In May 2013, the CFPB, with federal prosecutors, sued Premier Consulting Group, a debt-relief service provider, and the Law Office of Michael Lupolover, for allegedly collecting “illegal advance fees from customers for settlement services.” Premier Consulting Group allegedly “caused consumers to fall further into debt and harmed their credit history in the process” without providing “effective services.” In December 2014, the CFPB ordered Premier Consulting Group to pay a fine of $69,075, representing “the amount of advance fees the companies took from consumers who did not have any debt settled.”

• The CFPB filed a lawsuit against Premier Consulting Group LLC_ and Law Office of Michael Lupolover in US District Court Southern District of New York. [CFPB v. Premier Consulting Group LLC and Law Office of Michael Lupolover, case no. 1:13-cv-3064, filed 05/04/13]

• The CFPB with federal prosecutors brought charges against Premier Consulting Group, a “debt-relief service provider,” accused of collecting “illegal advance fees from customers for settlement services.”

The CFPB with federal prosecutors accused Premier Consulting Group of charging $187,830 in illegal fees. Premier Consulting Group allegedly “caused consumers to fall further into debt and harmed their credit history in the process” without providing “effective services.” [Alexi Friedman, “N.J. debt-relief service company accused of illegally charging customers advance fees,” The Star-Ledger, 05/07/13]

• The CFPB reached a settlement with Premier Consulting Group requiring them to pay a fine of $69,075 for “allegedly charging consumers illegal upfront fees for debt-settlement services they never receivedî and ordered them to take other steps to prevent future legal violations. The $69,075 fine “represents the amount of advance fees the companies took from consumers who did not have any debt settled.” The consumers affected would be “eligible for relief from the CFPB’s Civil Penalty Fund in the future.” [Press Release, “CFPB Requests Federal Consent Order Against Debt Settlement Firm,” ACA International, 12/04/14 and Press Release, “CFPB Takes Action Against Debt-Settlement Firm, CFPB, 12/04/14]