Three unlicensed companies that offer debt relief services in Idaho have agreed to make refunds to customers, state officials say.
Texas-based Debt Relief USA Inc., Massachusetts-based DMB Financial, and Arizona-based Debt Settlement USA Inc. engaged in credit counseling, which requires a license under Idaho law, said Gavin Gee, director of the Idaho Department of Finance.
They agreed to refunds totaling $373,867. Just more than $200,000 of that amount will be paid by Debt Relief USA Inc. DMB Financial will refund $60,796, and Debt Settlement USA Inc. will refund $111,240, Gee said.
“We are seeing an increase of activity in credit counseling and other debt-relief services being offered to the public,” Gee said. “The first thing consumers should do before hiring a company to help them with their debts is to ensure that the company is properly licensed.”
