Complaints

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:07/10/2023

  Type:Billing 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 was called on I believe 6-24or 6-26 and the rep represents himself as a lender to help me establish better credit . My bills were not late . I had merely been online seeking a consolidation loan. Next thing I know the man calls and himself as such. I know the conversation was taped all them are. He never told me he was going to debit my account for two months and let my bills go late before they are paid ,,,,, this was something I would have never agreed to ! Period ! Once I realized what was going on I had to call all my creditors and explain how I was scammed and let them know not to deal with century . I cannot believe they can get buy with something like this , why would I agree to let my bills go late two months while they banked my money , made interest -off it and I would be the one with bad credit .paying a lesser amounts that had been agreed to…l this entire business is a scam listen to the conversation. You decide …. They make it seem like they are helping you ! They are not helping a one but themselves to interest while they hold peoples money for two months to make you in arrears …… this IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME …. THEY SHOULD FULLY EXPLAIN. I U DERSTAND ITS PROBABLY ALL IN fine print …. It always it !! Next I will seek an attorney > ******* ***** *********** ***** *

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/17/2023

  This
  is a response from Century Support Services to Complaint *********
  
  After
  reviewing the concerns listed in the complaint, Century was able to contact *** ***** via telephone. We appreciate M** ***** giving us the opportunity to
  speak with her regarding her complaint.
  
  *** ***** enrolled in a Century Support Services debt settlement program on
  06/19/2023 and executed a Debt Settlement
  Agreement that disclosed the terms of Century’s program and listed all of
  the debts she enrolled in her Century program.
  
  In
  review of the complaint there are a few points we would like to address.
  Century
  did not solicit or reach out to M** *****.  M** ***** initiated a request
  for debt relief assistance and her request was responded to information regarding
  debt relief options.  The Century debt settlement program is a hardship
  program designed for clients in a financially distressed situation where
  keeping up with the minimum payments on secured debts is becoming a financial
  burden. When M** ***** enrolled in her debt settlement program, a customized
  plan was created for her to meet her program goals over an estimated time.
  
  Structured
  settlements with enrolled creditors can happen at various times and will depend
  on several factors, including the client’s monthly deposit amount, the number
  of creditors enrolled, and the balance of each individual account. It has been
  our experience that reaching out to creditors prior to being able to negotiate
  or enter into a new structured settlement can expedite the collection workflow.
  Century's settlement strategy is outlined in the Debt Settlement Agreement via
  section 4. Settlement of Your Debts: sub-section A: Timing
  and Amount of Settlement Offers which states,
  “We begin contacting
  your Creditors as soon as we determine that a good faith offer to settle a
  given Debt, whether on a lump-sum or installment basis, may be made, with such
  determinations dependent upon such factors as the Creditor's settlement
  policies, the rate of account accretion, the size of each Debt and how close a
  Debt may be to charge-off. Some creditors prefer that they not be contacted
  until you have accumulated sufficient funds in your Settlement Account to allow
  a negotiated settlement within their historic norms. While settlement
  guidelines differ widely among Creditors, an accumulation of 25% of the then-current
  balance of a Debt will normally enable a good-faith offer to settle that Debt.”
  
  Century’s
  goal is to negotiate substantial reductions to the balances on each enrolled account,
  including interest and fees that may have been assessed. Century does not
  represent that its debt settlement program is designed to improve credit. In
  fact, Century’s Debt Settlement Agreement is transparent about the potential effects
  of a debt settlement.  Section 3. B. (iv)
  entitled “The Effects of Participating in a Debt Settlement Program”
  clearly states,
  “failing to make your
  minimum monthly payments to your Creditors (a) will negatively affect your
  creditworthiness…”
  
  *** ***** states in her review that Century will hold her money for 2 months and
  accrue interest. This statement is not accurate. Upon entering into her Century
  program, M** ***** established a dedicated settlement account, in her name,
  with a third party banking & payment processor, Crossroads Financial Technologies (CFT). This
  special purpose settlement account is the account into which a client makes monthly
  program deposits and from which any settlements negotiated by Century on the
  client’s behalf, and with the client’s authorization, are paid.  As of the
  date of this complaint, M** ***** has not engaged her program by clearing her
  first monthly deposit & she has since requested her Debt Settlement
  Contract be cancelled.
  
  We
  regret any confusion or dissatisfaction that M** ***** has concerning her debt
  settlement program. That said, Century acted professionally and in accordance
  with its commitments and services documented in the executed Debt Settlement Agreement.
  We wish her the best in her future endeavors.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/13/2022

  Type:Order 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.

  This was a debt settlement company. I was in this program for 15 months starting in 2021 to Nov 2022. They were suppose to negotiate for 5 creditors on my behalf. No move with these creditors for a year. I paid them 878.00 for 15 months. Finally a creditor file a judgment on me and I had to hire a lawyer to get me out of this legal bind. Nothing was paid off. I cancel my program and they told me I owed them an additional 4000.00 in admin fees. The company is a rip off. I want some of my money back so I can pay my creditors.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 12/22/2022

  This is a
  response from Century Support Services to Complaint *********
  
  Our Senior Customer Advocate Team has not been successful in our multiple
  attempts to reach *** ***** via phone or email with hopes to address the
  concerns mentioned in her complaint.
  
  There are a few claims *** ***** makes that Century would like to address.
  
  In her complaint, *** ***** states that Century did not negotiate with her
  enrolled creditors in the 15 months she was enrolled.
  *** ***** enrolled into her program in 04/2021.  Her program consisted of
  5 enrolled debts totaling around $50,000 with an estimated 48 months to
  complete.  Within 35 days, Century successfully negotiated settlements on
  70% of ***  ******* enrolled debt providing her with a realized savings of
  $9,800.00. That early success is an amazing outcome.
  
  *** ***** also states that she owes $4,000.00 in “administration fees”. Century
  does not charge an administration fee. Century earns settlement fees as
  outlined in the Debt Resolution Agreement on Page 3, Section 5 titled “Fees”.
  Settlement fees are based on your enrolled debt balance and never increase
  throughout the program. However, Century does not earn a settlement fee until
  we do the work on each individual enrolled debt - this is how we show our
  value. When we successfully negotiate a settlement on your behalf, you accept
  the settlement and a first payment is initiated to the creditor, only then have
  we contractually earned the right to collect the full earned settlement fee on
  that particular debt. To accommodate a client, Century sometimes agrees to
  collect its earned settlement fees over several months in an effort to help
  clients take advantage of the settlement opportunity. In order for *** ***** to
  take advantage of the two amazing settlement opportunities presented to her
  within the first month of enrollment, Century agreed to collect the earned
  settlement fee over several months. (Net Credit account ending in 0261.
  40% settlement achieved & approved by client 4/29/202. Earned settlement
  fee spread over 13 months; Alliant Capital account ending 8675. 50% settlement
  achieved & approved by client 5/20/2021. Earned settlement fee spread over
  20 months)
  
  *** ***** mentions one of her creditors filed judgement against her and needed
  to hire an attorney.
  Century does not claim to prevent a creditor from escalated collection
  attempts.  However, if a creditor takes legal action against a client,
  Century works with the law firm to establish a favorable settlement, for the
  client. The creditor was communicating directly with *** *****. *** ***** did
  not share the collection information with Century regarding the legal account
  which did not allow Century any opportunity to even attempt to work with her or
  the law firm on that particular debt.
  
  We regret that *** ***** is not completely satisfied with the progress of her program
  or the value of the services we have provided. We encourage *** ***** to
  return our calls so we can have an open dialogue about her accounts and the
  progress of her program.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/04/2022

  Type:Order 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 signed up for Century due to fact like others felt overwhelmed with debt however WAS paying monthly minimums keeping good credit. There program designed me for a 48 month program in which i pay over 500.00 a month to them. 1st I will say they NEVER contacted sum of my creditors in which I called several times about. Secondly, to date only ONE creditor has been negotiated and settled. Next, I have 2 of my accounts that have been closed by creditor for over 2 months and YET have they done a thing, just an email here n there saying "your one step closer" too what??? I haven't heard a peep from them in 2 months..calling Tuesday and I demand answers as I feel this program was a shaft to the consumer..but to date have not heard a peep and don't let them tell you, you can just stop paying..my phone rings constant and the mailbox is always full..but yet NOTHING from these people and there service...so buyer beware your better off paying your minimums than this program! My score went from 650 to 424 as we speak. THANKS CENTURY!

  

  Business Response

  Date: 09/14/2022

  This is a response from Century Support Services to Complaint
  *********
  
  After reviewing the concerns listed in the complaint, Century was
  able to contact *** ****** via telephone. We appreciate *** ****** giving us
  the opportunity to have a conversation to review the concerns mentioned.
  
  Century's debt settlement program is designed for financially
  distressed consumers that are in a verifiable state of hardship. In his complaint, *** ****** mentions he felt he was becoming overwhelmed with his debt balances and his ability to  make minimum
  payments on his debts. Our program is hardship based & designed to get a
  consumer out of debt for a percentage of what is owed on
  their unsecured accounts. When making minimum payments, it can end up
  taking  10+ years trying to get debts paid off whereas debt settlement typically takes 2- 4 years. Our
  mission is to help a client resolve their
  unsecured debt in the shortest time possible and save a
  client as much money as possible by negotiating favorable settlements on
  the total balance owed, at the time of the settlement, including any interest
  and fees that may have been assessed.
  
  When *** ****** enrolled into his program, a plan was created for
  him to meet his goals over an estimated time. Settlements can happen at various
  times and will depend on several factors, including the monthly
  deposit amount, the number of creditors enrolled, and the balance
  of each individual account. It has been our experience that reaching out to
  creditors prior to being able to negotiate or enter into a new structured
  settlement can expedite the collection workflow. Century's
  settlement strategy is outlined in the Debt Settlement Agreement.
  4. Settlement of Your Debts:
  A. Timing and Amount of
  Settlement Offers: We begin contacting your Creditors as soon as we determine
  that a good faith offer to
  settle a given Debt, whether on a
  lump-sum or installment basis, may be made, with such determinations dependent
  upon such factors as
  the Creditor's settlement
  policies, the rate of account accretion, the size of each Debt and how close a
  Debt may be to charge-off. Some
  Creditors prefer that they not be
  contacted until you have accumulated sufficient funds in your Settlement
  Account to allow a negotiated
  settlement within their historic
  norms. While settlement guidelines differ widely among Creditors, an accumulation
  of 25% of the then-
  current balance of a Debt will
  normally enable a good-faith offer to settle that Debt.
  
  In review of *** ****** 's program, Century
  was able to successfully negotiate a favorable settlement on *** ****** 's
  largest account providing him with a realized saving of $2,700.00 in his first
  30 days of being enrolled!
  
  We appreciate *** ****** taking the time to speak with us and look
  forward to being his partner for the remainder of his program.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 09/14/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
  
  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  ******* ******