Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  12/12/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This company lies when trying to collecting debts

  

  Business response

  12/12/2024

  We have advised this customer 10x we will not do any business with him. We fired him 2017. We wish him the best but will not attempt any collections on his frivolous uncollectible claims. Some are fake claims; others the debtors are in ****; we cannot and will not assist him on any future collections and have told him the same thing since we terminated out relationship back in 2017. He constantly (11 times ) now has gone on a collection lead list to ask us to do collect for him (Attached) and we never will. He is a lunatic.

• Initial Complaint

  06/22/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I had hired this business to collect Funds from a job I had done for a client who refused to pay. In the beginning of the year I was contacted that the customer had agreed to pay and sent over a copy of a check and for me to Pay the fee so I can receive the check about a month went by and I never received my check. I contacted corporate and they told me that their employee got my information contacted me and told me that he had won my case and made a fraudulent, check to make it seem like it was real after receiving my check he quit and fled. I had explained to corporate that because it was their employee they should return what I had paid their employee. And they said no that there was nothing they can do, even though it was their employee who got my information from them.

  

  Business response

  06/27/2024

  We are sorry he had bad software and was a victim of phishing. We said we would help with any police report but he deposited funds into a personal account for ***************************. NOT ******, Hughes & Grossman. It was FRAUD but we cant assist; we feel terrible he lost $900 but he should have known better. Why would you deposit $900 dollars into a consumer account he knows **********************, Hughes & Grossman was the only entity and we explained to ***************** as this is the 2nd time it has happened on phishing scams. We are in *******! 

  Customer response

  06/27/2024

   
  
  Complaint: 21887867
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  as a business, you need to take a accountable for your employees. I trusted you guys with my information and one of your employees took that information from your system and reached out to me. As a business you guys are failing to assist. I understand you have no control of what your employee did, but you should be able to replace what your employee took from your client why is it that I have to take a loss for one of YOUR EMPLOYEES. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ********************* *****

  

  Business response

  06/28/2024

  we already advised that he was hacked; he deposited monies into an account that was a fraudulent consumer account. We cannot assist and police already advised him. We feel bad but this was ignorant on his part. see attached; he sent us the account on 11/13/20 and we closed it 17 days later on 11/30/20 *********FOUR YEARS AGO!!!!!!!!! 

• Initial Complaint

  06/09/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I retained this firm's services to collect thousands of dollars from debtors. I provided nearly 30 cases. They only succeeded in collecting from a single case that was easy. Then, they kept 50% for their fee advising that I had an attorney collector before them, so the extra increase over the agreed upon 35% was warranted. But, this is false. I never had anybody else try to collect. When I pointed out this fact, they issued a subtle threat that they might quit on my cases. They led me to believe that they were making progress, but that also turned out to be false. There was one other case where they assisted in collecting my just part of my fees from the debtor, but not only did I have to assist them, but this firm tricked me into believing that they would collect the rest of the missing fee, charged me for my assisting them, but never collected the remainder of the fee. Also, this firm advertises many services, such as updates, and high quality work with very effective productions, but none of that ever materialized, while I was kept in the dark for months. I had to fire them for super ineffectiveness, lying to me, wasting many months of time, almost never providing information, threatening to cancel my cases after I complained of being overcharged, and their high failure rate. I then discovered that afterward, they published fabrications and false allegations about me, accusing me of unlawful conduct, which was nothing but a scam by their scheme to deceptively divert their fault own onto me, and to falsely justify their finally admitted poor service, it was suddenly my fault, not theirs, but no prior mention curiously. I am their victim, this was a just a common scamming tactic to use victim blaming, and criminalizing the victim -- blame the other guy! -- just as a cover for their failings. My work has always been 100% legitimate, but scammers virtually always blame their victims to frame-up their victims to escape detection of their own scamming.

  

  Business response

  06/12/2023

  We received 12 accounts. ALL 12 were disputed. We received monies on 2 files. On those 2 files we received the Undisputed portion and remitted the client (Client # *****) and then closed the remaining files DUN (Debt Uncollectible) and the clients account as we were not a good fit for his disputed debts. He has our Fee Schedule and was paid accordingly and we wish him the best.

  Customer response

  06/12/2023

   
  Complaint: 20165351
  
  I am rejecting this response because:  This merchant's response is not accurate, is a misrepresentation, and is misleading, and they owe me money that they never paid me.  When I pointed out their overcharge of me, their manager did not deny it, but instead threatened me.  He suggested that I let them keep my money or else they will penalize me.  When I made a second request for my money, I was ignored.  Now, they are lying about it, and distorting the fact of their service to me.  They have lied to me from day one, and the lies continue, and now they have made grossly false allegations against me that I am committing unlawful acts -- just to artificially blame me for their failings that they previously boasted don't exist!  It's all just scamming.  The truth is that they wanted easy work and didn't want to have to do the hard things to collect from my debtors, even though I told them in advance, and they accepted all of my cases.  They never even offered alternatives to collect that would undoubtedly require additional resources, because doing that was secretly not included in their services, but they demand that they are very effective.  This is the only collection agency who I have ever worked with who does not employ legal recourse to collect fees from debtors when they were warned by me that legal recourse is highly likely with my debtors.  They accepted my cases knowing they are difficult, but tricked me into being able to collect on them -- which was false.  They advertise that they are owned and managed by Attorneys, yet they don't take legal actions to collect!, the very actions that are needed, and that I warned them about, that they accepted upon that warning.  But, that's why businesses retain collection agencies, to use collections measures more advanced than the service provider can effect on his own.  They just make phone calls and send correspondence.  But, I can do that myself.  Businesses don't retain collection firms like this to just repeat what the business can do and it wasn't effective.  Collection firms pur*** debtors all the way, and if not, they have a duty to admit that they do not.  I told them in advance that my debtors will not pay without legal action.  They knew that going forward.  They never advised me that they don't *** for recovery of fees, but they never did engage any legal action by Attorneys.  And, had I known that, I would never have used this merchant and just wasted nearly a year!  They suggested that they would take legal action if pre-collection methods failed.  That was false.   To just make the excus that we are not a good fit, and nearly a year later, with NO prior notice, but the opposite being true -- lies suggesting progress -- is just a nefarious cover-up excuse for my debtors being difficult, and that this firm could have pur***d but refused, because they only want easy cases -- contrary to their initial agreements with me -- and without utilizing the legal recourse that they lure you in with to buy their services, which is the opposite of the function of a true collection agency.  In one case, involving a large fee, they just called the debtors Attorney.  The Attorney admitted the debtor's intent to just steal my fee, but this merchant did nothing for months, never updated me, and wasted nearly a year on that case.  Since this firm could just not "ask" for my money and have it easily just sent over, then they quit!  Wow!  My other cases are similar.  This firm is NOT a collection firm.  They are only a private mediator hoping to get an easy finder's fee with no intention to do serious work in order to compel the fee payment by contract and law, and if the debtor simply refuses to pay them, then the case is dropped, but you are never informed, for months and months, while being given the impression that progress is still being made when none is, all the while they had already quit on you months ago but never told you.  When I told them that most of my debtors need to be ***d, they took all of my cases, but this merchant never took a single legal action that was required to taken on a number of my cases that they new about in advance.  They should have just declined my patronage instead of wasting months of my time and causing more damage.  Now, these debtors are emboldened, because they defeated collection efforts.  This firm should have warned me from day one that they only make simple efforts to collect, and then give up when simple efforts fail.  I warned them from day one that my debtors are hard cases and that most will not pay without legal action.  This firm agreed to proceed, but did not provide these services after all, but instead just secretly hid that fact.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************

  

  Business response

  06/13/2023

  if it looks like a duck, acts like a duck and walks like a duck; its likely a duck.

  EVERY debt was DISPUTED; every single one and we advised the client we would NOT represent him due to his shady billing practices and we closed his client file and wished him the best. Nothing has changed.

  Customer response

  06/17/2023

   
  Complaint: 20165351
  
  I am rejecting this response because:  These people are obviously very experienced manipulators.  They lie about everything.  As just on example of many that exist, you can use their very communications.  Of course, the debtors who don't pay certainly challenge the debt.  That's why they don't pay!  But, I have contracts and entire files of work over long periods of time, and very successful results for these debtors, who in turn just refuse to pay after the project is closed.  They are dishonest at the very least, and this collection firm was advised of all of that, while they have all of the supporting data. This firm suggests fault on my part, but they conveniently don't explain that fact.  Their response is just an attempt to attack me for their failings instead of being responsible adults and admitting that either they over-promised and cannot deliver, or else they don't want to use resources,like suing debtors to get Court Orders and Judgements -- like other firms have done successfully.  So, they lie and say that they will execute those practices -- because that is what a collection firm does -- but they never did any of that and just hid from me.  Of course people don't pay!  That is precisely why they were sent to this firm to collect from them!  Look at that logic:  People engage in scamming not to pay, so I retain this firm who is professional at collecting those debts, then they fail to do their job, fail at debt collection, argue that the debtors refute the debt being the very purpose of retaining this firm, and then they pretend that these scamming debtor denials are evidence that I am at fault -- and then blame their customer me, where anybody can simply ask a debtor scammer who stole money if they owe the money, the scammer debtor says no, so that is the evidence that this firm is using to validate that the debtors do not owe the money, and I am just lying!  Wow!  What a clever imagination of deceit, a fantasy, and dishonest manipulation where this firm is using the same scamming tactics as the scamming debtors!  Just look at the duckanalogy.  If it looks like a duck there is NO evidence of any crooked action on my part, and I have had a clean professional record over my entire career for 50 years.  If it acts like a duck the records prove that I worked, succeeded (because I am the TOP Expert in the country in my field, and I teach ***************************** Regulators, and others) but I never got paid so how is that acting like a *****?  Then, put those together, the facts, not the lies then thats a duck, right?  Its different variation of recurring spinning and Frame Up, over and over again.  In reality, they are speaking about themselves, and my debtors, not me.  Their business practices need to be scrutinized, they need to be investigated, and they need to be held to account for all of the lies and the trickery damages that they inflict on people who follow the rules.  For this firm to even attempt such a childish analogy, that is super unprofessional and irresponsible, it is they need close scrutiny.  Their conduct is far beyond ethical compliance.  who This firm tries to cleverly spin everything around to frame their victim, their customer, instead of admitting their failures, and then on top of that, they kept my money!  To hide their fake service, and then blame me, making it my fault for their failings!  Besides that scamming tactic, this firm verified with me that there were offers to settle debt disputes, but they assured me that they are so skilled, having years of experience, and through career Attorneys, that they could get better results,and they recommended that I not accept the lowball offer.  But instead,they go nothing at all!  It was all just a gimmick to trick me into trusting them, just so they could take a shot at getting easy money, not at working hard to get thousands of dollars.  So, I give them a try, I honor my part of the agreement, everything is entirely legitimate -- they have never evidenced otherwise, but make such allegations and accusations -- and in return the lie, take my money, threaten me, and then blame me.  That is crooked!  However, for months and months they continued to email me on rare occasion that these cases of mine where still progressing, but without any of the updates that they advertise that they would provide their client -- me -- until eventually there was virtually no contact, no explanation, and then a threat that if I want the rest my money that they collected from two of my former debtors (who admitted owing me, unlike their "duck"response"), then they will just quit.  Notwithstanding that fact,they had already quit months before, never told me that no progress was being made, no updates, and they would have just let more months pass by instead of admitting their failures and letting me retain a competitor of theirs.  As I said, they are professional liars, obviously well practiced in scamming. My work has always been 100% legitimate, and other Attorneys have been able to collect from virtually all debtors with the exception of just a few over many years.  But, those Attorneys practiced law to achieve success.  This firm doesn't practice law.  I told them from day one that virtually all of these debtors are hard core and will need to be ***d in order to collect, while they responded that they would take all of my cases.  Keep in mind that my debtors are highly dishonest, which is why they effectively have stolen my money, they never deny the success I brought them, but this collection firm is admitting that they believed these scamming debtors!  The debtors lied,and this collection firms states that because the debtors continue to lie to them as well, that it is me who is the scammer -- and all in the fact of the evidence proving the contrary 100%!  This firm also kept my money, then threatened me, so they are just like the debtors -- acting just the same! However, contrary to their lies, In the end some debtors admitted owing the money, paid a portion of it, but only with my help.  I honored our agreement and paid them their collection fee despite me doing a portion of their work, but even then, they overcharged me, refused to give me the rest of my fee, and then when I requested it, they threatened me as a means of blackmail to keep my money.  They held their services as ******. They will destroy the services if I don't allow them to rob me!  So, these people allege to have credibility, and further allege that I am not credible.  My professional record over my entire career is flawless. But, there are many scammers who lie in order to scam me, and I have already reported such matters to the *** and other State and Federal Agencies.  I have been investigated many times, but State and ***** ******************s,while I am an Honorary Member of Law Enforcement Associations formerly and present, in ******* and my home ****************, and I have family in the ************** of ************* and other Bureaus.  I have been authorized by ****************** for an advanced-level security clearance, which has never been revoked.  Despite well over ************************ no is***s have ever been found, a because I am the victims of these scams.  What scammers do is steal your money, then blame you as an excuse to have committed the theft, and then use the additional scamming (first the theft, then the blackmail or Frame Up) to justify the first theft.  It's a double victimization, and virtually all scammers use the same play out of the ******* playbook.  The strategy is to always blame the victim who you ripped off.  Divert the focus onto them and away from yourself.  it's called victim blaming, and criminalizing the victim.  For example, this firm took my money, but they are reporting to you that I am a bad guy and don't deserve my money that they admit keeping!  But, they are obviously honorable folks, right?  As a matter of fact, for this matter of this firm having also kept my money, just like the scamming debtors who they have taking sides with (having the same interests) I have reported them to the ****************.  Further, I am currently preparing an additional supplemental Formal Report for the State Authorities.  I have done this with virtually every scammer, and its all documented, in public record, for anyone to see.  Nothing has ever been sealed.  The never honored virtually any of their promises, and they certainly didn't do what their actual function is -- take necessary actions to collect debts.  If it's not easy, they just quit, save time and money for the easy ones, and then lie to their customer,and then blame their customer to everybody else.  How can a professional collection firm advertise collections services, but then not collect, and then just lie about, and on top of that Frame Up the victim after blackmailing him?  Instead, they just relied on just talking these debtors into paying thousands of dollars with phone calls and letters.  They were warned in the beginning that in my business, debtors are hard to collect from and that just conversations and letters alone have no effect.  They were told to *** these debtors, agreed, but did not, and just went ghost, while just stringing me along the entire time.  The investigations are going to expand, and they will continue into the future.  I am a professional investigator myself, and I was a resident of ******* most of my adult life starting in the 1980's.  These people will eventually face Justice, and I will consider any right to press charges.  There is NO WAY that these people are credible, honest, or trustworthy.  The use double-crossing as a means to do the same thing that the scamming debtors do.  You trust them to help you collect your paychecks, and then they take part of your paycheck,and then blame you, just like the crooked debtors, and then argue that the debtors have the credibility to believe them -- so believe the crooks, because this firm admits that they do!  It just shocks the conscience. Everything is in the record.  They are trying to conceal and deceive the BBB by pretending that the evidence is the opposite of what it is.  I can prove my case, but there is no way they can prove theirs.  They took my money,while they have offered no evidence that it belongs to them other than just trying to paint me in a bad light -- a Federal Offense -- and accomplish this violation by tricking the BBB by demonizing and vilifying me, the one they victimized!  Instead of being honest, honorable, grown-**** and just admitting their failure, apologizing, and paying me my money, they are acting like immature mischievous juveniles -- like the bully kid who takes other kids lunches and blames the kid with no lunch, "You made me do this to you!" (It's not my fault, it's yours!) -- who are lying to cover up taking someone elses property, throwing every possible excuse out there to see what sticks, just like my scammer debtors who they were supposed to do the right thing and help with, not join them!  But, the seriousness of this matter cannot be overlooked, because there are a number of legal breaches, regardless.  That's why we have laws, to stop this.  Selfish children causing substantially serious effects upon others and themselves in complete disregard for the consequences on other people, just as long as they get what they want.  Please see my notes on the documents attached in RED print.  Thanks for your help.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************

• Initial Complaint

  12/01/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  ******************* who is an collection agent who works for Martini, Hughes & grossman has attempted to collect fund on behalf of a client without showing proof of work completed or invoices. When questioned ** becomes irritated and attempts to use scare tactics to get people to pay without providing any documentation. They have claimed to have sent email communication but I have yet to receive a single email from they firm or there client. I have sent a certified letter disputing the claim and requesting documentation. I have yet to receive an invoice or the completed ********** typically will hang up when I press for more information rather than just providing it.

  

  Business response

  12/05/2022

  Client stated they had his incorrect email and ************ sent a dispute letter. We closed the file and advised the client to do the same and there will be no adverse filings to ************,

• Initial Complaint

  11/04/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I contacted *** to foreclose on a $14,500 property lien filed in WA Napp agreed to expedite the recovery based on having a judge and certified fraud examiners. After a month or so of delay during which the rep and the *** attorney went on vacation. The *** attorney repeatedly tried to get me to settle, I became overwhelmed with the delay and the stress and provided a settlement amount of $12,500 plus costs. Hughes provided a settlement agreement and demanded I cooperate with him. I reluctantly gave him a 48 hour window and a deadline of Friday 07/29.or he was to begin the foreclosure process. He agreed.On 08/2 I requested he begin foreclosure . Hughes intentionally deceived me by informing he had been paid in full and demanded I release my lien. In September after I released my lien and had made numerous requests for information, they refused to respond. Despite the website claim of payment on the 25th with no exceptions, *** failed to pay on 08/25 . In September, **** finally provided a settllement amount that was far less than the lien, less than the agreed amount and additionally charged a higher fee than agreed. *** refused to communicate and disappeared In October after numerous attempts to gain the executed agreement and an explanation as to why *** had settled for less without my permission I contacted Martini once by phone, then via email to call out the fraud committed. *************** falsely lied about my contact, lied about payment to me and blocked all communications with me through email and telephonically. They admitted to taking more in fees. Thereafter,MGH and JP Hughes made false and egregious attacks upon me including false claims of harrassment, clearly showed a false, slanderous invasion of privacy done against me and admitted that they never represented my interests. They conferred with opposing counsel to produce a contract that was signed after the deadline written in the contract. They produced the void contract for me in October, 2022

  

  Business response

  11/07/2022

   

  Attached is the signed release by both parties. Below is the email ************** sent confirming he accepted the release and signed it. He cashed our remit checks and the file has been closed for months. He called our office and harassed our staff to the point we blocked him and he continued to call from other phone #'s and email threats. We will not respond to any other statements made by ************** and the proof below and attached speaks for itself. 

  From: ********************* <*********************************>
  Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2022 4:49 PM
  To: ***** Hughes <********************************;
  Subject: Re: Case#JFH101795
  
  here you go
  
  From: ***** Hughes <********************************;
  Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2022 5:31 AM
  To: ********************* <****************************************************************;
  Cc: ********************* <*****************************;
  Subject: RE: Case#JFH101795
  
  *****,
  
  I will need this signed and returned this morning.  I cant continue to repeat the fact that under no circumstances are you subjecting yourself to any legal recourse, in fact its the complete opposite. 
  
  This is my guidance and if you feel you know better than thats fine but I cant continue to provide you services that your unwilling to follow. 

  
  

  Customer response

  11/07/2022

   
  Complaint: 18360919
  
  I am rejecting this response because:MGH has provide a null and void /contract undr falsebtretense that it is valid. ***** simply avoid responsiblilty for fraud after I discovered it. The are in violation of federal and **************** law and know that your agency cannot do a thing about it. I simply wanted to show the bad faith that this agency has and how far they will go to deceive others.

   I respecfully request that the BBB and the ******* state collection agency Martini, Hghes and Grossman provide evidence of 11 years of A plus rating for Martindale. Hughes and Grossman. This would include any complaints made regarding with this agency.This request is made directly regarding that agency and not in relationship to the parent company or any othrer entities. Please include all complaints made against the parent company of Hughes, Martini and Associates as a separate but included request .

  The emails show clearly that MHG defrauded me and lied about the contract therafter. This Iis simply fact and this written response is simply evidence of more falsity by Hughes and company.

  Simply blaming my good faith efforts cannot void the fraud that is clearly in the intent of intentionally withholding and then attempting to pass off a null and void contract as executable or as signed in good faith. This attorney is a fraud and the owner of a ficticious company.

  Intentional and negligent misrepresention is a violation of law in both the **************** and the ***********. 

  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

  

  Business response

  11/15/2022

  IGNORANCE is NOT an EXCUSE.

  Ex-Client-************** signed the Settlement; the debtors lawyer had his client (***********)  sign the Settlement. BOTH parties SIGNED the Settlement. Debtors lawyer sent us the Settlement monies and we in turn PAID the CLIENT.....END OF STORY!

   

   

   

  Customer response

  11/16/2022

   
  Complaint: 18360919
  

   Blame the victim instead of taking accountability for your actions. It's the most pathetic excuse for these actions Hughes could possibly have. 

  I am rejecting this response because: Fraud is against the law in most states to my knowledge. Hughes intentional deception to the BBB here and throughout is simply more evidence of the egregious behaviour of this inept attorney and this fraudulent company.  To provide a simple view, the contract terms and emails show clearly that I gave a 48 hour window after I signed for the opposing party to sign.  That time expired and the opposing party did not sign the contract or meet the terms of this agreement. A contract is not made by my single signature, signing after a deadline cannot make a contract valid and any first year attorney should know that...

  Hughes completed lied and intentionally failed to inform me timely, never watched for my interests in any way as a paying client and invaded my privacy in an attempt to validate the wrogful action.. MHG in fact straight lied to me, violated my privacy and have falsely and visciously attacked me at every opportunity thereafter.

   For example, on 08/02 after making numerous requests including my intent by the inclusion in the actual contract between us I requested that Hughes again, start the foreclosure process immediately. This WA right guaranteed my lien amount in full and I lost this based off his deception and lies.....

  On 08/02 MHG and Hughes, despite not actually having received the contract or confirming the terms were met intentionally, deceptively and falsely informed me that payment had been received in full. Additionally, working only in the interest of the opposing party, Hughes demanded I release my legal lien rights. I foolishly trusted his counsel and did so. I never would have released my lien rights had I known that the terms were not met and payment in full had not been received which included collection fees...

  Hughes is a outright liar in this response to the BBB. I now know that MHG is a ficticious company falsely advertising on the website that they are a legitimate collection agency that I could use for my business in the *******************. I beleived that to my detriment and was lured as a consumer through their egregious and false advertising claims.

  After signing a contract for MHG to collect over $17,000 they stalled and delayed collections for several months, then falsely withheld information regarding payment information, refused to provide an executed agreement and refused to respond to all efforts by me regarding this account. They took additional fees not due them and despite admitting this, failed to address the matter, MHG after receiving an amount signifigantly less than the lien and less than the release failed to inform me of this for several months. They have intentionally lied thereafter.

    Hughes first attempted to hide the deception and then later produced a null and void contract to me several months later with the false perception of the terms being met. This production here of false evidence to the BBB is meant to deceive, mislead and defer accountability. Hughes knows the signature produced here is not the executed agreement and the terms there were not met by the opposing party. This use of my signature is false and used without my agreement.

  That is outright fraud by Hughes as is many other actions by MHG that I have discovered.

  I believe that the failure to provide the evidence of the 11 years of A rating by this agency or the BBB is further evidence of the deception that this company practices daily. This is also why the numerous attempts to try to dismiss their fraudulent actions here show the contempt Hughes has for any accountability and makes mockery of the BBB process as a whole. ..

  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩