I am writing to inform everyone of my experience when I ask Consumer Debt Counselor Group to help me settle my debt with a credit card company. I was paying them $589.65 a month. A portion of that goes to their fees and a portion goes towards an Escrow account to eventually use that money to negotiate with a credit card company. Unfortunately after 6 months into the program I was laid off. Now, I can no longer continue with the program. At this time, I paid Consumer Counselor Group $2, 948.25. Since I no longer with the program, I was refunded in the amount of $446.77 of the total amount paid. According to the representative, the rest of the money will go towards their fees which is $2, 501.48. The representative insisted that their contract was transparent and I cannot do anything about it. I know that this is their business but I mean, $2, 501.48 in fees??? I think this is rediculous.!!! If I was not laid off, I want to continue with the program, but because I was laid off, the company just ran with your money. For me, they are the same as any other scam collection agencies around. My advise is to take care of your problems yourself. Talk to your creditors and show them that you have all the intentions to pay. With what is goin on right now, they are willing to work with you and you don't have to waste paying your money to company's like Consumer Debt Counselor Group if you can do it yourself. You can also save up all that money in six months, and once you are ready, you can offer your creditor what you save up and pay them what you save up. This is what I learned from this experience. Now I receive a settlement amount from my creditor and willing to work with me. I should have paid that money to pay-off my balance. I warn you, please do not enter into contract with this kind of company even if says that they are a member of a professional organization. I personally believe it is still a rip off!