Ohio AG Targets Outfit In Lawsuit Alleging Loan Modification Ripoffs In Response To Complaints Received From Approx. 150 Consumers Nationwide

From the Office of the Ohio Attorney General:

• Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine [] announced a lawsuit against Ryan Zimmerman, Consumer Advocates Group Experts, LLC, and Advocates for Consumer Affairs Experts, LLC for violations of Ohio's consumer laws, including failure to deliver and failure to provide refunds for home loan modification assistance. DeWine seeks consumer restitution, injunctive relief, and civil penalties.

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• Ryan Zimmerman, previously of Culver City, Calif., operates Consumer Advocates Group Experts and Advocates for Consumer Affairs Experts. Through online advertising and telephone and mail solicitations, the businesses offered to help consumers avoid foreclosure by working with the consumers' lenders to negotiate a loan modification or otherwise adjust their debt. After accepting the payments, the businesses did little or no work to help consumers. The businesses also failed to provide refunds.
  
  The Ohio Attorney General's Office, the Better Business Bureau, and Consumer Sentinel have received approximately 150 consumer complaints nationwide against the businesses. In their complaints, consumers state they paid up-front fees for the loan modifications ranging from $1,875 to $2,700.
  
  The Ohio Attorney General's lawsuit charges the defendants with multiple violations of the Consumer Sales Practices Act, including failure to deliver and failure to provide refunds. Additionally, it charges the defendants with violating the Debt Adjusters Act and the Telephone Solicitation Sales Act.

For the Ohio AG press release, see Attorney General DeWine Seeks Consumer Restitution from Out-of-State Foreclosure Rescue Operation.