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:07/21/2025

  Type:Product 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 entered into debt consolidation with guardian litigation and I realized after nine months they were only paying them 331.00$ out of 541.00$.I realized they were taking half my money so I canceled with them in June. They told me/promised me the payment would not be taken on July first, but they did take it so I called them. They assured me I was getting a refund coming back to me within a week or two.I waited two weeks and called back and was promised it was coming but it would take 1-2 more weeks so I waited another week and called back this morning only to be told they kept the money for fees there would be no refund!!! These people are a scam!!

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/23/2025

  Dear BBB:
  
  Guardian Litigation Group appreciates the opportunity to respond to this complaint and provide clarification regarding Mrs. ********* account.
  
  Mrs. ******** retained Guardian to provide legal services related to her unsecured debts. It is important to clarify that Guardian is not a debt consolidation company and does not offer loans or financial products. Our firm provides legal services to resolve unsecured debt obligations.
  
  Within the first 90 days of engagement, Guardian successfully negotiated and finalized a settlement on Mrs. ********* second largest debt. This early resolution saved her thousands of dollars and provided a significant balance reduction.
  
  Regarding her concern about the July deposit, our records show that Mrs. ******** contacted our office too close to the scheduled withdrawal date for us to prevent the transaction. At that time, our team advised her that we would attempt to stop the payment but could not guarantee it could be blocked. Unfortunately, the transaction could not be reversed.
  In accordance with the signed engagement agreement, Guardians fees are earned upon the successful negotiation and commencement of settlement payments. For that reason, no refund is warranted.
  
  We regret that Mrs. ******** feels her experience did not meet her expectations. However, Guardian has acted in full compliance with the engagement agreement and remains willing to discuss her file directly if she would like additional clarification.
  
  Guardian Litigation Group

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/23/2025

  I was told my 541 would be refunded all month until they decided to keep it for fees.  There were no more fees I had cancelled with my right to cancel. I was told as long as I cancelled before the next payment I would receive a refund.  They simply kept the money our business was already canceled!

  I am owed 541.00$

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/24/2025

  Dear BBB:
  
  Guardian Litigation Group appreciates the opportunity to further clarify the status of Mrs. ********* account.
  
  We understand and regret that there may have been confusion regarding the final deposit withdrawn from her account. While Mrs. ******** did request cancellation, our records indicate that the request came too close to the scheduled withdrawal date for the transaction to be halted in time. At the time of her call, our team clearly explained that we would attempt to stop the payment but could not guarantee it, and unfortunately, the transaction processed as scheduled.
  
  Per the terms of the engagement agreement, our firms contingency fees are earned upon the successful negotiation and commencement of settlement payments. In Mrs. ********* case, the payment in question was applied toward those earned fees based on prior services rendered, including the successful negotiation of a settlement that provided her with substantial savings. For that reason, no refund is due.
  
  That said, we are sorry to hear that Mrs. ******** feels misled. Our intention is always to communicate clearly and transparently, and we welcome the opportunity to review her file and discuss any remaining concerns with her directly.
  
  Guardian Litigation Group

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/15/2025

  Type:Service or Repair 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 began *** in October 2024. I kept on top of my payments and monthly phone calls. In April I found out that one of the companies they were supposed to be negotiating with went to court and then began garnishing my pay at 25%. I contacted ***. They had heard nothing of it and said it was my fault and there was nothing they could do about it. I cancelled my account with them and they are not sending any of the money back that I have paid them-except for $178. I now have to file bankruptcy. Before using them I was making on time payments just struggling. Big mistake on my part.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/18/2025

  Dear BBB:
  
  We appreciate the opportunity to respond to this complaint and provide clarification regarding Ms. *********** account.
  
  Ms. ********** retained Guardian in October 2024 to provide legal services related to her unsecured debts. During our representation, we successfully negotiated settlements resolving approximately one-third of the total debt she engaged us to assist with.
  
  Unfortunately, one of Ms. *********** creditors filed a lawsuit against her, and we were not made aware of this legal action until after the creditor had already obtained a judgment. At that point, our options were limited to pursuing post-judgment settlement arrangements, which in this situation was the best possible outcome available under the circumstances.
  
  We regret that Ms. ********** feels her experience did not meet her expectations and wish her the best in managing her financial situation moving forward.
  
  Guardian Litigation Group

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/14/2025

  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.

  Enrolled with guardian. Company is not transparent. I have been in program for over 6 months. They have only settled 2 of my 7 debts. Have not made any efforts to settle other debts resulting in charge offs. When requested to remove all accounts from their program they told me the money I had already paid to them had not been paid to the creditor and the money would "disappear" and u would not be refunded. Very deceptive and not forthcoming.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/18/2025

  Dear BBB:
  
  Guardian Litigation Group appreciates the opportunity to respond to this complaint and provide clarification regarding Ms. *********** account.
  
  Ms. ********** retained Guardian to provide legal services related to her unsecured debts. During our representation, we successfully resolved two of her accounts in alignment with the expected program timeline. At the time Ms. ********** elected to disengage from our services, we were already actively working to resolve her third debt. Based on her monthly budget, we were moving as quickly as possible to address her debts and mitigate the risk of litigation, and had she chosen to continue, her next negotiated resolution was scheduled to occur in August.
  
  We respectfully deny any claims of deception or lack of transparency. Ms. ********** had full access to her dedicated savings account throughout her engagement. Additionally, one of our supervisors attempted to reach her on at least three occasions via text and phone to discuss her file and address her concerns.
  
  We remain committed to supporting Ms. ********** and would welcome the opportunity to speak with her directly to clarify her programs progress and explore how we might assist her further.
  
  Guardian Litigation Group

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/10/2025

  Type:Billing 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 enrolled in Guardian litigation groups debt consolidation plan over 5 months ago. I submitted seven credit cards with the promise that they would contact my creditors and negotiate settlement plans. I was also promised that within 4 months they would offer me a low interest loan so I could pay off these creditors. Then they reneged and said they wouldn't offer me a loan for 6 months into the program and did not say it would be low interest. Basically,out the gate, I was in the same place I was before signing up with them.Prior to enrolling in guardians program, my DTI was high but I paid my credit cards on time and consistently. Not anymore.Instead of helping me they have hurt me. They only negotiated with one of my creditors which was the only one they had a POA, so it was easy. They have not kept their promises at all and have hurt my credit and caused me even more stress.Truth be told they lied. To add insult to injury they kept the balance in my escrow account to pay for their non-service.I live on social security and a small side business. I thought they were the answer to my financial struggles. Instead, they have made my situation worse. When I spoke with an outside lawyer about Guardian, he said that most victims of debt consolidation groups, usually end up going bankrupt anyway. I am still trying to avoid that route.I don't know how they have an A+ rating with BBB as I'm certain I am not the only complaint.I also don't expect the BBB to do anything to change their rating. All I can do is my best to let others know they are all pap and not to be trusted.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/14/2025

  Dear BBB:
  
  Guardian Litigation Group appreciates the opportunity to respond to this complaint and provide clarification regarding Ms. ******* account.  Ms. ****** retained Guardian to provide legal services related to her unsecured debt. It is important to clarify that Guardian is not a debt consolidation company and does not provide loans or financial products. Our law firm focuses on legal negotiation, litigation defense, and risk mitigation to resolve unsecured debt obligations.
  
  Within just three months of engagement, Guardian successfully negotiated a settlement with excellent terms for one of Ms. ******* accounts. This early result provided her with a meaningful balance reduction and positioned her to resolve a portion of her debt significantly sooner than projected.  Regarding the acceleration loan mentioned in the complaint, this option was explained to Ms. ****** during her initial onboarding call and quality control call as exactly thatan option. It is offered solely through an independent lending partner, and Guardian has no control over the loans rate, terms, or approval requirements. Clients may apply for this loan after six months of consistent, on-time program deposits; however, approval is never guaranteed.
  
  Guardian has tens of thousands of satisfied clients across the country, with far more satisfied than dissatisfied. This is reflected in our strong client outcomes and high ratings.  We regret that Ms. ****** feels her experience did not meet her expectations and wish her the best in managing her financial situation moving forward.
  
  Guardian Litigation Group
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/16/2025

  I'm sorry to report that Guardian's response is inaccurate and untrue.

  1st. they did nothing to contact or arrange settlement with ANY of my 7 creditors for 4 months!  Then they only settled with the one account that had a POA!

  2nd. I was PROMISED at my onboarding conversations that a loan would be offered to me within 4 months at a low interest rate.  They changed their story mid-stream....AFTER I agreed to their services, not upfront beforehand or I would not have gone with them in the first place!
  

  3rd.  Guardian does not have hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers.  All one needs to do is dig a little into their reviews.  I am not their only Victim, and blatant lying in not ok.

  They should be held accountable for their inappropriate promises to all their dissatisfied customers.

  Integrity is sorely lacking with Guardian Litigation Group.

  Shame on them all!

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/21/2025

  Dear BBB:
  
  Guardian Litigation Group appreciates the opportunity to provide further clarification regarding Ms. ******* file. As noted in our original response, Ms. ****** retained Guardian to provide legal services related to her unsecured debts. Within the first four months of her engagement, the funds she deposited into her dedicated savings account were fully allocated to paying for the first settlement we successfully negotiated on her behalf. This settlement resolved one of her accounts with excellent terms and provided her with a meaningful balance reduction. At the time Ms. ****** elected to cancel her engagement, she was approximately two weeks away from her next negotiated settlement. This settlement was scheduled as her funds became available following the completion of payments toward her first settlement.
  
  Regarding Ms. ******* concerns about a loan, we note that during her initial onboarding process, she completed a recorded quality control call that clearly explained Guardian is not a lender, we do not provide loans, and any potential acceleration loan is offered solely through an independent lending partner. Loan approval is never guaranteed, and Guardian has no control over the loans terms or requirements.
  
  Finally, in response to Ms. ******* claim regarding Guardians client base and reputation, we respectfully disagree. Guardian has successfully provided legal services to tens of thousands of clients across the country. Our firm maintains strong ratings and a proven track record of positive outcomes, which is reflected in the numerous reviews and testimonials from satisfied clients. While we regret that Ms. ****** feels her experience did not meet her expectations, Guardian has acted in full compliance with the engagement agreement.
  
  We remain willing to assist Ms. ****** in reviewing her file or exploring additional solutions if she chooses to reconnect with us directly.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/24/2025

  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.
  
  Regards,
  
  ******* ******
  
   
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/09/2025

  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.

  On April 2, 2025, I enrolled with Guardian Litigation Group for assistance in resolving a $21,000 debt owed to my bank. I chose your service due to personal financial hardship and the assurance that your team would provide legal negotiation and resolution on my behalf within approximately four ********* has now been over four months, and I have yet to be contacted by any attorney or provided with any updates regarding negotiations with my bank. This lack of communication is deeply concerning and unacceptable, given the urgency of my situation.If this matter is not resolved by July 11, 2025just two days from nowmy bank will be forced to close my account, and I will suffer significant damage to my credit profile. This could result in a permanent negative **** on my credit report, which I am trying to avoid by working with your firm.I am currently paying Guardian Litigation Group $421 per month with 0% interest, under the impression that this was a more manageable and reliable alternative to the traditional debt resolution route, which would have cost me $700 per month and included over $52,000 in interest.I am requesting that Guardian Litigation Group take immediate and serious action to deliver on the promises madespecifically, to begin communication with my bank, provide a clear plan for settlement, and resolve this debt by the stated deadline.If I do not receive a response or meaningful resolution within 48 hours, I will be forced to escalate this matter through additional formal channels.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/18/2025

  Dear BBB:
  
  Guardian Litigation Group appreciates the opportunity to respond to this complaint and provide clarification regarding Ms. ******* account.  Ms. ****** retained Guardian to provide legal services related to a single, large unsecured debt. It is important to clarify that the timeline for negotiating a settlement in such cases varies widely and depends on several factors, including the specific creditor involved and the time required to accumulate sufficient funds in the clients dedicated savings account to support a settlement offer.
  
  At the time of engagement, Ms. ****** was informed both verbally and in writing that participation in our legal services engagement would likely have a negative impact on her credit while her debts remained unresolved. Additionally, our team strongly recommended that she change banks to avoid the creditor exercising its contractual right of setoff, which would allow it to withdraw funds from her account without authorization. This recommendation was made to help protect her from the very issue she now references in her complaint.
  
  We can confirm that Ms. ******* Guardian attorney reached out to her in April and left her a message. Additionally, her account has been escalated within our systems, and we anticipate having a response for her within the next 35 business days regarding the status of negotiations with her creditor.
  
  Guardian remains committed to assisting Ms. ****** and delivering strong legal outcomes on her behalf.
  
  Guardian Litigation Group

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/08/2025

  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 told in the beginning about my payment amount for this debt solution program was $169 every two weeks I asked about this on about three occasions to confirm after they negotiated a few debts that my payment would not increase more than the original agreed upon amount and they said it would not-three times!!Now they are telling me just a few days ago my payment was increasing by $50. They just flat out lied to me

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/11/2025

  Dear BBB:
  
  Guardian Litigation Group appreciates the opportunity to respond regarding Mr. ******* file.
  
  Mr. ****** retained Guardian to provide legal services related to his unsecured debts. As part of the engagement, he agreed to fund a dedicated savings account with biweekly deposits of $169. To date, his program deposit has not increased.
  
  As part of Guardians obligations under the legal services agreement, our team is required to relay any settlement offers we receive from creditors or their representatives. While Mr. ****** has been presented with additional settlement opportunities, acceptance of these offers would require increasing his deposit to fund them. He is under no obligation to accept these offers or to increase his deposit. Alternatively, he may choose to strategically wait until sufficient funds have accumulated in his set-aside savings account before proceeding with additional settlements.
  
  To date, Guardian has successfully negotiated settlements resolving approximately one-third of the debt Mr. ****** engaged us to assist with, while also mitigating litigation risk on those accounts.  ******************** has acted in full compliance with the engagement agreement and denies any misrepresentation.
  
  Guardian Litigation Group

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/22/2025

  So I signed up with Guardian Litigation
  About 6-7 months ago
  
  So I was told they would settle
  Ky debts and that I would be billed twice a month for approx $169 and that payment would would not changed
  
  They settled to credit accounts and then on the third account they said my payments would go up $50 each time
  
  They told and guaranteed me at least 4 different times my payment wouldn't go up -because I asked about it at least 4 times.
  
  They just lied to me about my payments not going up. This is my statement
  
  I want them to stop all payments and return my
  Money
  
  Thank you for following up for me
  Sincerely
  ****** ******

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/24/2025

  Dear BBB:
  
  Guardian Litigation Group appreciates the opportunity to respond further regarding Mr. ******* file.
  
  Mr. ****** retained our law firm for legal services related to his unsecured debts. His original biweekly deposit of $169 has not changed. The recent communication regarding a potential increase in his deposit was not a change to his agreement, but rather related to an optional opportunity presented based on creditor response.
  
  Mr. ****** is under no obligation to accept any offer that requires a change in his deposit amount. He may also wait for his existing funds to accumulate before proceeding with additional settlements. Our role is to present legal settlement opportunities as they arise; the decision to proceed is always his.
  
  We have already attempted to contact Mr. ****** and would welcome the opportunity to speak with him directly. Guardian has acted in full compliance with the engagement agreement and remains committed to supporting him.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/07/2025

  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 am filing this complaint against Guardian Litigation Group due to what I believe is an unauthorized and unjustified fee deduction after I had already canceled their service.I enrolled with Guardian Litigation Group in September 2024 to settle six accounts. I agreed to make bi-monthly payments of $435.37, totaling $870.74 per month. They have settled three accounts so far: ***************, Citi, and Discover. For each settlement, Guardian charged a commission based on a percentage of the total debt:Discover: $1,554.64 on 12/10/2024 (*****% of $7,344)Citi: $1,537.11 on 4/25/2025 (27% of $5,693)***************: $2,000.21 on 5/27/2025 (21.4% of $9,345)While the service was pitched as a way to help me save money, the high fees associated with each settlement meant I saved very little, in some cases, practically nothing. (Discover saved 0)On June 26, 2025, I contacted Guardian Litigation Group to cancel the service. At that time, my client account had a balance of $678.99. Despite the cancellation, Guardian proceeded to make two unauthorized deductions:$10.95 Custodial Fee on July 2, 2025 $522.94 Earned Fee on July 3, 2025, supposedly for the *************** account even though they had already collected an earned fee of $2,000.21 for this same account on May 27, 2025 When I contacted the company to dispute this charge, they insisted it was valid without offering a clear explanation. I pointed out that they had already collected their fee for the *************** settlement, yet they refused to refund the amount. Their stance appears to be unjustified and lacks transparency.Due to these charges, my account balance dropped to just $145.10. Fortunately, I contacted my bank in time to stop further withdrawals.I am requesting a full refund of $533.89 this includes the $522.94 fee charged on July 3, 2025, and the $10.95 custodial fee charged on July 2, 2025. Both charges occurred after my cancellation and were not properly authorized or explained.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/11/2025

  Dear BBB:
  
  Guardian Litigation Group appreciates the opportunity to respond to this complaint and provide clarification regarding Mr. ********** account.
  
  Mr. ********* retained Guardian in September 2024 to provide legal services related to six unsecured debt obligations. As part of the engagement, he agreed verbally and in writing to Guardians contingency fee of 27%, which is earned upon the successful negotiation of settlements and commencement of settlement payments.
  
  Although Mr. ********* completed only 17% of his estimated program duration, Guardian successfully negotiated settlements resolving nearly 30% of his total unsecured debt. These results placed him ahead of schedule and would have allowed him to resolve a substantial portion of his obligations faster than projected. In addition to achieving meaningful savingseven after accounting for earned feesGuardians legal strategies mitigated risk and ensured no lawsuits were filed against him during his engagement.
  
  For the *************** account, ********************* earned contingency fee was $2,523.15. Of that amount, $2,000.21 was collected on May 27, 2025. When Mr. ********* later canceled on June 26, 2025, Guardian collected the remaining balance of $522.94 from his dedicated savings account, as authorized under the signed engagement agreement.
  
  The $10.95 custodial fee referenced in the complaint was assessed by *****, the third-party administrator of the savings account, and not by ********************. Guardian acted in full compliance with the engagement agreement and Mr. ********** authorizations. Guardian denies any breach of agreement or unauthorized charges, and no refund is warranted.
  
  Guardian Litigation Group

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/13/2025

  I reject Guardian Litigation Groups response as it fails to justify the unauthorized depletion of my $678.99 account balance after I canceled their service on June 26, 2025. Post-cancellation, Guardian deducted $522.94 (Earned Fee, July 3, 2025) and $10.95 (custodial fee, July 2, 2025), totaling $533.89, and additional unexplained withdrawals drained my balance to zero. These charges lack clear authorization under the engagement agreement, making them unjustified and potentially breaching contract.
  Guardian claims the $522.94 completes a $2,523.15 fee for the *************** settlement ($9,345 debt, settled for $5,848). They dont explain splitting this fee or deducting it post-cancellation, despite my dispute. When challenged, they offered no clear justification, showing a lack of transparency. Their BBB response fails to address the timing or full balance depletion.
  The $10.95 custodial fee, attributed to Forth, wasnt disclosed as applicable post-cancellation. Guardian failed to inform me of such fees, and the additional withdrawals are unexplained, suggesting further unauthorized charges.
  Guardians meaningful savings claim is deceptive. For $22,382 in debt, their $5,614.90 fees left only $1,699.04 (7.59%) savings:
  Discover ($7,344 debt, settled for $5,789.36): $1,554.64 fee, $0 savings.
  Citi ($5,693 debt, settled for $3,430.70): $1,537.11 fee, $725.19 savings.
  Bank of America: $2,523.15 fee, $973.85 savings.
  These minimal savings contradict their promise of significant relief. Inconsistent fees (21.17%27%) further obscure their practices.
  I demand a $678.99 refund and an accounting of all deductions. Guardians evasive response and deceptive claims must be addressed to protect consumers.
  

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/18/2025

  Dear BBB:
  
  Guardian Litigation Group appreciates the opportunity to provide further clarification regarding Mr. ********** file.
  
  As outlined in our original response, Mr. ********* retained Guardian to provide legal services related to his unsecured debts and agreed both verbally and in writing to Guardians earned contingency fee of 27%, which is assessed upon the successful negotiation of a settlement and the commencement of settlement payments. This fee structure is clearly disclosed in the signed engagement agreement, and we would be happy to provide Mr. ********* with a copy of the agreement and direct him to the applicable section detailing these fees and authorizations.
  
  The $522.94 fee deducted on July 3, 2025, was the final portion of Guardians earned contingency fee for the *************** settlement. This settlement achieved a substantial balance reduction and provided Mr. ********* with meaningful savings. As with all settlements, Mr. ********* provided written authorization expressly approving payment of Guardians contingency fee.
  
  The $10.95 custodial fee referenced in the complaint was assessed by *****, the independent dedicated savings account administrator. Guardian does not impose or collect custodial fees, and any concerns about these charges would need to be addressed directly with Forth.
  
  There have been no unauthorized or unexplained withdrawals from Mr. ********** account. He has full access to his dedicated savings account online, where he can view and download statements itemizing all fees, creditor payments, and transactions.
  
  Guardian has acted in full compliance with the engagement agreement, and no refund is warranted. That said, we remain willing to assist Mr. ********* in reviewing his account documentation and answering any questions he may still have.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/20/2025

  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 am raising a formal concern regarding the company's failure to uphold the terms and expectations communicated to me at the outset of our engagement. Specifically, I was assured that I would receive regular monthly calls to discuss the progress of my account. This form of communication ceased after approximately six months, without ************** particular, the handling of my **************** account raises serious issues. I received no communication regarding the status of this account until I was served with a lawsuit. Only after legal action was initiated did the company begin to contact me frequently, requesting that I remit $8,000.00 by the 10th of the month in order to resolve the matter.Despite a claim from the attorney involved that the account may have been closedan explanation I find wholly inadequatethe company had no difficulty withdrawing the $8,000.00 from my account. I then had to initiate contact with the attorneys assistant myself to determine where those funds had gone.Furthermore, on June 20, 2025, when I inquired about how I would be compensated for the failure to provide the agreed-upon monthly communication and overall lack of transparency, I was simply told that the company apologizes for the inconvenience. I find this response unacceptable and indicative of a disregard for the obligations owed to me under our agreement.This situation has caused me significant distress and financial strain, and I believe it constitutes, at minimum, a breach of contract and failure of duty of care. I am requesting a formal review of this matter and appropriate restitution for the damages caused by these failures.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 06/24/2025

  Dear BBB:
  
  We appreciate the opportunity to respond and clarify several important points regarding Ms. ******* file and the legal services we provided. Our engagement agreement does not include a guarantee of monthly phone calls. That said, our records show that we maintained contact throughout the representation, including status updates, settlement opportunities, and attorney communication during litigation.
  
  Regarding the **************** account: prior to the lawsuit, Ms. ******* available funds were already committed to other settlements we had successfully negotiated on her behalf. Without sufficient remaining funds, we could not pursue resolution of that account at that time. Once litigation commenced, her Guardian attorney appeared on her behalf and negotiated a court-approved settlement. The $8,000 referenced in Ms. ******* complaint was the required amount to fund that agreementnot a fee assessed by our firmand the terms were disclosed and authorized before any withdrawal occurred.
  
  We can confirm that all debts our firm was retained to resolve have now been settled. While we regret any frustration caused during the process, our team acted in good faith and in accordance with both the terms of our agreement and our professional responsibilities.  ************** and supervisory personnel stand ready to assist should Ms. ****** wish to review her file further .
  
  Sincerely,
  Guardian Litigation Group

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/16/2025

  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 paid the ***** of dollars they settled nothing, and gave me refund *****.They were supposed to help get out of debt. Now they stole all of my money

  

  Business Response

  Date: 06/23/2025

  Hi *****,
  Were sorry to hear that you were unaware of the work our firm performed on your behalf and appreciate the opportunity to clarify your concerns.  You retained our firm in July of 2024.  In August of 2024, we negotiated an aggressive settlement arrangement with one of your creditors, which you expressly authorized. 
  Unfortunately, that settlement was nullified due to missed payments earlier this year.  Prior to the nullification of the settlement, most of your deposits were applied to the settlement payments.  We were unable to contact you despite repeated attempts and had to disengage from the representation.  Should you require documentation on the settlement, please contact us, or access your Forth account online. 
  If youd like to discuss your case further, please dont hesitate to reach out to our support team directly. Wed be happy to walk through everything with you and wish you the best in getting debt free.
  The Guardian Litigation Group Team

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/12/2025

  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 had gone through a difficult time and accrued substantial debt (30k) and couldnt recover. I reached out to Guardian Litigation in 2/2024 and agreed to have them settle my accounts. I had 5 outstanding accounts and I would pay $506 every month for 5 years. It seemed like a good deal until I realize that they only settle a couple of accounts at a time for pennies on the dollar with a pay off of in a year or so. They can only pay out to settled creditors the total monthly amount of $506 I pay each month which leave the other 3 accounts hanging for 2 years while they keep sending delinquent letters and calls. They also start to settle the lowest amount accounts first instead of the highest. They will only negotiate with the 3 remaining accounts once I have paid the first two. The other thing is no matter how much money they save you in negotiating a lower I am still on the hook paying $507 a month for 5 years which is the original 30k I owed a year ago. They keep whatever money that is left over.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 06/16/2025

  Dear Ms. ********************* you for your feedback. We understand that financial hardship can be overwhelming and appreciate the opportunity to respond and clarify. You retained our firm in February 2024 to assist you with well over $30,000 in unsecured debt over a 55-month estimated term. Just 15 months in, weve already resolved 58% of the debt you engaged us to assist withsecuring excellent negotiated outcomes that have already saved you thousands of dollars.
  
  You mentioned that we focus on the smallest accounts first, but that is incorrect. We negotiated your largest account first, followed by a mid-sized account. Your smallest account remains unresolved; we anticipate resolution as soon as your monthly savings plan allows for it.
  
  Your monthly deposit of $506 is substantially lower than your prior minimum payments. Making minimum payments can take decades to satisfy high interest credit card balances, at significantly higher cost. Your legal plan is structured to resolve these matters in approximately 4.5 years, with no added interest.
  
  As for fees, our firm charges a contingency-based legal fee only after achieving a successful resolution. We do not retain any unused funds. In fact, we have deferred over half of the fees earned on your resolved matters to reduce your early program cost and prioritize results.
  We remain committed to resolving your remaining matters as your funding allows. Our team is available to review your file and projected timeline at any time.
  
  Sincerely,
  Guardian Litigation Group