Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Specialized Consumer Strategies's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  Specialized Consumer Strategies

  585 S Ronald Reagan Blvd Ste 133 Longwood, FL 32750-5462

• 

  Specialized Consumer Strategies

  4300 W Lake Mary Blvd Ste 421 Lake Mary, FL 32746-2060

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/12/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I initially contacted this company about help with credit card debt. I was already stressed about my financial state. After going over a plan that would be best for me. They were fast-talking high-pressure team that handed me off to no less than four people. I should have known better but i signed a contract that gave them access to a number of my credit cards, which they withdrew stated fees immediately. The following day they had everything changed. Instead of trying to include all my cards to be taken care of they were only going to take care of five and transfer the balance onto a card of my wife. once i realized what was going on I tried to cancel their services. If I had been one day earlier, I would have been entitled to do so and get the money returned per Ohio ******* day turned this into a nightmare, some words were exchanged, mostly on my part. They had no inclination of even considering my position. They didn't care that they overdrawn one of my cards. They didn't care that I was in worse shape than I was before contacting them. They have no shame for keeping my money and making things in my life worse.

  Business Response

  Date: 11/13/2024

  Thank you for reaching out to share your concerns. Our records show that we have delivered exactly the services outlined in the contract you signed, including negotiating significantly reduced interest rates and consolidating your balances to help you repay debt more efficiently. Specifically, we enrolled your PNC card into a 5-year program at a fixed rate of 4.99%, and we arranged to transfer balances from your ***********, ****** and **************** accounts to your wifes Discover card, securing a 3.99% rate for 15 months. Based on this plan, we projected that you could save a total of $19,938.14 in interest across your accounts, putting you in a far stronger position to achieve financial stability.
  
  Our team takes these commitments seriously, which is why we ensure that all terms, including fees and cancellation policies, are fully stated in the contract you signed before any work begins. The upfront fees you agreed to were used to implement these arrangements promptly, and once the financial plan was in place, our policies on refunds became effective.
  
  We understand that managing these adjustments to your finances can feel complex, but our aim has always been to support your long-term financial goals. If you would like to discuss potential adjustments to your plan, we are more than willing to explore options that may better align with your needs.
  
  Please reach out if you would like to discuss any modifications or have questions about the services we provided. Thank you for the opportunity to work with you toward your financial freedom, and we appreciate your feedback as we continue to refine our services.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/13/2024

   
  Complaint: 22546964
  
  I am rejecting this response because: The company in question provided me with nothing, not a plan that I felt at all comfortable with. They act as if they spent so much time working on my behalf, when in fact it was barely over a day. They have done nothing to gain my trust but argue and pass me off to the next person. Instead of improving my financial situation they have buried me in even more debt. They can't comprehend that they had made me feel very uncomfortable and accept that I wanted to cancel our agreement. Had I been one day sooner they would be bound by Ohio law. Cancellation Rights of Consumers, Credit and debt counseling services: 3 days. Ohios Credit Services Organization Act (starting at ORC *******) gives consumers three days to cancel credit and debt counseling service,  they would have had to accept my decision. They have not shown to have one caring bone in their body, which in itself a true indication of their greed.
  Sincerely,
  
  ******* Spriggs  

  Business Response

  Date: 11/14/2024

  We are committed to delivering transparent and beneficial services to each client and regret that Mr. ******* feels dissatisfied with his experience. Our objective is to make a positive impact on our clients, ensuring the time invested in their personalized financial plans results in significant savings. In Mr. ********* case, we defiantly did that for him and created a tailored plan, which both he and Mrs. ******* initially agreed upon. 
  
  **************** raised concerns, we immediately responded by offering to explore additional options, including reviewing smaller accounts he initially chose not to includeat no extra costas a gesture of our commitment to his satisfaction. Mr. ******* agreed to this plan, and a follow-up appointment was scheduled to discuss these options. However, when we reached out to confirm the appointment, we were unable to make contact and later received a cancellation request from him.
  
  Our processes and contracts are transparent, with terms and the cancellation policy clearly communicated from the outset. While Mr. ******** cancellation request was submitted after the legal window for cancellation had passed, we remained open to discussing ways to enhance his experience. We had multiple phone conversations to ensure Mr. ******* felt comfortable before finalizing the agreement. There was no high-pressure approach to signing the contract.
  
  It is disappointing to see any misrepresentation of our practices. Our team upholds a standard of professional and respectful service to all clients. While we understand that circumstances may change, adhering to agreed terms is crucial to maintaining fairness and ensuring the effectiveness of our services.
  
  We have met our obligations as outlined in our agreement, and we respectfully request that Mr. ******* maintains open communication with us so that we may continue with the services he originally requested.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/16/2024

   
  Complaint: 22546964
   
  I am rejecting this response because: I do not want to work with this company after other responses. My issue with them is all too familiar 

  to many of other complaints.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ******* *******

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/17/2024

  Like many other complaints I have read I was contacted by phone, I was told that I had an account that was compromised. It seemed legitimate in nature. I was then handed over to Specialized Consumer Strategy. I should have known better right then and there. I should have done my research before even talking to them. This seems to be the complaint of many people on many sights. I will not be satisfied with their response until they come clean on these shady practices and return my funds.  They do not have anyone's best interest in mind. If they did, they wouldn't draw such a large amount of money up front with no intention of returning any amount to their disgruntled customers. Beware of these phone calls, and Specialized Consumer Strategy. 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/22/2024

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Someone called my mother and ***eated her social security number and credit card info to her verbatim and claimed to be from a federal agency - Consumer Financial ****************** They then transferred her to Specialized Consumer Strategies. When they asked her to confirm her credit card information, she turned down the offer and I ended the call. They proceeded to call back six times, stating that they had me on tape and goading and threatening me that the consequences would be dire. The number called from was ************, listed online as a Delaware robocall number when outgoing. Displays as ***************** *****, so the scammer is masking. I called the number and the *** who answered stated he was in the *********** and that ***** doesnt make outbound credit card interest rate reduction offers. I have a recording of the last conversation I had with them. I let them know I was recording and filing a complaint and they havent called back so far. Examples of things the *** said to me: Are you a high school dropout? and You sound like a junkie.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/22/2024

  Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We understand how concerning it can be to receive unsolicited and threatening calls, especially those involving sensitive personal information.
  First and foremost, we want to assure you that Specialized Consumer Strategies strictly adheres to all legal and ethical guidelines in our business practices. After thoroughly reviewing our records, we can confirm that we have not contacted your mother regarding any credit card information or made any such calls as described in your complaint.
  It appears there may have been a misunderstanding, possibly involving another party that contacted your mother prior to the transfer. We believe your complaint may have been intended for the initial caller. To clarify, the phone number you mentioned *************) is not associated with our company in any way, nor do we conduct business in the manner described in this complaint. We do not make unsolicited calls unless a client has filled out our quote request on our website, reached out to us directly, or weve received referrals from previous clients, family, or friends. We do not engage in robocalling, which leads us to believe this complaint may have been mistakenly directed toward us.
  We are committed to helping resolve this situation and would be happy to assist ****************** in any way we can. However, we want to reassure you that this does not reflect our company's character or practices, and we have maintained a strong reputation for over 17 years. We are easily found through a simple ****** search related to finances or interest rates, and while our positive reputation sometimes attracts scammers impersonating verifiable companies, we would never treat someone in this manner.
  We sincerely apologize for the distress this situation has caused your mother, and we are here to help in any way we can. Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or require additional information.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/27/2024

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I received a call from this company stating my social security number had been stolen and they were attempting to cancel all my credit cards and put a stop to all pending transactions. When I asked them for the number they were calling from, they gave me the number to the ****************** at *********Its a SCAM.

  Business Response

  Date: 03/28/2024

  We understand your concern, but we believe there has been a misunderstanding. Our company has no affiliation with the ******************* at ********, and we did not make any such call to you. Our interaction with *************** occurred back in February when we provided financial planning services to assist her with her debt. For example, we assisted *************** with her **** of America account and successfully negotiated her interest rate from *****% down to 1.75%, saving her a significant amount of money (over $10,000.00).
  It seems there may have been confusion regarding the identity of the caller claiming to be from the ******************* at Experian."We assure you that our company operates with integrity and is not involved in any fraudulent activities. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, but we are not the company you are referring to in your complaint.
  If you have any further concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. We are committed to addressing any issues and providing assistance as needed.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/02/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I was contacted by SCS to help resolve financial & credit issues. They promised to reduce my debt exposure by placing my accounts into a lower interest, payment accelerated program. At the time I owed approximately $10,000 in credit card debt at an average interest rate of 23%. The upfront cost for this program was $1,575 which they charged to the one credit card which I still had an open credit line. That increased my debt to $11,57 and after a year of regular payments the low interest rate they promised has increased to 29.99% and my payments have increased to a higher amount than I can commit to.
  
  I would like to have a refund of the monies they stole from me and help others avoid being taken advantage of by these scam artists.

  Business Response

  Date: 03/07/2023

  We have been in contact with customer and resolved his issue with miscommunication. We did do everything we were suppose to do and helped with his all of his accounts. Customer is satisfied. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/07/2023

  
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  
  **** ***

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/18/2022

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  September 19,2022 I received a call on my cell phone from***************, A man told me he was from ******** Credit Center and because I had a good rating with them, I qualified for a reward of a lower interest rate on my credit cards and debt relief. He turned the call over to a man named Taylor L***** to explain, That call lasted an hour and 18 minutes. He asked me for my bank account numbers and all of my credit card information along with my personal information. I believed that ******** was going to charge money and use that money to settle an amount with my creditors and I would be debt free. I am 90 years old, I wear a hearing aid and have poor vision, and only have social security so any help to not have debt made me hopeful. After they hung up I got texts that $850.00 was charged on one credit card it was maxed out and they maxed out another card. Altogether they have so far gotten more than $1,100, and are calling me for more money. I found out through my credit card company that they are not ********, they are Specialized Strategies and that they have nothing to do with ********, They charge thousands of dollars for advice only, I feel like I have been robbed. My Children advised me to stop being nice and refuse these scammers by hanging up, but I need my money back for my bills. The next day September the 20th when Mr L***** called me asking for more money, I told him I did not want his service and that I wanted my money back. He started arguing with me I kept telling him to please give me back my money and I had to end up hanging up. Thank You. **************
  

  Business Response

  Date: 11/17/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/10/20) */
  Ms. **** was hired by our company she knew we were Specialized Consumer Strategies. We introduced ourselves as Specialized Consumer Strategies and the paperwork she received from us had our company information on each page. Our calls are recorded and never did we say we were ********. We went through Ms. **** finances and developed a financial plan for her due to she was on a fixed income. We went through all of her accounts, reviewed her ******* Credit report and went through her monthly budget. After providing different financial options, she agreed to the action plan that would save her over $7,500.00 in interest and financial charges and her debt would be paid off in five years or less. Her credit card payments would be half of what they are now and would bring her monthly budget down which was our main goal for her. We have in no way taken advantage of Ms. ****, we did provide the services she asked us to provide. The contracts were sent to her, in which she signed and did a recorded verification agreeing to our financial planning services. Ms. **** was aware of our service fee and agreed the split charges. Ms. **** had no issues until her daughter got involved and told her mom to just hang up on us due to her daughter assumed we were a scam. We are helping her with the best financial plan for her, but unfortunately the daughter is holding her back. Her daughter told her to cancel and file complaints against us. She is hindering her mom from saving so much money, even monthly on her fixed income. We didn't do anything wrong and do not appreciate the slander.
  
  
  Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/10/25) */
  (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
  I am sitting with Mrs. ****, my mother now. She was told she was taking to ******** about reducing her debt and her monthly payment for her credit card debt. She did not worry about sharing her financial and personal information because she knew ******** already had her information, she thought she was verifying it for ********.
  She only saw that it was Specialized Strategies when her ******** card sent a text saying $850.00 had been charged by them that same day. She was not employed by you, she was scammed by you. You sent to her phone asking her to sign that it was ok for who she thought was ******** to help her, and then you maxed out several of her credit cards. You lied to a 90 year old widow. She lives with my sister she is hearing and vision impaired and only has social security.
  You called her and lucked out that she did not understand you were calling to take money she did not have. She was home alone you kept her on the phone making for more than an hour wearing her out and promising her she should trust that you were going to save her money as ********, a lie, then drained the little credit she had left.
  By your reviews which I read to her when she called me after ******** listed your real company name, listed you as a predator company and a lot of the reviews of attacks by you were done on the elderly. She told you when you called the next day after she froze her accounts and you were looking for more money, that she did not want your services she wanted her money back.She still wants her money back. Mrs. **** says she was lied to.
  
  
  Business Response /* (4000, 9, 2022/10/26) */
  We apologize for the mistype at the beginning of our 1st response. It should have stated "Ms. **** hired our company to help her with her finances." She understood who we were, as it was stated multiple times in our calls with her as well as our name is all over the contracts she signed. We even did a Quality Assurance recording, where we went over everything that we did with her including our company name. She understood we were not her banks and understood our services were rendered. Again, our calls are recorded and at no point did we ever say we were from ********! All of our calls explained exactly what we are doing (financial planning) and who we were (SCS). Ms. **** understood everything and at no point expressed otherwise. We provided Ms. **** with a financial plan that saves her over $7,500.00. How is it fair that ********, ***** Mercury and************ is taking advantage of Ms. ****, a 90-year-old woman, by being charged such high rates on a fixed income? Most of her payment is going to those banks for interest and not to her principle, which is why her balances are going nowhere and she has such high payment she cannot afford. This is where we came in, we listened to her and what she needed, went through her budget, credit report to include all of her debt and we explained all of her options, Ms. **** did not know about these programs and we helped her so the banks are not taking advantage of her that will save her thousands in interest and financial charges. Ms. **** agreed to this plan and signed the plan that would lock her in at lower rates and lower payments, which is exactly what Ms. **** needed right now. Yes, there is a one-time services fee for our services that were rendered and yes, we had all the signed, recorded documents authorizing that charge before she was ever charged. We went over our fee numerous times with her and Ms. **** understood our fee would have to be split between three of her cards due to she was already maxed out and didn't have enough available on one account. Ms. **** knew how much our fee was and exactly how it was being split between each account. She verified each amount and the card information to each charge. Again, Ms. **** signed contracts and did a recording agreeing to that one-time fee to be split between her accounts. For Ms. **** Daughter to claim her mom didn't know, is wrong. We have the recorded calls and quality assurance recorded call #******. After listening to all the calls, Ms. **** did hear us very clearly, she knew we were SCS (specialized consumer strategies- Not ********) and she signed all the contracts authorizing everything. She had no issues reviewing the contracts with us before she signed them. We did what we were hired to do and that was to help Ms. **** with her financial options that saves her the most and with our plan that she agreed to, does just that. We can resolve this more efficiently if you gave our office a call instead of believing everything you read on the internet, not everything is true. If Ms. **** and her daughter took the time to read the responses to every complaint, the few we have, you will see almost every one of them is someone else getting involved. They jump to conclusions and assume we are a scam and hindering the process. If you read all the 5-star reviews of all the people that were nervous about this being a scam, but trusted us and now they couldn't be happier. We are not here to hurt anyone, just here to help Ms. **** with a way to not give so much of her money to these banks and we will not sit back and allow someone to slander us when we didn't do anything wrong. We are Sorry Ms. **** and her daughter got scared, but had they just trusted the process we wouldn't be here responding to a prejudged complaint.