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United Consumer Financial Services

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Mike Agruss Law.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Over 8000+ consumer rights cases settled.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.


Creditors like United Consumer Financial Services cannot harass you over a debt. You have rights under the law, and we will stop the harassment once and for all.

THE BEST PART IS…

If United Consumer Financial Services violated the law, you may be entitled to money damages and United Consumer Financial Services will pay our fees and costs. You won’t owe us a dime for our services. Plus, some of our clients also receive debt relief and cleaned-up credit reports. You have nothing to lose! Call us today at 888-572-0176 for a free consultation.

Who is United Consumer Financial Services?

United Consumer Financial Services (UCFS) is a finance service based in Westlake, Ohio. Founded in 1980, it has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 1994.

United Consumer Financial Services offers consumer financing options for a variety of home, medical, retail, and professional services, and also serves Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

United Consumer Financial Services’ Address, Phone Number, and Contact Information

United Consumer Financial Services is located at 865 Bassett Road, Westlake, OH 44145. The main telephone number is 800-344-5000 and the main website is www.ucfs.net/

United Consumer Financial Services Lawsuits

If you want to know just how unhappy consumers are with United Consumer Financial Services, take a look at the number of complaints consumers have made online. Nowadays, most original creditors, credit card companies, etc. have arbitration clauses, which means that if you have a complaint against that company, you must file your claim in arbitration. Arbitration limits discovery, is not public, has a limited appellate process, and, most importantly, is funded primarily by the banks and big businesses. While it can be difficult to get a fair chance in arbitration, the good news is we have filed hundreds of credit harassment cases in arbitration, and we know how to aggressively fight these cases against the big banks and businesses even when arbitration is necessary.

United Consumer Financial Services Complaints

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) protects you from robocalls, which are those annoying, automated, recorded calls that computers make all day long. You can tell it’s a robocall because either no one responds on the other end of the line, or there is a delay when you pick up the phone before a live person responds. You can receive $500 per call if United Consumer Financial Services violates the TCPA. Have you received a message from this agency that sounds pre-recorded or cut-off at the beginning or end? These are tell-tale signs that the message is pre-recorded, and if you have these messages on your cell phone, you may have a TCPA case against the agency.

The Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) protects electronic payments that are deducted from bank accounts. If United Consumer Financial Services took unauthorized deductions from your bank account, you may have an EFTA claim against the agency. United Consumer Financial Services, like most collection agencies, wants to set up recurring payments from consumers; imagine how much money it can earn if hundreds, even thousands, of consumers electronically pay them $50 – $100 or more per month. If you agreed to this type of reoccurring payment, the agency must follow certain steps to comply with the EFTA. Did United Consumer Financial Services continue to take electronic payments after you told them to stop? Did they take more money from your checking account than you agreed to?  If so, we can discuss your rights and a potential case under the EFTA.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) works to ensure that no information reported to your credit report is false. In essence, it gives you the right to dispute those inaccuracies that you find on your credit report. We’ve handled many cases in which a debt collection agency reported debt on a consumer’s credit report to obtain leverage over the consumer. If United Consumer Financial Services is on your credit report, they may tell you that they’ll remove the debt from your credit report if you pay it; this is commonly known as “pay for delete.” If the original creditor is on your report rather than the debt collector, and you pay off the debt, both entities should accurately report this on your credit report. 

Several states also have laws to provide their citizens with an additional layer of protection. For example, if you live in California, Florida, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, or Wisconsin, you may be able to add a state-law claim to your federal law claim above.  North Carolina, for example, has one of the most consumer-friendly statutes in the country: if you live in NC and are harassed over a debt, you may receive $500 – $4,000 in damages per violation. We work with a local counsel in NC and our NC clients have received some great results in debt collection harassment cases. If you live in North Carolina and are being harassed by a debt collector, you have the leverage to obtain a great settlement.

How do we Use the Law to Help You?

We will use state and federal laws to immediately stop United Consumer Financial Services’ debt collection. We will send a cease-and-desist letter to stop the harassment today, and if United Consumer Financial Services violates the FDCPA, EFTA, FCRA, or any state law, you may be entitled to money damages. For example, under the FDCPA, you may receive up to $1,000 in damages plus actual damages. The FDCPA also has a fee-shift provision, which means the debt collector will pay your attorneys’ fees and costs. If you have a TCPA case against the agency, we will handle it based on a contingency fee and you won’t pay us a dime unless you win.

THAT’S NOT ALL…

We have helped thousands of consumers stop phone calls.  We know how to stop the harassment and get you money damages. Once again: you will not pay us a dime for our services. We will help you based on a fee-shift provision and/or contingency fee, and the debt collector will pay your attorneys’ fees and costs.

What if United Consumer Financial Services is on My Credit Report?

Based on our experience, some debt collectors may credit-report, which means one may mark your credit report with the debt they are trying to collect. In addition to or instead of the debt collector, the original creditor may also be on your credit report in a separate entry, and it’s important to properly identify these entities because you will want both to update your credit report if or when you pay off the debt. 

THE GOOD NEWS IS…

If United Consumer Financial Services is on your credit report, we can help you dispute it. Mistakes on your credit report can be very costly: along with causing you to pay higher interest rates, you may be denied credit, insurance, a rental home, a loan, or even a job because of these mistakes. Some mistakes may include someone else’s information on your credit report, inaccurate public records, stale collection accounts, or even being a victim of identity theft. If you have a mistake on your credit report, there is a process to dispute it, and my office will help you obtain your credit report and dispute any inaccurate information.

REMEMBER…

If a credit reporting agency violates its obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you may be entitled to statutory damages up to $1,000, and the credit reporting agency will be required to fix the error. The FCRA also has a fee-shift provision, which means the credit reporting agency will pay your attorneys’ fees and costs. You won’t owe us a dime for our services. We have helped hundreds of consumers fix inaccurate information on their credit reports, and we’re ready to help you, too.

Complaints against United Consumer Financial Services

If you’re on this page, chances are you are just like the hundreds of consumers out there being harassed by United Consumer Financial Services. Here are some of the online reviews and complaints against United Consumer Financial Services:

  1. Underwrites predatory loans on behalf of fraudulent businesses. Truly disgraceful support of deceptive and abusive business practice. Neglectful in duty of care. Lacks integrity to consumer rights. Reported UCFS to the CFPB. Avoid this bank at all costs.”

  2. Got a predatory loan through them and it has been a fight for a straight year. Either they refuse to accept any form of payment towards your loan (charging you late fees the entire time for their errors), or they have an “error” and triple charge your payment and drain you dry (which was done 3 months in a row).”

  3. We were lied to and they are unwilling to work out any issues you have. They refuse to give us the debt relief federally mandated for military personnel, charging us a huge interest rate, 25%, and they charge you a humongous fee to get a loan, over $600! These guys aren’t a financial service, they are loan sharks.”

What Our Clients Say About Us

Mike Agruss Law has over 1,000 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 135 five-star reviews on Google. Here’s what some of our clients have to say about us:

“Michael Agruss handled two settlements for me with great results and he handled them quickly. He also settled my sister’s case quickly and now her debt is clear. I highly recommend Michael.”

“Mike Agruss Law was very helpful, they helped me solved my case regarding the unwanted calls. I would highly recommend them. Thank you very much Mike Agruss!

“Mike Agruss Law was very helpful to me and my veteran father! We were harassed daily and even called names for a loan that was worthless! Agruss stepped in and not only did they stop harassing, they stopped calling altogether!! He even settled it so I was paid back for the problems they caused!”

Can United Consumer Financial Services Sue Me?

Yes, United Consumer Financial Services can sue you. United Consumer Financial Services can hire a lawyer to file a breach of contract lawsuit against you for the underlying debt, fees, and costs. If you’ve been sued by United Consumer Financial Services, do not ignore the lawsuit; you may have defenses. If you ignore the lawsuit, the default will be entered and the agency may seek to garnish your wages. If you receive notice of a lawsuit, contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible, even if you intend to represent yourself pro se. If United Consumer Financial Services has threatened to sue you, contact Mike Agruss Law as soon as possible; we’re here to help.

Can United Consumer Financial Services Garnish My Wages?

Yes, if United Consumer Financial Services has a judgment entered against you. If United Consumer Financial Services is currently garnishing your wages or threatening to do so, contact our office as soon as possible.

United Consumer Financial Services Settlement

If you want to settle a debt with United Consumer Financial Services, ask yourself these questions first:

  1. Do I really owe this debt?
  2. Is this debt within the statute of limitations?
  3. Is this debt on my credit report?
  4. If I pay this debt, will United Consumer Financial Services remove it from my credit report?
  5. If I pay this debt, will the third-party debt collector remove it from my credit report?
  6. If I pay this debt, will I receive written confirmation from United Consumer Financial Services confirming the payment and settlement terms?

These are not the only things to consider when dealing with debt collectors. We are here to help you answer the questions above, and much more. Whether it’s harassment, settlement, pay-for-delete, or any other legal issue with United Consumer Financial Services, we at Mike Agruss Law are here to help you.

Top Debt Collection Violations

Debt collection laws provided a laundry list of what collectors can and cannot do while collecting a debt. Based on our years of experience handling thousands of debt collection harassment cases, here’s what collection agencies most often to do to violate the law. 

  1. Called you about a debt you do not owe.
  2. Called you at work after you told them you cannot receive calls at work.
  3. Left you a message without identifying the company’s name.
  4. Left you a message without disclosing that the call is from a debt collector.
  5. Called third parties (family, friends, coworkers, or neighbors) even though the collection agency knows your contact information.
  6. Disclosed to a third party (family, friends, coworkers, or neighbors) that you owe a debt.
  7. Contacted you after you said stop calling.
  8. Threatened you with legal action (such as a lawsuit or wage garnishment).
  9. Called you before 8:00 AM or after 9:00 PM.
  10. Continued to call you after you have told the collector you cannot pay the debt.
  11. Communicated (phone or letter) with you after you filed for bankruptcy.
  12. Failed to mark the debt on your credit report as disputed after you disputed the debt.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Do I have to pay your fees and costs for helping me with my consumer rights case? No. We handle consumer rights cases based on a fee-shift provision and/or a contingency fee. That means either the other side pays your fees and costs, or we take a percentage of your recovery. Whether it’s a fee-shift case or a contingency-fee case, we don’t get paid unless you get paid, and you’ll never owe us a penny for our time.

  2. What are the damages under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act? You can get $500 per robocall, or $1,500 per robocall if the robocalls were willful. In any type of settlement, oftentimes Defendants pay much less than $500 per call. However, if there are 50 calls at issue, even at $250 per call, your case could settle for $12,500.00.

  3. Are there state laws that protect me from original creditors? Yes! Several states also have laws that provide their citizens with an additional layer of protection. For example, if you live in California, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin, you have additional state-law rights.

  4. What type of debt is covered under state laws that protect me from original creditors? Only consumer debt, such as personal, family, and household debts. For example, the money you owe on a personal credit card, an auto loan, a medical bill, or a utility bill. State laws usually do not cover debts you incurred to run a business, or debts regarding unpaid taxes, or traffic tickets.

  5. Does the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act apply to banks or credit card companies? No. Only third-party debt collectors are bound by the FDCPA. That is, original creditors, such as credit card companies and banks, are not bound by the FDCPA.

  6. Are mistakes on credit reports common? Yes! Are you one of the 40 million Americans that have a mistake on their credit report? Mistakes on your credit report can be very costly. Along with causing you to pay higher interest rates, you may be denied credit, insurance, a rental home, a loan, or even a job because of these mistakes. Some mistakes may include someone else’s information on your credit report, inaccurate public records, stale collection accounts, or maybe you were a victim of identity theft.

  7. What do I do if I have a mistake on my credit report? If you have a mistake on your credit report, there is a process to dispute them. My office will help you pull your credit report and dispute any inaccurate information. If a credit reporting agency violates its obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), you may be entitled to statutory damages up to $1,000.00, plus the credit reporting agency will be required to fix the error. The FCRA also has a fee-shift provision. This means, the credit reporting agency pays your attorney’s fees and costs. Therefore, you will not pay me a penny for my time. To speed up the process, please get a free copy of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com. You can also learn more about the FCRA and your rights at http://www.agrussconsumerlaw.com/practices/common-credit-report-errors/.

Share Your Complaints Against United Consumer Financial Services Below

We encourage you to post your complaints about United Consumer Financial Services. Sharing your complaints against this agency can help other consumers understand what to do when this company starts calling. Sharing your experience may help someone else!

HERE’S THE DEAL!

If you are being harassed by United Consumer Financial Services over a debt, you may be entitled to money damages – up to $1,000 for harassment, and $500 – $1,500 for illegal robocalls. Under state and federal laws, we will help you based on a fee-shift provision and/or contingency fee, which means the debt collector pays your attorneys’ fees and costs. You won’t owe us a dime for our services. We have settled thousands of debt collection harassment cases, and we’re prepared to help you, too. Contact Mike Agruss Law at 888-572-0176 to stop the harassment once and for all.

Submitted Comments

Crystal
3 years ago
United Consumer Financial Services was a lender in a financial scam for “tax relief and IRS protection services” “provided” by Tax Relief Network. I notified them on three separate occasions there was a breach of contract by TRN as the work we contracted for had not been done. They supposedly “investigated” it but never contacted me back, just continued to charge me while TRN completely went out of business. This is $23k and they’re destroying my credit. I need help, please.
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Crystal. This sounds like a unique and complex situation. I will give you a call to discuss how to best deal with this, as well as get some further information from you. Thanks, Mike
Chris
2 years ago
I will login to the ucfs portal to make a payment, then I will receive their email with payment confirmation but they wait until I no longer have enough for it, to pull the money from my account, but since there isn’t enough they charge me the $25 fee, then they try to take it again and charge me another $25 fee, and then they proceeded to do it and additional 2 times to total the fees to $100.00. And thats just since February 1st 2022, it feb 9th now, my monthly payment is only supposed to be $46. I try to message them but when I got to the message center in their portal it won’t let me look at any messages only send new messages
Michael Agruss
2 years ago
Hello Chris. It sounds like there is something wrong with the system at United Consumer Financial Services and unfortunately, you're paying for it. Have you tried calling them? Let's talk more about this and see what we can do to help you. Give me a call at 888 572 0176. Thanks, Mike
William
1 year ago
I am past due with united consumer financial services. They are aggressive in their tactics
Rhonda Louise
10 months ago
Former room mate took advantage of me while sick. His name was on the lease of the premises we shared. I was sick and observing state regulations re quarantine at the time. He asked if I would buy a hyla vaccuum so as to help build his sales and so he could pay rent. (We split bills, he paid rent, paid for electric, water, gas and groceries- worked out pretty even). Intitially he told me the loan for the Hyla I had to take out was for 2,000.00 (doable for me financially at the time), my credit was good. However he took off shortly afterwards, not responding to calls, or emails and not leaving any forwarding address. The contract i signed is not the same one that United Consumer Financial services was given. This one was for over $4000.00. Not only did the amount not match what I was quoted, the Hyla vaccuum never arrived. It amounts to \"theft by deception.\" I was definitely taken advantage of at a time when I was sick. The result of the person leaving, meant I had to move out or risk being evicted (as he had disappeared and was not even contacting the landlord at that time). My once good credit has been ruined. I explained all this to United Consumer Financial services and they did not seem sympathetic. I asked them to stop calling and request the matter be dealt with by mail. I then requested (by mail) and in good faith, that they validate the claim against me. The provided me with a photo copy of the contract (different to the one I have) and an invoice- including the listing of the HYLA vaccuum cleaner that I never received. I would like to see the contract they made with the independent merchant (former room mate) who conned me into signing the contract (which I did while ill, and thinking I was helping him out). I have since conducted a background search on him to see robbery, and assault charges, a former theft by deception charge and he once went to prison for running a fraudulent home improvement company (that had accepted money from customers but failed to deliver service). What I find apalling is how companies like United Financial Credit services can run background or credit checks on people like myself, but not on the independent merchants they contract with to represent them. In effect they partnered with a criminal and I feel like I have been conned not only by the individual salesman- known as the \"independent contractor\" but by United Financial services. The contractor indicated to me that he was connected with this Service and represented them. As I say, I was very sick at the time and not well enough to have made big financial decisions. The company has reported the debt (which they say I had disputed, but I have kept all my correspondence with them, and at no time did I disput the debt, I simply wanted the debt validated. There are no copies of a contract with two wet ink signatures (one from me and one from a representative from the company - with a witness to the signing). The entire thing was conducted over the phone, with the salesman disappearing within days of this and with me foggy headed and ill unable to figure out what kind of swindle just took place. The individual has made no effort to repay me the money owed or to make good with the item promised (Hyla vaccuum cleaner, which I had agreed to buy to help him bump up his sales, and because I did actually like the item.) Why would United Financial Consumer Services want to be associated with a criminal to make people like me suffer?
Barbara
10 months ago
I have a 28000 loan with them. They trying to get my home which is Not mine by myself. I don’t know what to do!!! I never! Got the 28000

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