Credit Repair Industry Exposé Part 2: The Rot Runs Deep

By Joeziel Vazquez

What started as a three-part exposé has exploded into a six-part series of industry-shaking revelations. Buckle up, folks. We're about to take you deeper into the cesspool of lies, fraud, and willful ignorance that plagues the credit repair industry.

The Empire Strikes Back: Industry "Leaders" Circle the Wagons

No sooner had we published our first piece than the vultures descended. One so-called industry "leader" had the audacity to lecture us:

"I just want to give you my two cents on something but feel free to ignore me. I don't think it's appropriate to investigate people and post findings publicly."

This paragon of moral fortitude didn't stop there. He continued:

"If you're going to spend that time, why not reach out to them (like I am doing to you right now) and provide leadership and stewardship. Encourage them to change and be better rather than 'exposing them.' Imagine if someone looked into you or your background and posted it online."

Newsflash, buddy: We did reach out. We got blocked. And now? Now we're shining a spotlight so bright it'll make cockroaches like Chanelle Jones scurry for the shadows.

This same "leader" went on to pearl-clutch about how we might "light the industry on fire." To which I say: Pass me the matches.

You know what? I'll say it louder for those in the back: LET'S LIGHT THIS BITCH ON FIRE.

Our industry "leader" wasn't done. He continued his misguided crusade, stating:

"The people you're investigating and conflating with credit repair companies are just scammers. They're not credit repair companies. It would be like some random dude saying some crazy medical stuff and then blaming doctors or the medical industry."

This false equivalency is not just misleading—it's dangerous. These aren't random scammers masquerading as credit repair experts. These are individuals and companies operating within our industry, taking advantage of regulatory gaps and lax enforcement to prey on vulnerable consumers.

My response was clear:

"Reaching out to them has not stopped them. If you read the entire blog, you will see this has not stopped them. I welcome all criticism, but this will not stop. I don't care who you are in the industry, I will expose and embarrass you, and I hope that you are embarrassed. I don't care if this causes them to back track; that would be the point. We have been discussing for how long to be compliant and follow the law? And as you see in the blog, not one, not two, not three, or 4,5,6,7,8—her only goal is to block and keep doing it. So she and others will be exposed, and I have set aside a nice amount of money for the ads to continue running, and I will happily spend my money exposing dirt bags."

But our industry "leader" wasn't done. He fired back with a baseless accusation:

"Fair, but you're not even compliant. Like not even close. And you just exposed yourself to Ken Paxton, the CFPB, the FTC, etc. I think you're shooting first and aiming later."

Let's set the record straight.

Setting the Record Straight: Credlocity's Compliance

The insinuation that I or my company, Credlocity, is not compliant is not just false—it's laughable. Let me break it down for you:

1. We do not take clients via phone, only through our website. This neatly sidesteps any TSR compliance issues.

2. We provide all our clients (as mentioned on our website) a 30-day free trial and a 100% money-back guarantee.

3. We only counsel our clients with facts and the truth.

With these practices in place, we are in full compliance with both the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) and the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA).

Our industry "leader" continues to argue that because we take calls and charge monthly, we're somehow not TSR compliant. But he's missing crucial details:

1. We only take calls from current clients. The TSR regulates taking calls to sell a service, not to service existing clients.

2. While we do charge monthly, we only do so after the 30-day free trial and only in arrears for services already rendered.

3. Our 100% money-back guarantee further ensures we're only charging for services that have met our clients' satisfaction.

This structure ensures we're not just compliant with the letter of the law, but with its spirit as well. We're here to help consumers, not to exploit them.

Chanelle Jones: Damage Control and Digital Footprints

While we've been having this back-and-forth, Chanelle Jones hasn't been silent. On October 20, 2024, she posted:

"It's crazy how people will make up an ENTIRE story on you and push it like it's FACTS !! I'm so glad God said vengeance is mine, cause babyyyyy....if it was up to me...."

News flash, Ms. Jones: Evidence and screenshots aren't "made up." They're facts. And the facts aren't in your favor.

Let's look at a review left on your Facebook page by a dissatisfied customer:

"I unfortunately cannot recommend the Savvy Business Group. I was rooting for her. The services were not as advertised. The 7-day rapid repair did not happen in 30 days. Again, had she advised that our credit is repaired in 7 days, and may take longer I understand. There is no initial onboarding, just a hurry up pay, and then wait."

This review paints a damning picture:

1. The promised "7-day rapid repair" didn't happen in 30 days.

2. There was no initial onboarding, just a rush to payment.

3. Customers can only contact Jones via Facebook message.

4. Everything deleted from the credit report reappeared, hurting the customer's score.

5. Jones became unprofessional when questioned about the lack of results.

But it gets worse. We have screenshots of Jones's messages with this consumer and 4 other consumers, showing that she filed a false FTC affidavit claiming the consumer was a victim of identity theft. This brings us back to Ashley Deal's prescient question: "Human Trafficking or Identity theft?"

This isn't just unethical—it's criminal. Filing false affidavits is a federal offense. And when the fraudulently removed items inevitably reappear on the credit report, guess who suffers? The consumer, not Jones.

The Cleanup Begins: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

While Jones continues to cry "fake news," her actions tell a different story. Since our exposé dropped, she's been busy—not defending her practices, but frantically erasing them from existence.

That's right, folks. The very same Chanelle Jones who's claiming we're "making up" stories has:

• Removed all mentions of "7 day sweeps" from her profile descriptions across social media

• Systematically purged her Facebook page of terms like "Credit Sweeps," "7 Day Sweeps," and "CPNs"

• Embarked on what appears to be a full-scale digital cleanup operation

One might wonder: Why the sudden housekeeping if everything was above board? Could it be that our friend is getting nervous about law enforcement closing in? After all, those hundreds of screenshots we've sent to Texas authorities aren't going anywhere.

To our industry "expert" who questioned whether anything good would come from this exposé: Are you watching? 😊 For months, countless people have tried reaching out to Jones through inbox messages and comments on her posts. Their reward? Being ignored, blocked, or belittled.

But sunshine, as they say, is the best disinfectant. Look at her now, scrambling to clean up her act.

Here's the thing, though—and listen closely, Ms. Jones—removing social media posts is just the tip of the iceberg. I sincerely hope you're also planning to stop with:

• Filing false FTC affidavits

• Submitting fake police reports

• Making fraudulent block requests

Because babyyyyyyyyyyyy, let me tell you something: This isn't just about social media optics. You're not just breaking the law—you're turning your clients into unwitting criminals. And that needs to stop.

This was exactly our point from the beginning. We need people to operate in compliance with the law, not just for the good of our industry, but for the protection of consumers who trust us with their financial futures.

Lucia Corral: The Voice of Reason in a Sea of Delusion

Enter Lucia Corral, OCCAM board member and ethical credit repair crusader. She dared to state the obvious on her Facebook page:

"I often see CROs promoting 'CREDIT SWEEPS' and I comment to inform them that it's ILLEGAL. Those who genuinely don't know appreciate the clarification, but those who are aware and prioritize profit tend to block me and react defensively."

The response? A tidal wave of ignorance and defensiveness (144 comments in 1 night) that would make a flat-earther blush.

But Corral isn't alone in her fight against unethical practices. On October 20, 2024, another industry leader who operates in compliance with the law, Taneeka "The Resource Queen" Richardson, took to Facebook with this stark warning:

"I don't know who needs to hear this, but if your credit repair person is charging up front fees or promising to clean reports in 7 days….RUN and very fast 💨"

The post quickly garnered attention, with one of Richardson's followers commenting:

"Girl, how do these companies get away with it?!?! It's insane"

To which I felt compelled to respond:

"They've been doing it. We gotta find a way to stop them."

As if on cue, another follower chimed in with a screenshot of yet another company offering 7-day credit sweeps. (Rest assured, we'll be investigating and exposing them later in this series.)

What's clear to me—and what these so-called industry leaders seem to be missing—is that this will not stop unless we expose these companies. The rot runs deep, and it's time to rip it out by the roots.

Debunking the Myths: A Parade of Misinformation

Let's address some of the wildly inaccurate claims made in response to Corral's post:

Myth 1: "You can still clear an entire credit report without disputing. You sue the bureaus."

This statement is categorically false. You cannot simply sue credit bureaus to clear your entire credit report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) provides specific circumstances under which you can dispute information on your credit report or sue credit bureaus, but "clearing an entire credit report" is not one of them. Lawsuits against credit bureaus are typically for specific violations of the FCRA, such as failing to investigate disputes or knowingly reporting inaccurate information.

Myth 2: "Credit sweeps aren't illegal."

Let's be crystal clear: Credit sweeps ARE illegal. A credit sweep typically involves attempting to remove all negative items from a credit report by claiming identity theft, even when no identity theft has occurred. This practice is not only unethical but also constitutes fraud. It involves filing false police reports and Federal Trade Commission affidavits, both of which are federal crimes.

Myth 3: "No need for factual disputing when you can sue them through federal court."

This claim demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of credit repair laws and court procedures. You can't simply sue your way to a clean credit report. Courts require evidence of actual violations of the FCRA or other relevant laws. They're not a shortcut to avoid the legitimate dispute process outlined in the FCRA.

Myth 4: "It's not possible to perform an illegal tactic in federal court. Therefore, suing the bureau for invasion of privacy and USC 1681 (a)(4) IS a practical and effective way to clear your credit report."

This statement is not just wrong—it's dangerously misleading. First, it absolutely is possible to attempt illegal tactics in federal court, though doing so can result in severe penalties. Second, and crucially, you CANNOT sue credit bureaus for "Violation of Privacy" under the FCRA using 15 U.S. Code § 1681(a)(4).

Let's break this down:

15 U.S. Code § 1681(a)(4) is not an enforceable law. It's a congressional finding, which means it's part of the preamble to the FCRA. Congressional findings are explanations of Congress's intent behind a law. They help the public and the courts understand the spirit of the law, but they are not enforceable provisions in themselves.

To put it simply: You can't sue based on a congressional finding. It's like trying to sue someone for violating the introduction to a book—it doesn't work that way.

The Need for "Credit Repair Police"

Some commenters suggested that Corral's approach was too aggressive, even going so far as to label her the "credit repair police." To them, I say: We absolutely need credit repair police.

When so-called "experts" are spreading dangerous misinformation that could lead consumers into legal trouble, we need voices of reason like Corral's to set the record straight. Her post was neither rude nor aggressive—it was a necessary warning in an industry rife with questionable practices.

The Real Leaders Are Speaking Up

Since our exposé, we're seeing more ethical credit repair professionals finding their voice. Lucia Corral, Ashley Deal, and Taneeka Richardson aren't alone in calling out illegal practices. Another credit repair expert, Edgar Cruz—who I don't personally know but whose advertising appears compliant—recently posted this warning on Facebook:

"🚩🚩 when they say they can delete anything off your credit report using 'consumer law'"

It's becoming increasingly clear that those of us who aren't considered "leaders" in our industry—simply because we lack the popularity or follower count that somehow equates to credibility these days—are actually doing more to protect consumers than the self-appointed "leaders" themselves.

Let that sink in for a moment: The people with the smallest platforms are making the loudest noise about consumer protection.

Time for a New Leadership

Maybe it's time we stop waiting for permission to lead. Maybe it's time we anoint ourselves as the new leaders and create our own movement. One that isn't afraid to:

• Expose these so-called "leaders" who tiptoe around consumer exploitation

• Call out the "mentors" who are teaching an entire generation of young credit repair experts wrong and frankly stupid techniques

• Challenge the status quo that values Instagram followers over legal compliance

The reality? Most people who've been in this industry for 5+ years—even the so-called "experts"—are operating on shaky ground. Why? Because they either:

1. Learned incorrectly from the start

2. Buy into conspiracy theories about how the law can and should work

3. Base their "expertise" on misinterpreted legal theories

And here's the kicker: Their "proof" of success? Nine times out of ten, it's stolen from other people's websites and social media accounts. I've lost count of how many times I've seen my own clients' results show up on other credit repair companies' websites and social media profiles.

Think about that. These "leaders" are so desperate to prove their illegal methods work that they're stealing success stories from companies that actually follow the law. The irony would be laughable if it weren't so damaging to consumers.

The Reckoning Is Coming

To the consumers reading this: If a credit repair company promises you the moon, they're probably planning to strand you there. Be vigilant. Be skeptical. And for God's sake, read the fine print.

To my fellow professionals: The day of reckoning is upon us. Clean up your act or get swept away when the hammer of justice falls.

And to the Chanelle Joneses of the world, to every company cutting corners and breaking laws: Your time is up. No amount of shaming, Facebook comments, or Instagram posts will stop us. We've enlisted eight secret shoppers. We have five other ethical credit repair companies compiling evidence of your misdeeds. This exposé will continue, and we will make noise—so much noise that not even the most willfully deaf regulator will be able to ignore it.

The fire we're lighting isn't just to burn down the corrupt practices; it's a beacon for those who believe in ethical, legal credit repair. Join us in the light or get consumed by the flames.

Stay tuned for Part 3. The heat is only going to intensify from here.

[To be continued...]