveal concerning patterns.
One customer canceled their program, but Turnbull continued debiting their bank account. The unauthorized withdrawals caused overdraft fees and missed bill payments. Turnbull claimed the debits were errors.
Another customer completed the program and paid all debts. Turnbull kept debiting their account for weeks after graduation. Turnbull also held nearly $7,000 in excess funds and refused to return them promptly. The consumer threatened an FTC complaint before receiving their refund.
Our Verdict on Turnbull Law Group
We recommend avoiding Turnbull Law Group for debt settlement services.
The BBB alert, numerous customer complaints, and lack of transparency raise serious concerns. You deserve a debt settlement company that’s honest about its offerings and track record.
Better options exist for resolving your debt problems.
Settle Your Debts Without Expensive Companies
You can negotiate directly with creditors and collectors. Our partner Solo provides tools to handle debt settlement yourself.
Here’s why direct settlement works better than traditional companies:
- You control the entire negotiation process.
- You pay nothing until you reach an acceptable agreement.
- You can settle debts of any size, not just large balances over $15,000.
- You get lawsuit defense tools if collectors sue you.
- You receive updates at every step until your creditor accepts an offer.
Example: Dave faces a lawsuit over a $7,000 credit card debt from PRA Group. He responds to the lawsuit first, buying time to review his options. Dave determines he can afford 65% of the debt, or $4,550. He starts negotiations at 40%, or $2,800. After counteroffers, PRA’s attorney settles for 60%, or $4,200. Dave saves thousands and gets the case dismissed.
If You’re Being Sued for Debt
Creditors and collectors file lawsuits when debts remain unpaid. You must respond to avoid default judgment.
Our partner Solo helps you draft and file your Answer to debt lawsuits. The step-by-step process asks all necessary questions to complete your response. An attorney reviews your document before filing.
Responding to the lawsuit protects your rights. You gain time to negotiate settlement or challenge the debt’s validity.
You can also use debt validation letters to force collectors to prove you owe the money.
Better Alternatives to Debt Settlement Companies
Debt settlement companies charge high fees and damage your credit. Consider these alternatives:
Direct Negotiation
Contact creditors yourself and propose payment plans. Many creditors prefer receiving partial payment over getting nothing.
Credit Counseling
Nonprofit credit counseling agencies help you create debt management plans. They negotiate lower interest rates without the risks of settlement.
Bankruptcy Protection
Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy eliminates most unsecured debts. Consult a bankruptcy attorney to explore this option.
Debt Validation
Challenge debts you don’t recognize or that seem incorrect. Collectors must prove you owe the money before pursuing collection.
Protect Yourself from Debt Settlement Scams
Many debt settlement companies prey on desperate consumers. Watch for these warning signs:
- Requests for upfront fees before settling any debts.
- Promises to settle debts for pennies on the dollar.
- Guarantees about credit score improvements.
- Pressure to stop communicating with creditors immediately.
- Claims they can remove accurate negative information from credit reports.
- Refusal to provide written contracts or fee schedules.
- Aggressive auto-dialer and robocall tactics.
Legitimate debt help providers are transparent about their processes, fees, and limitations.
Your Rights When Dealing with Debt Collectors
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act protects you from abusive collection tactics. Collectors cannot:
- Call you before 8 AM or after 9 PM.
- Contact you at work if you tell them not to.
- Harass, threaten, or use profane language.
- Falsely claim to be attorneys or government representatives.
- Threaten actions they cannot legally take.
- Discuss your debt with friends, family, or employers.
You can demand collectors stop contacting you by sending a cease communication letter. They must honor your request except to confirm they’re stopping contact or notify you of specific actions like lawsuits.