New York-based legal firm specializing in consumer debt relief through validation, dispute resolution, and creditor negotiation with licensed attorneys.
Data compiled from public sources · Google rating shown when a stored review count is available
Consumer Legal Group (CLG) is a New York-based law firm founded with a mission to help individuals achieve financial stability by addressing consumer debt challenges. The firm operates as a professional legal practice (P.C.) rather than a traditional debt settlement company, distinguishing it within the debt-relief space.
CLG offers a range of debt-related legal services including debt validation, credit bureau dispute letters, legal representation in creditor disputes, personalized debt resolution strategies, and court advocacy. The firm handles client representation through negotiations, settlements, and litigation across New York and New Jersey. They position themselves as offering comprehensive legal support rather than just debt management advice.
The firm is led by two Co-Managing Attorneys with significant litigation backgrounds: Jack Gross brings 35+ years of experience with major corporate clients (American Express, Chrysler, GE) and litigation across multiple states, while Jason Rebhun contributes 14+ years focused specifically on consumer debt, commercial, and real estate disputes. This attorney-led structure and trial experience distinguishes CLG from many debt-relief companies staffed primarily by non-lawyers. The firm also maintains operational leadership through a COO with investment banking experience and an HR head with corporate background.
While CLG presents itself professionally with established leadership and legal credentials, the website provides limited specific information about pricing, success rates, or typical case outcomes. The disclaimer "Prior results do not listed refund term a similar outcome" suggests litigation-based representation, but concrete details about settlement rates, timeline expectations, or fee structures are absent. Prospective clients would need to contact them directly for details about costs and service scope.
When evaluating debt relief companies, consumers should compare settlement programs against alternatives like debt consolidation loans, which combine multiple debts into a single fixed-rate payment. Credit counseling through nonprofit agencies offers free budgeting help without impacting credit scores. For those whose credit has already been damaged, credit repair services can address inaccurate negative items on reports. Personal loans for bad credit may provide funds for debt payoff at lower rates than credit cards, and credit monitoring services help track progress throughout the recovery process. Consolidating high-interest balances into a single installment loan with a fixed rate can reduce total interest paid and simplify monthly budgeting.
While repairing your credit, a secured card can add payment-history context when it reports to the bureaus. Compare deposits, fees, bureau reporting, and any no-credit-check claims directly.
This is state-level context for Debt Relief consumers in New York, NY. It does not confirm that Consumer Legal Group or this specific location is licensed.
State regulator
New York Department of Financial Services
Consumer protection
Relevant law: New York Credit Services Business Act (N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law Article 28-BB, §§ 458-a through 458-k)
Registration: Required with New York Department of Financial Services
Upfront fees: Listed as prohibited in the current CreditDoc state summary
Source: CreditDoc state-law summary and listed public regulator resources. Verify licensing directly with the listed state regulator before relying on a provider.
Consumer Legal Group offers 11 services including Debt validation and verification, Credit bureau dispute letters, Legal representation in creditor disputes, Personalized debt resolution strategies, Creditor negotiation and settlement, and 6 more.
Consumer Legal Group has profile signals associated with New York and New Jersey residents facing active litigation from creditors who need legal representation, Consumers with disputed debts who want attorney-led validation rather than settlement negotiation, Individuals with multiple creditors seeking comprehensive legal strategy and court advocacy, Clients seeking professional law firm structure with licensed attorneys rather than non-attorney advisors.
Key strengths: Licensed attorneys on staff with 35+ years and 14+ years of litigation experience respectively; Specializes specifically in consumer debt relief and validation rather than general legal services; Offers debt validation and credit bureau dispute letters, addressing both creditor and credit reporting issues. Areas to consider: Website lacks transparency on pricing, fee structures, or cost estimates for services; No published success rates, settlement statistics, or average outcomes disclosed.
In the Debt Relief category, comparable providers include Credit Corner, Credit Counseling New York - Credit Repair | Fix My Credit, Credit Lifter Financial & Credit Advisory. Each company has different strengths, so compare services, pricing, and consumer complaint records before deciding what to do next.
CreditDoc Profile Note
Consumer Legal Group is best suited for New York and New Jersey residents with contested debts who need licensed attorney representation and court advocacy rather than standard debt settlement services. The primary caveat is that detailed pricing, success metrics, and eligibility criteria are not disclosed on their website—requiring direct contact to assess whether they accept your case type and determine actual costs.
San Diego-based credit repair service that disputes negative items on credit reports and helps clients review credit-score context through credit bureau engagement and creditor negotiation.
Google rating from 59 reviews
Profile signals: San Diego-area residents with multiple negative credit items seeking hands-on dispute management, Homebuyers facing credit barriers to mortgage pre-approval
Brooklyn-based credit repair firm offering dispute resolution, credit report analysis, and score improvement strategies. Licensed professionals work to remove errors and negative items from credit reports.
Google rating from 11 reviews
Profile signals: Brooklyn and New York residents with inaccurate negative items on their credit reports seeking professional dispute assistance, Consumers with moderate credit damage (multiple errors or unfair listings) who want guided improvement strategies
Credit Lifter Financial & Credit Advisory is a credit repair provider based in New York, New York. Rated 4.9/5 with 189 Google reviews, reflecting high listed customer satisfaction.
Google rating from 189 reviews
Profile signals: Consumers in New York, New York looking for credit repair services, People who prefer working with a local credit repair provider
Answer 3 quick questions to review category, service, and profile context.
1. What's your primary financial goal?
A step-by-step guide to consolidating your debt on your own, without paying a debt consolidation company. Covers balance transfers, personal loans, the snowball method, and negotiating directly with creditors.
Read guide →A step-by-step 90-day plan to assess your finances, attack debt, dispute errors, and rebuild credit. Real timelines, specific actions, and legal protections you can use immediately.
Read guide →Learn how debt management plans reduce interest rates, negotiate with creditors, and help rebuild credit in 3–5 years. Real timelines and eligibility rules.
Read guide →New to credit and lending? Here are the key terms used on this page, explained in plain language with real-number examples.
When you fail to repay a loan according to the agreed terms — usually after 90-180 days of missed payments. It's the point where the lender gives up on collecting normally.
Default triggers severe consequences: credit score drops 100+ points, the debt may be sent to collections, you could be sued, and your wages or assets could be seized.
Example
You miss 4 consecutive car payments. The lender declares your loan in default, repossesses your car, sells it at auction for $8,000, and you still owe the remaining $5,000 (called a deficiency balance).
A federal agency created in 2010 to protect consumers from unfair financial practices. They write rules, supervise financial companies, and handle consumer complaints.
The CFPB is your most powerful ally against high-cost lenders. Filing a complaint with them gets a response from the company within 15 days — companies take CFPB complaints seriously.
Example
A debt collector calls your workplace after you told them to stop. You file a CFPB complaint online. Within 15 days, the collection agency responds and agrees to stop. The CFPB tracks complaint patterns across all companies.
A federal law that limits what debt collectors can do. They can't call before 8am or after 9pm, can't harass you, can't lie, and are required to stop contacting you if you request in writing.
Knowing your FDCPA rights stops abusive collection tactics. If a collector violates the law, you may have a right to sue for up to $1,000 per violation plus attorney fees.
Example
A collector calls your workplace 3 times after you told them not to. That's 3 FDCPA violations. You hire a consumer attorney (free — they get paid by the collector). The collector settles for $3,000.
A court order that requires your employer to withhold part of your paycheck and send it directly to a creditor. Usually happens after a creditor sues you and has obtained a judgment.
Federal law limits garnishment to 25% of disposable income. Some states have lower limits. Student loans and taxes can be garnished without a court order.
Example
You owe $8,000 on a defaulted credit card. The bank sues, gets a judgment, and garnishes your wages. On a $3,000/month net paycheck, they take $750/month until the debt is paid.
A time limit (typically 3-6 years, varies by state) after which a creditor can no longer sue you to collect a debt. The debt still exists, but they lose the legal power to force payment.
Knowing your state's statute of limitations prevents you from being tricked into paying debts that are legally uncollectable. Beware: making a payment can restart the clock.
Example
You have a $3,000 credit card debt from 2019. Your state has a 4-year statute of limitations. In 2024, a collector calls demanding payment. The statute has expired — they cannot sue you.
A type of bankruptcy where you keep your assets but follow a court-approved 3-5 year repayment plan to pay back some or all of your debts. Stays on credit for 7 years.
Chapter 13 may be more relevant than Chapter 7 if you have a home or assets you want to keep. It can stop foreclosure and let you catch up on mortgage payments over 3-5 years.
Example
You're 3 months behind on your mortgage and have $30,000 in credit card debt. Chapter 13 stops foreclosure and puts you on a 5-year plan: you pay $600/month to catch up on the mortgage and pay 40% of the credit card debt.
A type of bankruptcy that wipes out most unsecured debts (credit cards, medical bills) by liquidating non-exempt assets. It stays on your credit for 10 years.
Chapter 7 gives you a fresh start but at a steep cost: 10 years on your credit, difficulty getting loans, and you may lose assets. Income is generally required to be below your state's median to qualify.
Example
You have $45,000 in credit card debt and earn $35,000/year. Chapter 7 erases the debt. You keep exempt property (basic car, household items). Your score drops to ~500 but you're debt-free.
When a creditor declares your debt a loss after 180 days of nonpayment and removes it from their books. But you still owe the money — they just stop expecting to collect it themselves.
A charge-off is one of the most damaging entries on your credit report and stays for 7 years. The debt is usually sold to a collection agency who will pursue you for it.
Example
You stop paying your $4,000 credit card. After 180 days, the bank charges it off and sells the debt to a collector for $800. The collector now contacts you demanding the full $4,000 (they profit from what they collect above $800).
When an unpaid debt is transferred or sold to a third-party collection agency that specializes in recovering the money. Collection accounts appear on your credit report for 7 years.
Even a $50 collection account can drop your score 50-100 points. Some newer FICO models (FICO 9) ignore paid collections, but many lenders still use older models.
Example
An old $200 gym bill goes to collections. It appears on all 3 credit reports and drops your 720 score to 640. Paying it helps with newer scoring models but under FICO 8 (still widely used), a paid collection still hurts.
Combining multiple debts into one single loan with one monthly payment, ideally at a lower interest rate. It simplifies repayment and can reduce total interest.
Consolidation is generally most useful when you get a lower rate than your existing debts. But it doesn't reduce what you owe — and extending the term can mean paying more total interest.
Example
You have: $5,000 at 22% (credit card), $3,000 at 18% (store card), $2,000 at 25% (payday loan). A $10,000 consolidation loan at 11% saves you ~$2,100 in interest over 3 years.
Negotiating with creditors to accept less than the full amount you owe — typically 40-60 cents on the dollar. Usually done after you've already fallen behind on payments.
Settlement can save thousands, but it severely damages your credit (settled accounts show for 7 years) and the IRS may tax the forgiven amount as income.
Example
You owe $15,000 on a credit card and negotiate a settlement of $7,500 (50%). You save $7,500 but: your credit drops 100+ points, the account shows 'settled' for 7 years, and you may owe taxes on the $7,500 forgiven.
The percentage of your monthly gross income that goes toward paying debts. Lenders use it to judge whether you can afford another loan payment.
Most lenders want DTI below 36% for personal loans and below 43% for mortgages. Above that, you're considered overextended and likely to be denied.
Example
You earn $5,000/month gross. Your debts: $1,200 mortgage + $300 car + $200 student loans = $1,700/month. DTI = 34%. A new $400/month loan would push you to 42% — risky for lenders.
A court ruling that says you legally owe a specific amount to a creditor. It gives the creditor power to garnish wages, freeze bank accounts, or place liens on your property.
Judgments are enforceable for 10-20 years (varies by state) and can be renewed. They give creditors far more collection power than a simple unpaid debt.
Example
A credit card company sues you for $8,000 and has obtained a judgment. They can now garnish 25% of your paycheck ($750/month on a $3,000 net salary) and freeze your bank account.
Want to learn more? Read our Financial Wellness Guides for in-depth explanations and practical advice.
Affiliate Disclosure: CreditDoc may earn a commission when you click links to Consumer Legal Group and other services. These commissions help us maintain our free research. Compensation does not determine whether a provider can be covered; visible star ratings use stored Google review ratings when available. Learn more.