Michael V. Camerino - Somerville, NJ

Worse than bad... INCOMPETENT! Fell into some credit card debt at 18. My mistake and I take responsibility for that. Was making monthly payments, but wasn't making a dent in the debt. So I consulted him on how to get the credit card companies to lower my APR. His advice to me was that "they have no incentive to lower my rate because I make all my payments. The only way they will negotiate is if I stop making payments" I take partial responsibility for not seeking another lawyer. I was 20 at the time and I wrongly trusted him. By the time I realized how deranged and life changing his awful advice was, it was too late. I was reported 90 days late on 4 credit cards, the minimums and fees piled up and up, and I was sent to collections. On everything. From start to end, I had collections on my credit report for about 10. (it's 7 years from the last time a payment or contact had been made. So making payments for years to collections actually kept collections on my account longer than the 7 years from when it happened) For the past decade I have only been able to get predatory lending credit cards at nearly 30% rates and needed a cosigner to get a car and still pay a ridiculous rate. I can't get an apartment on my own. I paid higher car insurance, despite a perfect driving record, because they take into account credit score. I could go on and on. I made mistakes. I've learned my lesson. I've educated myself. And over ten years later I am finally in a comfortable position. It's hard to describe the true toll that a 500 credit score with collections accounts does to your life. From not being able to rent an apartment, let alone buy. To wondering if your job will think you're a risk. To high interest rates. To the general feeling that you're worthless because a number tells you that you are. I can't begin to make you feel how awful Michael's advice was. There was no solution for me once I realized I made a mistake and learned the lesson. The solution was wait TEN YEARS. Googling Michael I see he wins awards and is honored places locally. I'm sure he's a nice guy. But it makes me sick. He may be nice. But he's incompetent. And I paid the price.