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Oak View Law Group is actually a law firm based in California, but the company offers debt relief services as well, since 2007. It claims to have an 84% client satisfaction rate. However, it is not a debt relief company per se and it doesn’t have the major industry accreditations.
The company is registered with the State of California Bar and operates in 46 states.
Although it is first and foremost a law company, Oak View specializes in other financial services, too. They offer debt consolidation services, debt management, debt settlement, budget and bill payments, defamation protection and bankruptcy services.
In terms of debt consolidation, they consolidate various types of unsecured debts: credit card debts, online and storefront pdls (pay day loans), medical bills and collection accounts.
They claim their consolidation program saves you money by lowering your monthly payments and interest rates and by waiving off penalties or late fees.
Although the firm complies with the FTC regulations, which forbids charging upfront fees, Oak View found a way around that. The company charges a $50/month consultation fee, which is basically a maintenance fee you have to pay each month, even before you see any results from using their services. In return, you will get a monthly 90 minutes consultation with their savings consultant, budgeting consultant and tax attorney (30 minutes each). There is also a 15% success fee that they charge for their debt settlement program and they claim that the consultancy fees will be adjusted with the success fees, once these latter ones become payable. No matter how you look at it though, it is still a major drawback compared to most of its competitors who don’t charge these types of taxes.
On the other hand, Oak View does have a 100% money back guarantee. The firm offers to refund the fees and the trust account balance in maximum 7 business days, if customers are not satisfied with their services.
Another advantage of using this law company is the fact that it can assist you and provide you legal advice in case your creditors sue you. Normal debt relief companies don’t do that.
Also, another important aspect is the fact that they barely have a minimum debt requirement, like most of their competitors who impose a minimum of $7,500 or even $10,000 in debt. Oak View only asks for $1,000 in qualifying debts in order to be eligible for their services.
The company doesn’t charge customers based on the total amount of debt you have, but on the settled amount of debt. The average savings after paying off the fees are 33%, give or take.
The length of the program varies between 6 months and 4 years, compared to the average of 2 to 4 years. Six months may seem like an unrealistic and short term, but every financial situation is different, so the time frame varies from case to case.
How does it work
Your first consultation with Oak View Law Group is free of charge. You will be assigned a financial coach who will analyze your situation and determine what your best option is. Their experts categorize your case as either ‘worst’, ‘worse’, ‘poor’, ‘struggling’ or ‘manageable’ and offer services accordingly. The personal arbitrator you will receive when you sign up will stay with you throughout the entire process and will be your main contact. Once you enroll, you will also get access to their secure portal where you can monitor your case and track your progress. They seem to put a lot of emphasis on security; they use a 256-bit encryption.
They are also fair play when it comes to their services. They even have a ‘transparency disclosure’ section on their website. The dashboard allows you to edit your personal info, add notes to the account, view their credit analysis, submit report requests and so on, which makes their services even more transparent.
You can read more on their debt consolidation services and FAQ here:
The company charges a $50/month consultation fee, which is basically a maintenance fee you have to pay each month, even before you see any results from using their services. In return, you will get a monthly 90 minutes consultation with their savings consultant, budgeting consultant and tax attorney (30 minutes each). There is also a 15% success fee that they charge for their debt settlement program and they claim that the consultancy fees will be adjusted with the success fees, once these latter ones become payable.
Oak View Law Firm has a solid website with plenty of resources, articles, blogs, FAQ on every debt relief service they offer, debt calculators, infographics, etc.
Phone: 800 530 OVLG (6854)
650 777 5358 (local number at technology office)
Email: [email protected]
[email protected] (general questions)
[email protected] (for becoming a client)
Social media: Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OVLGroup
Your personal financial coach is always available for any inquiries you might have, their portal is transparent and everything is at reach. You can also contact them by phone or email and they have a ‘complaint box’ on their website.
Our editorial staff evaluates products and services independently, but Best Review Guide may earn money when you click on links. Read our advertising disclosure.