LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action against Good EBusiness LLC, using the name AAP Firm, and Tobias West, charging the organization with fraudulent debt relief practices.
The debt relief operation allegedly told financially distressed homeowners and student loan borrowers it could help get their mortgages and loans modified. The operation, according to claims, would charge an illegal, advanced fee of between $1,000 and $5,000.
The defendants promised to lower mortgage and loan payments and told consumers to stop making payments to their current lenders during the loan restructuring process, the FTC charges. Additionally, the operation allegedly did so without providing proper disclosure required by the Mortgage Assistance Relief Service Rule (MARS Rule).
The FTC further charges Good EBusiness, using the names Student Loan Help Direct and Select Student Loan, Select Student Loan Help LLC, Select Document Preparation Inc. and Tobias West and his wife, Komal West, illegally charged advance fees for its student relief services.
The FTC charges Good EBusiness and Tobias West with violating the FTC Act and the MARS Rule and alleges all defendants violated the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule.