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:07/10/2025

  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: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.

  Guardian was contracted with us as a debt consolidation and they have partnered with Forth for the financial end of our consolidation, Forth was deliberately stealing the funds from the account, mismanaged the account funds so we closed the account with forth and now guardian is refusing to honor their contract for debt consolidation unless we allow ***** to continue to mismanage our deposits. Guardian is in breach of contract and has even begun to be verbally insulting to me and my wife, they offered us a loan as opposed to the forth account previously and this lady that called my wife this evening was rude and belittling both of us, the hold music sounded horrific with someone singing they were on hold and not sure if anyone was ever coming back. I finally hung up the phone due to the entire poor nature of the call. I will be seeking legal action for complete breach of contract from guardian and embezzlement against forth. I am also seeking a complete refund of all payments.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/21/2025

  Dear BBB:
  
  Guardian Litigation Group appreciates the opportunity to respond and provide clarification regarding Mrs. ****** account.
  
  Mrs. ***** retained Guardian to provide legal services for her unsecured debts. To clarify, Guardian is not a debt consolidation company and does not offer loans or financial products. Our firm focuses on legal negotiation, litigation defense, and risk mitigation to resolve unsecured debt obligations.
  
  During our representation, we successfully negotiated settlements resolving nearly half of the debt we were engaged to assist with. These settlements provided meaningful reductions in her total balances and significant progress toward resolution, despite Guardian being unable to collect approximately one-third of the fees owed under the engagement agreement.
  
  We performed all obligations under the signed agreement and provided Mrs. ***** with copies of all settlement documentation. We were ultimately forced to disengage from representation due to the cessation of her deposits to her dedicated savings account, which is essential for funding settlements.
  
  Mrs. ****** concerns about her dedicated savings account provider, *****, appear to have been addressed directly by *****, who to our understanding issued her a refund. Guardian is not affiliated with Forth beyond their role in administering client accounts.
  
  Finally, we reviewed the last call between Mrs. ***** and our supervisory staff. Our supervisor was professional and courteous throughout, and we find no evidence to support claims of rudeness or inappropriate behavior. Guardian has acted in full compliance with the engagement agreement and denies any breach of contract or wrongdoing. That said, we remain willing to assist Mrs. ***** if she wishes to reconnect with us directly.
  Guardian Litigation Group

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/21/2025

  I was told that guardian would continue without forth under a loan and then every time it was brought up by me and my wife we were told it was still pending and then when we got the followup call the phone was absolutely atrocious with the unbearable and unprofessional hold music, then the ***. ****** down stating the call could not move forward unless she verified all parties on the call despite all previous calls only requiring 1 of us to verify, this *** was very unprofessional and has no business working with the public, she was using the verification to try to weasel out of the call. I will continue to ***ort the mistreatment from both Guardian litigation as well as Forth. I am still seeking a complete refund of all payments made due to both forth and guardian litigation could not honor the agreement and has breached our contract on the first settlement they could not make the payments to them on time, and FYI we were never late on our payments and even paid above the agreed upon payments to honor a settlement. They in turn sent us a letter that they were closing our account due to us defaulting on our agreed upon payment structure. The entire company is a joke and has set us back on our consolidation plans and we are out over $5000.00 in payments that we are not even able to verify that they were even paid correctly! 

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/25/2025

  Dear BBB,
  
  Guardian Litigation Group appreciates the opportunity to provide further clarification in response to Mrs. ****** concerns.
  
  To clarify, Guardian is a law firm and does not offer or administer debt consolidation services or loans. While representing Mrs. ****** our team delivered meaningful results by negotiating settlements that resolved nearly half of the debts she retained us to assist withat significantly reduced balances.
  
  We understand that Mrs. ***** found aspects of her phone experience frustrating, including the hold music and the verification process during one of her calls. However, our supervisor followed standard protocol.
  
  It is important to note that Guardian fulfilled its obligations under the terms of the signed engagement agreement and supplied Mrs. ***** with written documentation regarding each negotiated settlement, including the letters sent on July 18, 2025. In addition, any concerns regarding her dedicated savings account and the disbursement of funds to creditors were addressed directly by ****** the independent account administrator. To our understanding, they have resolved those concerns, and Mrs. ***** may contact them directly for account statements and confirmation of creditor payments.
  
  We remain willing to provide Mrs. ***** with any additional documentation she may need. However, Guardian provided legal services in accordance with our agreement and successfully advanced her file. As such, no refund is warranted.
  
  Sincerely,
  Guardian Litigation Group

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/25/2025

  Guardian has yet to fulfill any of the arrangements that were initiated to any one of the consolidations they started, the first one that should have been paid off in March or ***** was a second payment default due to failure to issue the payment on time to uphold the agreement they made and as a result it cause the first financial mishap where the Forth account did not balance and yet Guardian still received payments for ALL payments that should have been made but were refused due to being late. Then the second financial mishap occurred on yet the same first agreement causing me to lose faith in their abilities to uphold their agreement and as a result they are in fact in breach of contract and should be held financially liable for all payments made to Forth and Guardian for a full refund!

• 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 $******, totaling $****** per month. They have settled three accounts so far: ***************, ****, and ********. For each settlement, Guardian charged a commission based on a percentage of the total debt:********: $******** on 12/10/2024 (*****% of $*****)****: $******** on 4/25/2025 (27% of $*****)***************: $******** on 5/27/2025 (21.4% of $*****)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. (******** 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 $******. Despite the cancellation, Guardian proceeded to make two unauthorized deductions:$***** Custodial Fee on July 2, 2025 $****** Earned Fee on July 3, 2025, supposedly for the *************** account even though they had already collected an earned fee of $******** 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 $******. Fortunately, I contacted my bank in time to stop further withdrawals.I am requesting a full refund of $****** this includes the $****** fee charged on July 3, 2025, and the $***** 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 $********. Of that amount, $******** was collected on May 27, 2025. When Mr. ********* later canceled on June 26, 2025, Guardian collected the remaining balance of $****** from his dedicated savings account, as authorized under the signed engagement agreement.
  
  The $***** 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 $****** account balance after I canceled their service on June 26, 2025. Post-cancellation, Guardian deducted $****** (Earned Fee, July 3, 2025) and $***** (custodial fee, July 2, 2025), totaling $******, 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 $****** completes a $******** fee for the *************** settlement ($***** debt, settled for $*****). 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 $***** 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 $****** in debt, their $******** fees left only $******** (7.59%) savings:
  ******** ($***** debt, settled for $********): $******** fee, $0 savings.
  **** ($5,693 debt, settled for $********): $******** fee, $****** savings.
  **** ** *******: $******** 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 $****** 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 $****** 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 $***** 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.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/04/2025

  Guardian Litigation Group's response deliberately omits the most critical fact: I terminated their services at the end of June 2025.

  UNAUTHORIZED POST-TERMINATION DEDUCTIONS

  Despite my service cancellation, Guardian continued extracting fees from my account throughout July 2025:

  • July 2, 2025: $***** custodial fee
  • July 3, 2025: $****** "DRSP Earned fee" for Bank of America
  • July 9, 2025: $***** disbursement fee

  Total unauthorized post-termination fees: $******

  Taking any fees after service termination constitutes unauthorized withdrawal, regardless of prior agreements. Guardian's failure to mention my cancellation in their response is telling and suggests they know these deductions were improper.

  EVIDENCE OF DOUBLE-CHARGING

  Guardian's claim that the July 3rd charge of $****** was the "final portion" of their Bank of America earned fee is demonstrably false. My transaction records clearly show they already collected fees for the Bank of America settlement on May 27, 2025 (amount: $********). The July 3rd deduction represents double-charging for the same settlement, which occurred after my service termination.

  MISREPRESENTATION OF SERVICES

  Guardian also fails to address their false representation that credit damage would be "temporary." This material misstatement significantly influenced my decision to engage their services, and the credit impact has proven to be lasting and severe.

  INADEQUATE FEE DISCLOSURE

  Contrary to their claims of "clear disclosure," the fee structure was never properly explained. The focus was on debt reduction benefits while costs were minimized or obscured entirely.

  REQUESTED RESOLUTION

  I demand a full refund of all post-termination deductions totaling $******. Once a client terminates services, continued fee collection is unauthorized and unacceptable, especially when it includes duplicate charges for previously settled debts.

  Guardian's omission of my service cancellation from their response demonstrates the lack of transparency that prompted this complaint.

• 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

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/08/2025

  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.

  It has been over a year and they have not settled the largest debt. They also would not provide the lawyers communication from/to records.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 05/16/2025

  I wanted to reach out and let you know that complaint ID#: ********  has been resolved with the client. Would it be possible to clear out this complaint? I'd like to also add in that we have provided our written communication to the creditor and have relayed the settlement offers with that creditor to her.
  

  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 05/16/2025

  
  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:04/22/2025

  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 needed a company to help with a credit card that had high monthly payments. A *** from Guardian called me and offered help. They were charging me $400 a month and paying my creditor $100. They told me I needed to pay $500 a month after 10 months because I wasnt paying it off fast enough. I complained several times over the months because they were having different people speak to me. I was confused. The last time I tried to talk to them, a *** called me dirty names and was swearing. I am 76 years old and they took advantage of me.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 04/24/2025

  Dear BBB,
  
  Thank you for the opportunity to respond to this complaint. We are sorry to hear that Ms. ***** feels dissatisfied and appreciate the chance to clarify several important facts.  Ms. ***** retained our firm to negotiate and settle her unsecured credit card debt. Our services are not a loan or a consolidation planit is a legal service designed to reduce debt through negotiated settlements, as clearly disclosed during the consultation, in the signed agreement, and in our welcome materials.
  
  Approximately three months after she engaged our firm, we had already negotiated settlements covering about 25% of her total enrolled debt. This represents strong early progress and significant savings.  The monthly deposit she referenced included two parts: a portion allocated to future settlements and a portion applied toward earned legal fees. At no time was she required to increase her monthly deposit. Rather, we offered her the option to do so to expedite resolution of her remaining debts, which was entirely voluntary.
  
  We take allegations of misconduct very seriously and act on them immediately. After reviewing the call she mentioned, we can confirm our representative did not swear at her, but his conduct failed to meet our expectations, and we have already taken aggressive action to address it.  To ensure Ms. ***** concerns are fully addressed, a supervisory team member will be reaching out to her directly today. We hope she allows us the chance to resolve this matter to her complete satisfaction, and we respectfully ask that the BBB request that she communicate with our supervisory staff so we can assist her further.
  
  Sincerely,
  Guardian Litigation Group