THIS BUSINESS IS NOT BBB ACCREDITED

Premier Legal Advocates

(888) 303-0868 27489 Agoura Road, Suite 310, Agoura Hills, CA 91301

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Description

This company's business is providing loan modifications.

BBB Accreditation

This business is not BBB Accredited.

Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation.

To be accredited by BBB, a business must apply for accreditation and BBB must determine that the business meets BBB accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. BBB Accredited Businesses must pay a fee for accreditation review/monitoring and for support of BBB services to the public.

Reason for Rating

BBB rating is based on 16 factors. Get the details about the factors considered.

Factors that lowered this business's rating include:

Failure to have a required competency licenseLength of time business has been operating262 complaint(s) filed against businessFailure to respond to 256 complaint(s) filed against business2 complaint(s) filed against business that were not resolved99 serious complaint(s) filed against businessOverall complaint history with BBBGovernment action(s) against business

Customer Complaints Summary

262 complaints closed with BBB in last 3 years | 15 closed in last 12 months
Complaint Type Total Closed Complaints
Advertising / Sales Issues 32
Billing / Collection Issues 6
Problems with Product / Service 214
Delivery Issues 3
Guarantee / Warranty Issues 7
Total Closed Complaints 262

Additional Complaint Information

Most complainants allege unfulfilled contracts, and failure to honor their money back guarantee in connection with loan modification contracts. Custromers complain that the company fails to perform the modification services after accepting payment and promising to perform, and the company fails to provide refunds as per their money back guarantee. Recent complainants report that phones are not answered or disconnected, and they are unable to contact anyone at the company. Many complainants also report they lost their homes to forclosure by relying on the company to resolve their mortgage problems.

Complaint Details | Definitions | BBB Complaint Process | File a Complaint

  • Government Actions

    Agency: Attorney Generals where no BBB (AG)
    Description: On July 1, 2010 this company entered into a settlement agreement with the Oregon Attorney General’s office to resolve previously filed allegations that the company charged illegal advance fees for loan modification services it subsequently failed to perform.

    The Oregon Department of Justice began investigating Bank Modification Experts of Woodland Hills, California, after receiving consumer complaints that suggested the company was violating Oregon’s Mortgage Rescue Fraud Protection Act by collecting advance fees for loan modification work aimed at preventing foreclosure. The company refunded several Oregon consumers. Bank Modification Experts eventually began doing business from Agoura Hills, California as Premier Legal Advocates.

    Under the settlement agreement, the company paid $4,000 to the Oregon Department of Justice, refunded an Oregon consumer $2400 and must refund any other Oregon consumers who paid illegal advance fees. The company is also prohibited from doing any further foreclosure consulting or loan modification work in Oregon. The settlement does not admit wrongdoing. Upon entry the order was finalized.

    Date of Action: 7/1/2010

    Agency: Department of Real Estate
    Description: On August 24, 2010 the California Department of Real Estate filed a Desist and Refrain Order against this company, two related companies, and their principal Brian Pascal. The order was filed in the public interest when an investigation by the Commission determined that the companies were engaging in or attempting to engage in the business of acting in the capacity, and or advertising or assuming to act as real estate brokers in the state of California in connection with loans secured by real property and advance fee handling. According to the Commission, none of the companies named are currently licensed, and have never been licensed by the Department of Real Estate.

    Based on the Commission’s investigation, the companies solicited borrowers for loan modification services in expectation of compensation; and advertised a loan modification service and advance fee brokerage services with respect to loans that were secured by liens on real property, and also collected fees in advance to providing services.

    The companies and Mr. Pascal were ordered to immediately desist and refrain from performing any acts in the State of California for which a real estate broker license is required unless the companies obtain required licenses. The Order further prohibits the company from charging, claiming, receiving, or collecting any advance fees in any form, under any conditions, with respect to the performance of loan modification services, or any other form of mortgage forbearance services. In addition the companies must file an Advance Fee Agreement with the State, and placed all previously collected advance fees into a trust account for that purpose, and had provided a trust fund accounting to owner beneficiaries pursuant to State regulations.




    Date of Action: 8/24/2010

    What government actions does BBB report on?

  • Advertising Review

    BBB has no information regarding advertising review at this time.

    What is BBB Advertising Review?

Additional Information

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100088661
BBB file opened: 11/2/2009 Business started: 9/25/2009
Licensing

As of our last verification on August 17, 2010, Brian Pascal's DRE salespersons license was conditionally suspended for failing to comply with educational requirements. For the most up-to-date information regarding license status, consumers may contact the DRE by calling (916) 227-0886 or by visiting their website at http://secure.dre.ca.gov.

Contact Information
Brian Pascal - CEO
    Customer Service ()
Business Category

Loan Modifications

Alternate Web Sites
Industry Tips
This company advertises the ability to stop foreclosures by modifying mortgage loans. Although the company's promotional materials and contract use terms such as "retainer agreement," and "legal advocates," implying they are, or are associated with a law firm, they are not a law firm.

This company's principal, Brian Pascal previously owned or operated another loan modification company called BWP & Associates, Inc. dba Bank Modification Experts and Home Resolution Company. This company earned an F rating with the BBB due to a pattern of unanswered complaints alleging they failed to follow through on loan modification contracts, and failed to provide refunds for the unfulfilled contracts before going out of business. A separate report is available upon request, or can be accessed by cutting and pasting the following link;

http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Bank-Modification-Experts-100079873.

Effective October 11th, 2009, it is illegal to collect any fees, regardless of the form, for negotiating or attempting to negotiate a loan modification for a residential mortgage in the State of California. All services must be fully completed before any charges can be imposed. In California, it is also illegal to divide advance fees or services into components for the purpose of avoiding this law, or to split advance fees with attorneys.

Consumers should check with their State Attorney General for compliance laws in their own State. Any Attorney associated with this company must be registered with the State BAR in the State where the client lives in order to perform legal services in that state. While the company claims that they only perform modifications for non-California residents, the BBB has received numerous complaints from California residents from whom they collected advance fees. Housing and Development approved housing counselors are exempt from this law.