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Newport Legal Group Debt Consolidation Reviews: 3 Things You Need to Know

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

Did you get a mailer that pre-qualified you for a debt consolidation loan at an amazing rating?

Did you not end up qualifying, but did you qualify for a debt consolidation program (i.e. debt settlement) via Newport Legal Group?

Does Newport Legal take fees before settling debt?

Many debt settlement companies take fees AFTER the first debt has been settled. That said, Newport Legal states that it is a law firm, so are you paying for retainer fees before the debt has been settled? This specific review caught my eye (we will cover reviews later) where the individual canceled but did not receive a refund after 4 payments.
 
Newport Legal review that states that fees may have been taken upfront.
 
In addition, Newport Legal may have similarities to Boulder Legal Group that takes fees before settlement. We took a look at the contract below, and it does in fact seem that fees can be assessed before settlement.
Newport Legal has similiarties to Boulder Legal that takes fees before settlement.
 
But, can you actually afford the Newport Legal payment each month? Let’s cover that next.
 

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.

 

Newport 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 current BBB alert for Newport Legal Group showing a pattern of complaint. It’s the first time I’ve seen this type of alert.

Newport Legal has a warning on BBB due to many complaints

So, what are the BBB reviews?

BBB

On BBB, Newport Legal Group currently has a 1.28 rating based on 71 reviews, and a B- rating. There have been 91 complaints in the last 3 years and 45 complaints just in the last 12 months. When I see this, I wonder whether someone else is signing people up for Newport Legal Group, and that Newport Legal Group is not doing direct marketing.

Newport Legal has 1.28/5 stars on BBB

 

Many of their reviews mention that giving them no stars/zero stars if they could. One review states that the individual paid the legal group $9000 over 14 months and only one bill of $1000 was paid off. When asked about it, the legal group said that the remainder was kept for fees. Another review says that the individual ended up being garnished after Newport Legal Group completely ignored one of the accounts that was in litigation. The individual then started getting emails reminding her of payments after she had already paid.

Someone on BBB who said they wish they could give zero stars
A review saying they received litigation notices

 

Google

On Google, Newport Legal Group has a 3.4 rating based on 182 reviews.

 

Similar to the BBB reviews, some of the Google reviews mention their experience. One individual states that only an average of 10% of the payment goes towards the debt whereas the rest goes towards their fees. Another mentioned that over the course of a year, $8000 was paid the the legal group and only one account of a little over $1000 was paid off.

 
A Google review saying they made a bad situation worse

That said, it appears that some individuals seem to be having a good experience with the program.
 
Newport Legal 5 star Google review
 

What is NewportLegalGroupReviews.com?

One of the most fascinating finds I have found in my research is that it appears that there is a separate website focused on both TrustPilot and Google Business reviews.
 
The website’s address is newportlegalgroupreviews.com, and the most interesting aspect of this website is that this website stated that Newport Legal Group has a 5.0 based on 10 reviews, but Google itself actually shows tbat Newport Legal Group has a 3.4 based on 182 reviews.
 

So, What is Newport Legal?

Newport Legal Group appears to be a law firm that is pitching debt settlement. I wouldn’t be surprised if Newport Legal Group 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 Newport Legal Groups website has been around since at least December, 2020. So, it may be a relatively new website.

Newport Legal Group per wayback machine from December 2020

Also, it looks like the firm’s main address of 300 Baker Ave., Ste. 300, Concord, MA 01742-2124 may be a virtual mailbox, and not a physical location.
 
Newport Legal office address appears to be a virtual mailbox
 

Your Options

If you are wondering where you should go from here or if you have any personal experiences, please consider contacting me at 833-272-3631. I’d love to hear about your experience.
 

If you would like to stay with Newport Legal Group, 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?

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

Debt settlement can be a good option as long as you know what you are getting yourself into and who is handling your accounts. Are they actually going to help? Make sure you doing your own research.
 
 

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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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