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Option 1 Legal Reviews: 3 Things to Know

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Ben
1/29/2024 Update: Option 1 Legal was mentioned in the CFPB lawsuit against SFS for deceptive debt relief practices.
 
As such, I just shot this video. Please considering watching the video for more information.
 
 

Did you get a consolidation loan mailer where you didn’t qualify for a loan, but qualified for Option 1 Legal?

In the Option 1 Legal agreement, does it show that your fees are actually paid before making settlement?

Let’s go through the reviews.

Option 1 Legal Reviews

In my opinion, two of the most unbiased, holistic review sites are BBB reviews and complaints and Google reviews. It may tend to be a bit more negative, but it seems to be a source of information.

What I found surprising was that there was a civil complaint from the City of Chicago against Monarch Legal. Timothy Burnette who is the head of Monarch Legal is also the co-owner of Option 1 Legal.

 
There is a complaint about the owner of Option 1

Has Your Credit Been Negatively Affected? What Are Good Debt Consolidation Alternatives?

You joined a debt consolidation program, and now you may have been sued for unpaid debt and your credit score may have plummeted. So, what are alternatives to debt consolidation?

We built a free debt consolidation alternatives calculator below that compares cost, duration, and pros and cons of key debt consolidation alternatives.

 

So, what are the reviews?

BBB

On BBB, Option 1 Legal currently has a 1.1 rating based on 30 reviews, and a F rating. When I see this, I wonder whether someone else is signing people up for Option 1 Legal, and that Option 1 Legal is not doing direct marketing.

 
Option 1 Legal have an F rating on BBB.
 

One review mentions that the individual paid $17,000 over 42 months but that Option 1 Legal only settled two accounts totaling to only $5000. This left the client questioning where the other $12,000 went. Another individual stated that their initial debt was $5,500 but after enrolling the debt with Option 1 Legal, the debt ended up going up to $11,000 because of “the incompetence of Option 1 Legal”. Both of these reviews warn people to not work with the legal group as they believe it is a scam.

An Option 1 BBB review discussing how they are a scam
Another Option 1 Legal BBB review saying they are the worst company to work with

Google

On Google, Option 1 Legal has a 1.6 rating based on 41 reviews.

Similar to the BBB reviews, some of the Google reviews warn others not to use this company. One individual states that after paying $13,000 to the savings account, there was only $2000 left after the legal group took out fees. Another mentions that the legal group had poor communication and did actually provide any services, instead just took their fees from the payments.

An Option 1 Legal Google review warning to not use their service

Another Option 1 Legal 1 star Google review saying they do not communicate

So, What is Option 1 Legal?

Option 1 Legal appears to be a debt relief law firm that is pitching debt settlement. I wouldn’t be surprised if Option 1 Legal was tied to a much bigger organization as it appears that there are more of these firms that have similarities.

When I look at these companies, I like to understand how old the website is and see any information I can about the company.

What I found interesting is that Option 1 Legal’s website (per Wayback machine) has the first website pull from August 18, 2020. This does not mean it’s a new company, but it may means that the website has not been around for a very long time.

Option 1 Legal per wayback machine
 

Your Options

Firstly, if you’d like to cancel, you may be able to contact the company directly, but you may also have to call your bank to get assistance if they do not allow you to cancel the program easily.

If you would like to stay with Option 1 Legal, you may want to read the Client Services Agreement in its entirety. If they are taking out fees before settlement, why are they doing that? What are they actually doing for you and what’s the percentage fee they charge?

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Reviews

★★★★★

5.0 stars from 280+ reviews

Synthia DuBose

 08/21/2023

My family was grappling with the burden of credit card debt. We had explored various avenues, including debt relief companies and consolidation loans, but everything seemed dubious and left us feeling uncertain. That all changed when I came across Ascend and had the opportunity to connect with Justin. He reached out to me on the very same day, and from that point forward, things took a turn for the better.

I provided Justin with an overview of our financial situation, our objectives, and the timeline we hoped to achieve our goals within. He promptly outlined the possible courses of action and presented a thorough breakdown of our various options. What truly stood out was Justin’s approach—he never pressured me into making a quick decision. Instead, he offered me the information and allowed me to ask questions at my own pace.

Upon selecting the path we wanted to pursue, Justin facilitated our connection with a non-profit organization. Much to our delight, they exhibited the same level of courtesy, expertise, and patience that Justin had demonstrated. In retrospect, the entire experience instilled a sense of confidence within us. We now believe we have a solid foundation and are well on our way to achieving financial success!

Dahveed Krisna

 07/26/2022

Ben and his assistant Jeffrey from Ascend Finance did an awesome job helping me to find an attorney who could talk with me openly and honestly about Chapter 13 as an option for my financial situation. Before finding out about Ascend’s bankruptcy calculators, I was stuck on a wheel of countless offers for consolidation loans, but always steered towards debt settlement or debt management plans over and over again due to my credit score and high utilization percentage. Based on data I entered into Ascend’s calculator, Ben and Jeffrey reviewed my situation and quickly connected me with a skillful, experienced bankruptcy attorney. I finally feel like I’m on the best path to being debt free; one that will save me a lot more money than any of the debt settlement or debt management programs that other companies and agencies have offered me… THANKS Ben, Jeffrey and Ascend!!

JorJor Binks

 02/09/2024

These guys are truly a beacon for those of us with too much debt. From the start where I found Ben on the YouTube channel Ascend I have been treated as a real person by real people. Even getting a personal call helping me figure things out. I went through one of the lawyers recommended by Ascend and as of January 2nd I am debt discharged, and already have a great credit card from Mission Lane for $2000. Things are getting back into place and my life feels so much less stressful due to the weight of debt being off my shoulders.

PLEASE give these guys a call if you are even considering any sort of debt relief be it bankruptcy, consolidation, or whatever other types of debt relief are out there. I can’t thank the Ascend team enough. (I was not paid to post this, or told to do this. I am genuinely so thankful to have the help when I needed it most♥️)

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