Anonymous
map-marker Monroe, Louisiana

Stole thousands of dollars

First Universal agreed to pay back 18.8 million dollars. The redress check showed up today and after loosing $4000.00 to these thieves my check would verily cover the cost of a Motel 6 for one night. I certainly hope the den of thieves enjoy the multi millions of dollars they stole. I would estimate the kept 200-300 million for themselves. I am certainly glad the FTC shut them down, but now the states Attorney Generals would file theft charges and prosecute them for fraud. That is no doubt why they settled for the 18 million so they could sand bag the rest of the money themselves.
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1 comment
Guest

Can someone help me get my refund from First Universal ?

Annonymous

Gwen M Qha
map-marker Dallas, Texas

NEVER KEEP THEIR PROMISE

A RIP-OFF!! A- RIP-OFF!! AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN A BIG RIP-OFF!!!! DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. IHOPE THEY ARE GONE FOR GOOD. I used this company for a loan modification on my home and believe i had to look for other help to save it. they took my money and never looked back to say can I help you honey. And after all the run arounds and fear that i would be sleeping on the ground. this trial they put me throught was nothing funny. Trust me if you love yorself and your family keep away and stayaway
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Loss:
$90
rshood
map-marker Birmingham, Alabama

MARYLAND ISSUES CEASE AND DECEAST ORDER AGAINST THIS LLC

On April 21, 2009 the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation issued a cease and desist order against First Universal Lending, LLC (a/k/a First Universal, a/k/a First Universal Workout Solutions); First universal Lending LLC/Maryland; Lending Partners; Feingold & Kam, LLC; David J. Feingold, Esq,; David Zausner; Sean Zausnerl; and Gary J. Linowes for violation of Maryland law icnlduing frauduelnt, illegal and dishonest activities while engaging in credit services business activites and foreclsoure consulting in Maryland. THe order is avaialbe on the web. The case number is DFR-EU-200*-087
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Anonymous
map-marker Tyler, Texas

Ruined credit with modifications

First Universal Lending promises to lower your interest rates on your mortgage and credit cards, what they do is take your monthly payments, ruin your credit and don't return you phone calls. They have never heard of the person that called you in the first place, and they don't refund your money. They are nothing but *** artist .We had a man named Donnie call us in April 2009 asking to help us with debt and mortgage modifications. We paid over 1000.00 in two payments, and everyone closed our accounts.Donnie of course did't work there so they said. Do not do business with this company.
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Loss:
$1050
cynthia m Sim
map-marker Flint, Michigan

A scam and now my family and I are homeless.

I paid First Universal Lending $2,400.00 for them to negioate my loan with Countrywide. I started the process in August of 08. Now I'm about to lose my home and the mortgage rate is still the same as it was. If anybody out there can give me any suggestions, although it might be two late, please email me at cmaxie1@***.org I believe the communication between Countrywide and First Universal was extremely poor. Countrywide said they didn't know anything about First Universal. When I initally did the intake with First Universal I was assured they had an "extremely good relationship with Countrywide". There is a Michelle Williams that works at Countrywide who is extremely rude as well who talks to you like you are less than zero. Whoever reads this just pray for me and my family. This is my second home and I have had a mortgage for over twenty years, I guess those days are gone.
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3 comments
Guest

I just read your post regarding your situation and I am praying for you. Have you found a place to live?

Guest

I hired Lincoln Loan Services in October 2008 as well to negotate my loan with Wells Fargo. To this date, nothing....

i've called and called ... I paid $700 to Lincoln Services....

I think we're in the same boat. Good luck.

I'm going on four months behind and we are ready as well to be homeless :cry

Guest

Yeah, I guess those days are gone for you too. I have some extra large cardboard boxes in my basement you and your family can use.

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calloway Wha
map-marker Saint Louis, Missouri

First universal mortgage

This company is a scam!!!!!!! My sister payed this company and they promised they would help. she quit paying her mortgage like they told her to do. And they said they would contact her via email with a list of things she needed to do. A month went by with no contact. So she tried to contact them with no luck and they still continued to charge her account every month until she put a stop payment on her account. What ever you do stay away from this company. There are companies out there that can do what these people promise and for only a one time fee of $500 plus closing cost which can usally be included in the loan modification.
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Loss:
$1200
bonbonrush R
map-marker Southfield, Michigan

First Universal Lending LLC

Has anyone used this company? I'm thinking of having the company negotiate with my mortgage company for a lower rate. The fee is $399 a month until they get done "negoitating". Please let me know your experience with them. ___________________________________________ First Universal Lending LLC is a lender that has been servicing retail clients since 2002 and the wholesale and securitization enterprises dates back to 1994. With billions of dollars in transactions and a group of in excess of 200 in personnel, First Universal is a leading private company in the consumer finance industry. The firm is a member of the Better Business Bureau and after servicing in excess of 100,000 thousand clients the firm has a "B" Rating and has a complaint rate of less than one half of one percent. The firm also has had additional strategic relationships throughout its existence with high profile lending institutions and service providers/counter parties, including Washington Mutual, Lehman Brothers, HSBC Bank, Goldman Sachs, mortgage division and the Lending Tree group of companies. The firm provides additional financial industry services through a number of other affiliated enterprises, including but not limited to, Emery Fed Inc., which is a division of Emery Federal Credit Union and Western Thrift & Loan -- a depository institution that has the approval to provide loans through major financial institutions in the majority of all states in North America.
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26 comments
Guest

Even though they settled with the FTC, people should call their Attorney General. They will probably never pay the money according to the FTC so you should get your AG to file criminal charges against them.

Guest

:? There is always someone who wants to say these *** artists are ok or good to do business with.

The Florida Att General did not think so, the BBB gave them a good rating until they found their responses were totally lies and then changed them to F. They are nothing more than *** artists.

Guest

the ftc has shut them down

Guest

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!!! THEY WILL GIVE YOU THE RUN AROUND OR NOT CONTACT YOU BACK.

THEY WILL SCAM YOU OUT OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I'M A POLICE OFFICER DOING A FRAUD REPORT RIGHT NOW FOR SOMEONE WHO WAS VICTIMIZED.

Guest

Please do not deal with this company. They made many many false promises and it has been 5 months and we still have been paying them.

I canceled my contract with them and they still debited my account after I cancelled my contract and told them that they were not doing what they said they would do nor could I afford to continue paying the monthly fee.

This is a total scam. If need be contact a non-profit organization and they can do the same thing only faster.

Guest

I feel bad for you guys but are you guys really that gullable and *** to think this stuff works!?!?!?! If you really are that lazy that you cant deal with your lender yourself, then hire A LAWYER. ( No Im not a lawyer) By the way, I know who owns that company and he is a TOTAL *** artist.

Guest

Yes I used this company and they are crooks.I have been with them for seven months and out three thousand dollars and on the *** of loosing my home.This company has done nothing for my family except give us excuse after excuse and blame the mortgage company for my family not getting the offer they we should love.We recieved two offers that were higher than my normal monthy mortgage payments. So basically they wasted my families time and me, my husband,my 4 year old disabled son, and my one year old will be on the streets due to this scamming company that should be stopped.Its great for the people that this company helped but looking at the reviews there are alot more people just like my family that got screwed and are loosing a place they call home.

Im only hoping now I can save my home at least for my childrens sake.

If you are someone wanted to use this company really think long and hard because you will be sorry like the rest of us who got scammed by this company and dont have a home to go to at night.I know I wont make the same again if I get the chance to do over. :sigh

Guest

Do not use this company, they offer services that free at alot of companies. It took from February 09 until August 09 too figure this out.

Do not waste your money. They give you the same story when you call, it is still in review.

Mine was in review for 3 months with no results. Beware!

Guest

Do not use this company!!!! After paying 5 months (3/2009-7/2009) a monthly fee of $450, I found out that they never even submitted my loan modification documnts until 8/3/2009.

They will no refund my money back and now have closed my file because I can no onger afford to pay their fee. Instead of helping my mu financial crises they added to it.

Guest

I just received a foreclose sale date8-3-09 set for 9-1-09 This company has been workin on my file for 6 months also @$500 each time telling me the same BS not to pay we'll ge it lower its in review .I dont know what to do... Icant lose my home ,should or could i file bankrupt? why would these people do such a thing/

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funny
map-marker Orlando, Florida

Not honest upfront with my modification

Spoke with Doug Campion with First Universal and told him my situation. He explained to me that he could help me with my modification with knowing that I had already did a modification with Countrywide. Not once did he tell me that you had to wait 1 year to do it again. I had to find out on my own 1 day after signing the contract. Thank God I researched this company and cancelled.... Big Scam!!!!!!!!!! I contacted an attorney and he was the one that informed me I needed to wait 1 year since my modification. Everyone, please do your research first.. You can modify your loan yourself.. It might take alittle leg work but will save you $$$$$$$ and you wont lose your home in the process!
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Anonymous
map-marker Dallas, Texas

First universal lending riped me off and we lost our home.

when we first started talking to first universal lending. they were very convincing that they could get our mortgage loan reworked and could lower our payment 30% to 60%. I asked Gary about their success rate and he stated 100%. After we got signed up and a payment of 399.00 got made they would get started. The payment was made but after i got signed up they never assigned a loan officer to me.every time i would call they would ask me who my loan officer was and i would tell them i don't know. no one would contact me back.
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22 comments
Guest

OMG today's article in the paper could not bring me more joy! And to see these supposed employees saying they were legit, they're either drinking the kool aid or smoking crack (or it's Sean Zaussner himself!

LOL). Check everyone out before you do business with them! They were shut down by the SEC years ago.

These guys are theives and bullies with a crooked lawyer at the helm who files suit after suit against people they actually owe money to until they're mentally and financially tapped and walk away. Could not happen to a better group of dirt bags - maybe this time they will actually do some time!!!!!

Guest

wow i thought i was being smart... but they went under a lawyers name of stratton and feinstein....but when the money comes out of my checking it is under first financial.

I checked these people out but because of the different name i found nothing...now what am i suppose to do.. i am three months behind on my mortage...

Guest

never dobuss with these people cathy jones called and left mess on my phone on the 25 th of sept said she spoke with bank of america they said everything will be done in 60 to 90 days got a letter in the mail dated 21 of sept said claim denied go figure that one am calling bbb and attoney this stuff has got to stop life and times hard enuff with economy as it is no answer from first universal surprise

Guest

SCAM, SCAM, SCAM!!! THAT IS ALL I CAN SAY..

EVERY NEGATIVE COMMENT IS TRUE AND EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED.

I'M SCRAMBLING TRYING TO GET MY MORTGAGE CAUGHT UP AND SAVE OUR HOME. NEXT I WILL POST A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

Guest

You are not alone. First Universal Lending Llc, Misrepresents themselves from jump street. Their MO is the same, You are contacted by phone( usually from the Lending Tree.com site) They tell you they can provide a modification and that someone will be assigned to your claim and only they will handle it. Then they tell you how much and once they recieve your deposit They can get to work. Sounds Familar?

Here's the worse part for me,(I was up to date on my Loan, I was instructed to stop payment while they were working on my case, and that they would roll in the missed payments into the loan modification and to use that money to pay off our credit cards)

I Am a Disabled Desert Storm Veteran whose Mother is Disabled and on hospice and whose medical went up, as well as still Recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and last years mandatory evacuation for Hurricane Gustav.

I fired them on April 28, 2009, they acknowledged my e-mail, However, 2 days after they were fired, and acknowledged that fact, I recieved an e-mail that the charges were refused by my bank, and all work has stopped on my case until payment is made, Then i called my bank and they verified that First Universal Lending, Llc attempted to withdraw their fee, the Kicker? They did this after acknowledged the cancellation of their Services, If this isn't a crime, I don't know what is.

To top it off, I found out The Florida State AG's Office has an open Investigation on their "Deceptive" Business Practices, & Failure to deliever on Promises. You can check it out on their web site.

My advice? Run as fast as you can.

Guest

My husband and I went through a chapter 13 bankruptcy in the fall due to his job loss, and we were able to save our home. We were looking to lower our house payment to further help us with our finances.

We have not been able to get help through other lenders because of the bankruptcy, but they told us that wa snot an issue. We should have gotten the hint when the guy talked to us like a used care salesman. He talked a good talk, so we agreed to $999.95 per month starting on 3/20/09. I was very skeptical and felt like something fishy was going on so after we got off the phone with them I started researching on the internet just to find that they are a fraud.

We immediately called back and asked to speak with the guy we had spoken to (Chris Horne) no more than 5 minutes ago and guess what, he was unavailable. So we called customer service, well they could not help us, they had to take a message and call us back. Guess what, we never received a call back. And Chris was nice enough to give us his telephone number with extension and his cell phone number.

When we called the numbers... one was disconnected and the other just went to a general mailbox?!

So we immediately called our bank and shut down our debit cards, so boy will they be shocked when they try to get some money on the 20th!! What a shady group of people, preying on people looking for help.

Guest

I would like you to know that First Universal Lending has helped me save my home i was 5 mths behind and yes it did take a couple of months to get done but I am now safe and in the my home I wish people would just give up with talking trash. My loan specialist was great.. Thanks first universal lending now that me and my kids are safe in our home.

Guest

I would like you to know that First Universal Lending has helped me save my home i was 5 mths behind and yes it did take a couple of months to get done but I am now safe and in the my home I wish people would just give up with talking trash. My loan specialist was great.. Thanks first universal lending now that me and my kids are safe in our home.

Guest

These guys are out for one thing only, making money in a industry thats dead right now, at the customers cost. The borrowers they deal with in most cases cannot refinance so they prey on them.

Just visit their office of off Gateway, I agree with the boiler room comment. Go there, pay good ol Troy and Oscar a visit, look around and then decide if you want these guys handling your personal info

DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THESE GUYS

Guest

The office off of gateway is the worst. Troy Levy is a ***, he runs a boiler room operation and treats his employees like animals.

If you want confirmation of the quality of the folks he employs, just call Club Med in Port Saint Lucie, they held a conference there and the employees were running around like wild banshees, so much so they are banned from Club Med. Just call Club Med and ask.

Most of these guys are convicted felons and drug users. DO NOT TRUST THEM

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Anonymous
map-marker Fort Lauderdale, Florida

BOILER ROOM

These folks are out for one thing, making money at the customers expense. They do not return phone calls, promise they can work out any modification and then fail to deliver...period. They claim they have relationships with all the major lenders and asset managers. BS. The only thing they are good at is taking your money Just give ol Troy and Oscar a visit at the gateway location a visit. Take a good look around, and see if you still want to do business with them. Customers information scattered everywhere among other things. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY
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