In contrast, the New York Supreme Court of Westchester County decided Pearl Capital Rivis Ventures, LLC v. RDN Construction, Inc. on October 25, 2016. Shortly after NBC News spoke with Arora, Itria withdrew its court actions against Lone Spur and other small businesses, court records show. The merchant cash advance companies often demand that borrowers also pay attorneys' fees, which can be 25 percent to 33 percent of the balance due under a borrower's agreement, documents. Runion said the companies that advanced him cash have persuaded an insurer holding $40,000 in reimbursements for procedures he had already completed to send the money to the advance company, not to Runion. We'll get back to you within 5 . Theyre highly recommended. Rodolfo P. Queens, NY 6-27-2018, Michael Sininsky is professional and responsive in every aspect of all services provided. Be well. Mary R. Bayshore, NY 4-30-2018, I would highly recommend Dramer Law for your debt settlement needs. you have signed away UCC Lien rights to your funder, a UCC lien will allow your funder to freeze your receivables , BEFORE THE FUNDS EVER MAKE IT INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. Most Sincerely, Ken and Nicki K Highland, NY. An extended payment plan for your payday loan may be available, subject to state restrictions. Many MCAs have personal guarantees which lead many business owners with little personal assets to file for personal bankruptcy. Merchant cash advances are a form of financing in which a company provides money to a small business up front in exchange for a larger amount repaid through daily automatic payments. We were also worried about our credit score, the bankruptcy record will stay in your record for 7 years ( our score were poor anyway). The merchant cash advance agreements typically allow for these remedies. According to the FTC, the company threatened people with physical violence, telling one person they would break his jaw if he didnt pay. You will be assigned a specific member of our team that will be in constant contact with you throughout the process. Let our Merchant Cash Advance Debt Relief Attorneys to defend you or for our Certified Debt Arbitrators to negotiate on your behalf to save you as much time and money as possible the right way! Call today for your free consultation with an experienced member of our team who will ask the right questions to determine the best course of action. As I mentioned before the only thing is Im interested to see when the payments Ive made start showing up on my credit report as its still very low. If funds do not come into your merchant account, the MCA company should not collect. Loans are considered absolute and must be paid back with set terms and conditions. 1-21-16. With an added personal guarantee, it gave recourse to the MCA lender to collect, even if the merchant account was not performing, thus additionally reducing the MCA purchasers risk of not being repaid. A non-recourse clause, means the MCA have no recourse or no way to collect if the merchant account does not receive funds. It is important to take note that the COJ laws have not changed in any other states only in NY so COJs can still be filed against you outside of New York. Looking for legal documents or records? The flood receded when New York courts stopped accepting electronic filings in nonessential matters on March 23. Mike Thank you so much for your help. Dial 516-670-5165 right away. Michael called every month to see how we were doing and was alwaysavailable to answer questions or offer support. Have you tried to refinance an MCA and were denied? If you do not have funds for either a payment plan or settlement, fighting the lawsuit will buy you time and can even prevent a judgment from being entered against you and your business altogether. The court proceedings were annulled, and agreeable working terms were consolidated with my creditors. This has been a long journey and you have taken us through it just as you promised. I want to say, he immediately put my mind at ease. The .gov means its official. We work to advance government policies that protect consumers and promote competition. As with many small business owners, he has closed his stores because of the coronavirus pandemic, and his revenues have disappeared. The FTC had previously settled with defendants RAM Capital Funding, LLC and Tzvi Reich. If you took out a Merchant Cash Advance of any other business loan or line of credit, then you have signed away UCC Lien rights to your funder. Franchisee Conversations with Chair Khan, Statement of Commissioner Rohit Chopra Regarding Yellowstone Capital, LLC, Blog: Small business targeted with unauthorized withdrawals, Blog: Protecting small businesses seeking financing during the pandemic. He said the companies have almost killed his business. "Now, more than ever, alternative lending is going to be needed by small businesses," said Shane Heskin, a lawyer at White and Williams, who represents Indelicato of North River Outfitter and other merchants against direct lenders. They have access to your bank accounts they can wipe out an account overnight.". A COJ will allow your funder to freeze your bank accounts whereas a UCC lien will allow your funder to freeze your receivables BEFORE THE FUNDS EVER MAKE IT INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT! Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTCscomputer user recordssystem. New Jersey Attorney General settles lawsuit against merchant cash advance providers. Thank you again for all your help Greg T. Long Island, NY. They are known to misrepresent their tremendous upfront fees or for just telling you not to worry about the fees because theyre all included in the monthly payment estimates. The case against Jonathan Braun is pending. If instead of hiring an experienced Business Debt Relief Law Firm you opt to hire a regular debt settlement company to deal with your Merchant Cash Advance, they will NOT be able to give you legal advice. We research all over the internet and called many law firms and layers. The laws regarding the filing of Confession of Judgments (COJ) in New York have recently changed. Fast funding for your financial goals. The FTC is sending 7,731 checks totaling more than $9.7 million to small businesses who were harmed by Yellowstone Capital, a merchant cash advance company that withdrew money from customer bank accounts without permission. According to the complaint, these fees totaled hundreds and even thousands of dollars, and were not revealed to business owners until, in some cases, after their contracts were signed, leading one business owner to tell the defendants, you guys are like highway robbery.. Our mission is protecting consumers and competition by preventing anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices through law enforcement, advocacy, and education without unduly burdening legitimate business activity. Michael explained the process in detail and even though I was quite hesitate I feel this was the best option for me. "I will put you in the hospital and your family, call the police I don't care, you and your family will pay." Find legal resources and guidance to understand your business responsibilities and comply with the law. An email to PowerUp requesting comment received no response. We will take our time with you and help evaluate what your best course of action should be. Overall, though, Im very happy. Mike S. Baldwin, NY 8-3-15, I was so happy to have been represented by the law firm of Kenneth H. Dramer. The company, PowerUp Lending Group of Great Neck, New York, had given North River money to be repaid from the stores' future sales. Report it to the FTC. The personal guaranty being a required condition of the MCA contract was one fact of this case which showed the need to repay the advance was undeniable. It is your choice whether to submit a comment. Not only is that extremely embarrassing, but without any money coming in, how will you continue to run your business? Our staff is trained to ask the right questions to make sure that no stone in your financial picture goes unturned. We can offer advice and help you to protect your assets from your creditors, thereby alleviating the worrying and stressing over frozen accounts or assets. Thats the gist of the agencys 2020 lawsuit against merchant cash advance outfit RCG Advances, LLC and owner Robert Giardina. We enforce federal competition and consumer protection laws that prevent anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices. They were patient and very helpful with my case. But, in the lawsuit, Attorney General James alleges that the Richmond companies' merchant cash advances are in fact illegal, high-interest loans with astronomical and illegal rates. The first missed payment invokes the lender's right to pursue you and your business. Another small business borrower who's been through the wringer with merchant cash advance companies is Jon Runion of Runion Dental Group in Columbus, Ohio. No matter where you are in the country you can contact our firm in Long Beach, NY to set up a free business debt relief consultation. The agreements are enforceable contracts the borrowers have agreed to, lawyers say, but some of the aggressive collection practices, such as visiting borrowers' homes, aren't legal, they contend. Not only did you get me out of debt but you gave me a freedom that cant be described. Bob & I wish you a Happy, Healthy Holiday Season. If you are a business owner and want to file for personal bankruptcy, your obligation to pay back the advance will be discharged; however, the liability for the business remains. A merchant cash advance, MCA for short, [] Read Now With just one meeting with you, you gave me hope that just maybe I too could live debt free and once again become a responsible spender. Again, please accept our gratitude for all your help. Lina M. Khan was sworn in as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission on June 15, 2021. View Results from Our Merchant Cash Advance Relief Services. Other insurers have stopped reimbursing Runion after the advance company notified them that it had sued him. Find the resources you need to understand how consumer protection law impacts your business. Aside from treating you with the upmost care possible, this means you wont have to deal with multiple people and re-explain your situation to a different person each time you call. Use our visualizations to explore scam and fraud trends in your state based on reports from consumers like you. This type of predatory, extortionate approach is going to wipe out so many businesses, and they're not going to come back. "Their strategy was always to get more," he said. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. There is no obligation to retain our services. Our merchant cash advance lawyers will work with clients to assess their debt situations and advise them on the best path to financial stability. A similar case Platinum Rapid Funding Group Ltd. v VIP Limousine Services., Inc. can be found here. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTCsPrivacy Act system notices. trade references (of which some are your customers); bank statements (they will looks through your statements to see who pays you); or. For how long? Our business debt attorneys and arbitrators have successfully worked with many struggling business owners who werent able to qualify for traditional bank funding who were then forced to pledge future receivables to one or more Merchant Cash Advance companies for the capital they needed. Keep up to date get updates with latest topics. Our mortgage negotiation services are offered a fee structure as such that you pay part of the fee when retaining our firm and part of the fee only if were successful. This fee is usually expressed as a factor rate. But aggressive lenders are still trying to extract money from their empty coffers. This is called a merchant cash advance. In addition to the initial advance, the MCA provider will also charge a fee for the transaction. Your guidance, understanding and expertise were very comforting to us .Of course we are so happy that this situation is now settled. I wish everyone would be like that. Lina M. Khan was sworn in as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission on June 15, 2021. The best decision we could have made was to begin the debt settlement process. We would highly recommend their services for debt reduction and settlement rate negotiations. John & Pat T. Valatie, NY 5-30-2017, Thanks for being so helpful i am glad for your help I hope I can send some client your way thanks so much Audrey. The companies generally provide a predetermined amount of money to a business in exchange for future receipts. In some states, you may be able to fight it if you can prove any of the following: Call or Text "CASH" to Tommy Funding Coordinator/Agent today at 716 906-7233 for quick funding! Merchant Cash Advance companies are aggressive and do not wait to take action when a business defaults on their product. But the bank backed out after he had signed a new lease and begun construction on the second office, and by spring of last year, Runion said, he desperately needed funding. How Do Merchant Cash Advances Work? Any representative that will speak with you will have a minimum of 10 years experience. Merchants like Indelicato have been hammered by the coronavirus outbreak. At The Law Offices of Kenneth H Dramer PC, before we make any recommendations, our debt lawyers, certified debt relief specialists, and paralegals are trained to ask the right questions to find out about your specific situation. Hi Michael, Just wanted yo drop you a note in appreciation for all you have done for Bob & I in regard to the Capital One situation. They are filed without a business' knowledge; merchants often learn about them when they try to pay their employees and find their accounts blocked, the lawyers say. When disputes arise about these cash advances, a lawsuit may occur. Forever. Some business owners said they are being swamped with new texts and emails offering funds. To read about this case click here. As a provider, you deserve to get paid for the cash you advance. Whether or not a broker was involved, we have helped countless business owners that were sued traditionally or have signed COJs. In all cases, the businesses had stopped paying in March, although Itria Ventures said some of the defaults dated back months before the coronavirus clobbered operations and governments required that many nonessential companies close. The offers are alluring to owners who often operate on the edge and are strapped for cash. That is our one and only goal when we go to work for you TO SAVE YOU AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE! Thank you again & i hope you dont mind if i touch base with you the future, just to give you updates on how things are going. Until we got hit with a summons from the court ( for over 100K lawsuit). Very pleased with the results. S.P. Owners must also give the lenders unfettered access to their bank accounts for the automatic withdrawals. We work to advance government policies that protect consumers and promote competition. Merchant cash advances are a form of financing in which the defendants provide money to a small business up front in exchange for a larger amount repaid through daily automatic payments. Learn more about consumer topics at consumer.ftc.gov, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices atReportFraud.ftc.gov. Need an experienced Merchant Cash Advance attorney? Michael, Im gonna miss you! Steven & Esther W. 12-12-14. They will go over each option that will make sense for your situation and will be sure to discuss in detail the pros and cons of each. In this case, the defendant disputed the plaintiffs MCA due to specific language that was missing in the contract a non-recourse clause. On March 19, as COVID-19 spread across the U.S., triggering a national emergency, a merchant cash advance company sued Indelicato and his wife, Alice. Their profit or loss derives from future receivables whereas a loan company profits on the interest rate. "On some of our loans, we were paying over 200 percent. Our Law Firm is Known for Helping Business Owners With This Niche Area of Law (see below). By doing so, the MCA purchaser is taking the risk that your business may potentially not have any future receivables. It shows the kind of threatening language described in lawsuits by the FTC and the state of New York. Spot the latest COVID scams, get compliance guidance, and stay up to date on FTC actions during the pandemic. They may also help you negotiate for debt relief or a settlement plan. I hope other staff in your office are as efficient and compassionate as Mike is. Many times, when we successfully get our clients out of debt, they still need assistance with other areas of their financial life. Arverne, NY 2-6-17, Happy new year! "They're all capitalizing right now on the virus," a beleaguered borrower said, "and saying they are there to help you.". I would highly recommend this firm to anyone going through financial difficulty and need good advise. Now, amid the coronavirus crisis, the lenders have come for their money. On March 27, NBC News contacted Bernard Feldman, a lawyer for PowerUp Lending, about the Indelicato case. NEWARK - Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced today that the State has filed a lawsuit against Yellowstone Capital LLC, its parent company Fundry.US LLC, and six other associated companies, alleging the merchant cash advance ("MCA") providers targeted small businesses with predatory lending and abusive collection tactics that caused Merchant Cash Advances can be discharged through bankruptcy. Michael, my principal liaison from day one has been very professional, available, applied, assiduous, and reassuring throughout this relationship; it is hard not to state it in such glowing, when it is what it is. Mike spent time communicating with me either by e-mail or phone. Sincerely , Robert & Michele A. Whitestone, NY 5-25-2015, Dramerhandled my case very professional. The dual dynamos that power our economy are Americas 32 million small businesses and the more than 60 million people they employ. The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and protect and educate consumers. Please call for your free consultation to speak to one of our trained professionals. Beyond withdrawing unauthorized payments and failing to provide businesses the promised amounts, the complaint also alleges that the defendants relied on deceptive marketing to promote their services. We were thankful that he had our account . A recent case decision on March 16, 2017 in the Supreme Court of New York in Nassau County, titled IBIS Capital Group, LLC v. Four Paws Orlando LLC, states, in summary, the fact that payment or enforcement of a Merchant Cash Advance agreement rests upon a contingency for the payment schedule (of the funds coming into the account), rather than a true loan, in which it is essential to provide for repayment absolutely and at all events, it is not actually a loan, and therefore, is valid, even though it provides for a return in excess of the legal rate of interest. We wont post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. 5-26-16, I am very grateful of Michael Sininskys assistance to get through the process. From the initial consultation and throughout the entire process ,Michael patiently and fully explained everything. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. In summary, a Merchant Cash Advance company does not lend and charge interest but instead purchases your future receivables. At a time when many small businesses are struggling to stay afloat, the FTC is paying close attention to the tactics of companies claiming to throw them a financial lifeline. We wont post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions. The attorney may advise you to file for bankruptcy after exploring all of your financial circumstances. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect. These actions cause collectors to seek other measures to collect, often meaning lawsuits. The Merchant Capital decision is very good news for MCA companies doing business with Florida merchants. In some cases, Yellowstone would only refund this money when businesses complained, and even then the refunds could take weeks or months, leaving small businesses without needed cash on hand. All settlements are represented as a percentage of the debt paid back. You can rely on Lendmark for customized loans that are hassle-free and budget-friendly. They completely turned around a very trying situation for me. Default judgments by MCA lenders and their law firms can be vacated giving leverage to small businesses to pursue resolution of the debt via litigation and or settlement. Making sure that lenders and funders dont deceive business borrowers or engage in servicing abuses is a big priority for the FTC.. Now those sales are nonexistent but PowerUp's suit demanded immediate payment of almost $91,000, plus legal fees. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. Companies often choose to make the filings in New York state, because its statute is powerful and easy to use. In this case, the FTC alleged that Yellowstone and its owners continued withdrawing money from businesses' bank accounts for days after their balance had been repaid. And for . Small businesses are struggling right now and need responsible sources of financing, said Andrew Smith, Director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection. "He more or less presented me the net cash I would receive and the payments. Runion concedes that he signed the documents that have created the problems. He stopped paying around Thanksgiving and hired a restructuring firm, Second Wind Consultants, to help him work out the loans. As you know being in debt that you cant see your way out of causes so many restless nights and a lot of stress and anxiety. Any email or phone call was returned immediately with answers to each question or concern we had . NBC News asked Itria and Biz2Credit why they were taking such an aggressive tack against small businesses during a national disaster. A Merchant Cash Advance is not a set term as the purchaser is paid back as funds come into your merchant account. The FTC sued Yellowstone and its owners in 2020, and they agreed to settle. 7-7-2017, The Law Offices of Kenneth H. Dramer P.C Attorneys at Law were efficient in handling by bankruptcy case. We wont post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. This step is critical in any of our processes as we ensure that whatever service we recommend will be within your budget and therefore youre more likely to succeed. "You will end up hurt. I was initially hesitant to enter into any debt settlement program but now, without hesitation, I will say it was the best decision I could have made . All settlements are represented as a percentage of the debt paid back. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your efforts in getting us through this! CALL NOW FOR A FREE CONSULTATION and one of our advisors will be there to get you started on your path to financial freedom. MCAs are not considered loans , so they aren't subject to most of the laws that apply to traditional business loans. Commissioner Rohit Chopra issued a statement. During the three-week period, Itria filed suit against 20 small businesses for nonpayment, court records show, most of them outside the state. We wouldnt of call if we know what to do. The key to understanding how to litigate these cases is knowing where an MCA differs from traditional loans and credit lines, defined by the risk involved by the purchasing company. Highly recommended. Merchant cash advance companies like PowerUp aggressively cold-call, email and text small business owners offering quick and easy funding, merchants told NBC News. The only source of capital he could find was from merchant cash advance companies. The laws regarding the filing of Confession of Judgments (COJ) in New York have recently changed. Do you want to reduce the amount of the principal balance that you owe with our merchant cash advance settlement negotiations? Legal filings by cash advance companies, including confessions of judgment filed against small businesses, have been ballooning amid the coronavirus crisis. So when small businesses become targets for misleading claims, deceptive tactics, and flat-out intimidation, the FTC takes notice. Franchisee Conversations with Chair Khan, A just-announced settlement will return more than $2.7 million to consumers, previously settled with defendants RAM Capital Funding, LLC and Tzvi Reich, Franchises, Business Opportunities, and Investments, The Luring Test: AI and the engineering of consumer trust, Franchise Fundamentals: Debunking five myths about buying a franchise, A required action after refraction: FTC staff sends cease and desist letters about Eyeglass Rule compliance, The 411 about FTC-Florida AG action against Chargebacks911. The site is secure. All this just to get you to sign on the dotted line. He explained your retainer fee; that costs for filing papers; phone calls, and other incidentals, would be deducted from that fee and, if any fees were due at the end of the process, I would be liable for those additional fees. Hire A Real Law Firm instead of a Debt Relief Company, Merchant Cash Advances and Filing Bankruptcy, The amount owed to MCA and other obligations, Past, Current, & Future Cash Flow of the business, chance, pretty much stressed out on my options, I stumbled on, but very satisfied with my collaboration with Dramer. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. as well as any of your customers that pay you! I feel as though a weight has been lifted that burdened me physically and mentally for a long time. ! This can be said for ANY service we offer from negotiations to litigation to bankruptcy. A close analysis will be required to determine the applicable lawsuit defense strategies for each type of business debt. We think back at how hopeless we were feeling when we first contacted you and your firm, how reassuring it was to speak with you and how you empowered us to get this dark cloud behind us.

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merchant cash advance lawsuit