The FTC Is Sending $10.9M
To Victims of a Credit Repair Scam.

Real talk. The FTC just dropped something that every person in the credit repair space needs to hear about — whether you were a victim, a customer, or just someone trying to figure out who to trust when it comes to fixing your credit.

The Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $10.9 million in refund checks to 443,048 people who paid into a company called Financial Education Services — also known as FES, United Wealth Education, United Credit Education Services, and Youth Financial Literacy Foundation.

This wasn't a small operation. This was a nationwide credit repair scheme disguised as a financial education company. And if you or someone you know paid for their services between May 2019 and May 2022, a check might be heading to your mailbox right now.

What FES Actually Was

FES sold itself as a legitimate credit repair company. Their pitch was simple: pay us $89 a month, and we'll help fix your credit. For people with damaged credit desperate for a real solution, that sounds like a lifeline.

But here's what they didn't tell you.

The Credit Repair Organizations Act is crystal clear: you cannot charge upfront fees for credit repair services. Period. Any company asking for money before they deliver results is breaking the law. FES knew this and did it anyway — for years — to the tune of millions of dollars from hundreds of thousands of people.

The pyramid piece made it worse. FES didn't just sell bad credit repair. They recruited their customers to go sell it to others for commissions. So victims became recruiters. And every recruit brought in more fees — most of which flowed to the top.

"If a credit repair company asks for money before they fix anything, that's not credit repair. That's theft with extra steps."

How the FTC Shut Them Down

In 2022, the FTC filed suit against FES, United Wealth Education, and several of their key operators. The allegations: deceptive marketing, illegal upfront fees, pyramid scheme recruitment, and false promises of guaranteed credit improvement.

The court ordered asset freezes and eventually a settlement that created the $10.9 million refund fund. The FTC's refund administrator — Analytics Consulting — is now sending checks to everyone who can be identified as a victim.

• 1
  443,048 checks — That's how many people the FTC identified as having paid FES between May 2019 and May 2022.
• 2
  ~$25 per person — The average refund amount. Not life-changing, but it's your money back from people who stole it.
• 3
  No claim form needed — If you're eligible, you should receive a check automatically based on FTC records.
• 4
  Cash within 90 days — The check will indicate an expiration date. Don't let it sit.

Why This Story Matters Beyond the Check

Look, the average refund is about $25. That's not going to change your life. But this story matters way more than the dollar amount — and here's why.

This is exactly why predatory credit repair companies stay in business. They target people who are desperate. People with bad credit who are trying to do the right thing and get their financial life together. FES took advantage of that. They charged $89 a month — that's over $1,000 a year — from people who couldn't afford to throw money away.

And they delivered nothing that you couldn't have done yourself for free.

Red Flags That Scream Scam

This isn't the last credit repair scam you're going to see. These operations keep popping up because the credit system is confusing, people are desperate, and the promises sound good. So let me give you the toolkit to spot them before they get your money.

• 1
  Upfront fees before any service — Illegal under CROA. Walk away immediately. No exceptions.
• 2
  "Guaranteed" credit score improvement — Nobody can guarantee a specific score increase. That's a lie. Every file is different.
• 3
  They tell you not to contact credit bureaus yourself — This is a control tactic. You have the right to dispute directly — always.
• 4
  Recruitment bonuses and commissions — If you're being paid to sell the "service" to others, that's pyramid scheme territory. Run.
• 5
  They claim they can remove accurate negative items — Accurate information cannot be legally removed before its reporting period expires. Anyone who says otherwise is lying.

The NMD ZAZA Difference

I'm going to be straight with you because that's how we operate here. The reason NMD ZAZA exists is because I got tired of watching people in the credit space get played. By companies like FES. By shady influencers selling illegal "hacks." By a system that's confusing on purpose.

ScoreBoost by NMD is built different. No $89/month. No upfront fees. No pyramid. No tricks. Real credit education, real dispute tools, and real strategies that work within the law — because the legal moves are already powerful enough.

You don't need a scam. You need someone who actually knows the FCRA and knows how to use it. That's what we built.

And if you're running a business? NMD Solutions builds AI-powered tools for businesses that want to move like this — without the overhead, without the fluff, and with actual results. Credit, real estate, car sales, legal, insurance — we build the AI systems that handle the work so you can focus on growth.

Your Move Right Now

If you paid FES between May 2019 and May 2022 — check your mail. A check might be coming. Cash it within 90 days.

If you're currently paying a credit repair company — verify they're CROA compliant. No upfront fees. Written contract. 3-day right to cancel. If they don't have all three, stop paying them today.

And if you want to fix your credit the right way? We're here. No pyramid. No gimmicks. Just the law, your rights, and a system that actually works.

Stay locked in — Za | NMD ZAZA