We use cookies to give users the best content and online experience. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to allow us to use all cookies. Visit our Privacy Policy to learn more.

Manage Cookies
Resources for Businesses My BBB
Share
Business Profile

Debt Relief Services

Great Lakes Law Firm, LLC

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

Find BBB Accredited Businesses in Debt Relief Services.

Complaints

Customer Complaints Summary

  • 16 total complaints in the last 3 years.
  • 6 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

If you've experienced an issue

Submit a Complaint

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.

Sort by

Complaint status

Complaint type

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:12/10/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    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 letter in the mail offering debt consolidation. I thought this would be a good idea because interest rates were high and some of my income had just been reduced so I was trying to be proactive with my credit card debt. Prior to this I had a 710 credit score and PERFECT payment history for 15+ years.I was told I didnt qualify for a consolidation loan but I could do their debt settlement program. That theyve worked with all of my creditors before and have a high success rate. Although I had EXTREME anxiety when the attorney *** ***** told me to stop making payments directly to the companies, change the contact number to THEIR COMPANY, and pay them $1000 per month for them to handle all of the correspondence/calls and negotiations. From August 2023-May 2024 they were paid $1000 per month but NEVER talked to any of my ************* I have been sued by one of the creditors they were supposed to negotiate with, I have a VERY low credit score and poor payment history. This company has TRULY turned my credit upside down. It has caused me extreme pain and distress. Ive started having MAJOR panic *********** Im in the process of trying to handle everything on my own again.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:12/06/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    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.
    Was told I would get some money back haven't received it they told me they were being sued

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:10/17/2024

    Type:Billing Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    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.
    In 2023 Great Lakes Law Firm continually emailed and called me to offer a debt consolidation plan to help me with my credit card bills and personal loans. In July/August of 2023 I enrolled with them as I thought they could help. At that time my credit was good, high 600s to low 700s, I just felt that I could not keep up with the payments. In September of 2023 they started deducting $745 from my bank account. I sent them all of the collection notices from the companies, and voicemail messages I received, which would follow with a generic email stating they would be reviewing the documents. I continuously checked my SETL app to see if anything had been started and there was no action being taken at all. In October 2024, this month, I checked the BBB and saw they had an F rating. I called them and was able to speak with an agent and unenrolled from the program. As of October 2024 they had collected $10,071.88 from my bank account. I asked what amount they would be refunding me and they stated $7073.75. They kept $2998.73 for their fees yet none of my $50+ thousand dollars in debt was consolidated or acted upon. I am still receiving notices from **************** for a lowered payoff amount. Why didnt they pay that off with the money I sent them, theyre asking for only 40% of what my balance is! I would like my $2998.73 paid back to me, since I will now be negotiating with the credit card companies to pay off my debt, they did nothing but ruin my credit and keep my money for payment of services. There were no services done, which I believe would be a breach of the contract I signed, so they owe me all of it, not just 70.2% of what I paid.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:08/02/2024

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    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.
    Great Lakes was deducting money from my checking account ($550.67 per month for 9 months) for consolidating and repaying the loans. They didn't even contact anyone for consolidating the loans or make any payments based on the payment plans we made. They collected $4,956.03 in total and never did anything with that money.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:07/02/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    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 company sought me out to obtain their services for debt resolution. They hounded me, including calling me during evening hours. They convinced me to hire them and assured me I could cancel. The plan was for me to stop payment on my credit cards, and instead, they would deduct approx. $1,500 per month. They claimed they would save me money and use it to settle my debt with my creditors. At the beginning of this program, I was in good standing with all creditors and had good credit; I just couldn't reduce my debt alone, so I wanted to consolidate. I started the program Feb 2023. At the time, our car lease was going to be up in May 2023, and they told me that as long as I had been paying my lease car payments on time in the past, I would have no issues getting my next lease. This was a downright lie, and I was forced to get a new lease with terrible credit at an insane rate. Since Feb 2023, they've only worked on half of my accounts (I have ten accounts with them). They're resolved 3% of the debt, and 10% of the creditors in 15 months!!! They have not updated me or my accounts since December 2023, and when I call to get updates, I am on hold for ***** minutes at a time, and they say they are working as hard as they can to resolve. This was a huge mistake, however, what I need now is some resolution moving forward. My credit has only gotten worse over those 15 months, and until these accounts are out of the "pre-settlement stage," my credit rate can't increase.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:06/24/2024

    Type:Customer Service Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    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 enrolled with Great Lakes Law firm representing me as a debt resolution company and have been paying them $519 a month since April 2023. They have a portal to upload documents, they have a number to call, they have an email to email. But they never respond, they never pick up the phone, and I am being sued by **** of America. They have automated payments coming out of my bank account and the money is going "I don't know where". I am asking to be refunded the money that was not used properly. I am also closing my bank account so that they dont have access to my funds any longer.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:06/11/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    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 started a program with Great Lakes law firm a few years ago to settle my credit card debt. They allegedly sent out paperwork to the credit companies stating everything would go thru them. Discover garnished my wages because they never got paperwork. *** jewelers and *********** are the only ones theyve paid off. My account was supposed to graduate out of the program in march. Its now July and Im still paying a monthly fee. Cant get ahold of anyone! Not even the lawyer whos supposed to be representing me. He told me I cant help you when all I asked was if my program was done in march 2024. I have paid $300.44 a month for atleast 3-4 years now.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:05/24/2024

    Type:Billing Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    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.
    About a year ago, I signed on with this law firm to negotiate my debts. The program takes your debts, chops it into manageable payments to them, then as they receive funds: they negotiate with creditors on your behalf.They also handle all litigations and are supposed to be in contact with these people to keep things from escalating.They have a portal to upload documents, they have a number to call, they have an email to email. But they never respond, they never pick up the phone, and I am being sued by US Bank. They have automated payments coming out of my bank account and the money is going into a vacuous space.I am asking to be refunded the money that was not used properly. I am also closing my bank account so that they dont have access to my funds any longer.My payment were $437/month since December of 2022.Most months (except the first few) you can see were taken out on the 15th of each month. This company has never provided proofs of settling any of my debts.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:04/29/2024

    Type:Order Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    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 law firm has time and time again failed to provide the legal help I paid for in fees when I started a debt reconstruction process with them. They failed to provide me with legal representation each time an enrolled debt has been in litigation. This has caused me to have judgments and garnishments that I can't afford. They won't remove enrolled debts so that I can work with creditors again to fix the issues. This law firm is not professional. They cause undue stress. They won't work with creditors or clients when it is necessary. They don't follow their timelines. Nothing about this law firm was honest from when I signed up. No person should enter into a contract with this firm.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:04/16/2024

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    Unanswered
    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 enrolled with Great Lakes Law firm representing me as a debt resolution company and have been paying them $702/mo since March of 2023. There has been little if any progress in my debt case. I was served late February that a creditor was suing me in court. *** since found out that they are under a court appointed receivership which means basically that they profited and violated the law. Ive emailed them and tried contacting them several times and they now fail to respond.

Great Lakes Law Firm, LLC is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

To become accredited, a business must agree to BBB Standards for Trust and pass BBB's vetting process.

Why choose a BBB Accredited Business?

BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes.

BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. However, BBB does not verify the accuracy of information provided by third parties, and does not guarantee the accuracy of any information in Business Profiles.

When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.

BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period, except for customer reviews. Customer reviews posted prior to July 5, 2024, will no longer be published when they reach three years from their submission date. Customer reviews posted on/after July 5, 2024, will be published indefinitely unless otherwise voluntarily retracted by the user who submitted the content, or BBB no longer believes the review is authentic. BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. If you choose to do business with this company, please let them know that you checked their record with BBB.

As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation. BBB charges a fee for BBB Accreditation. This fee supports BBB's efforts to fulfill its mission of advancing marketplace trust.