Dallas Credit Company "Misled" Consumers, Ordered To Pay $34 Million
DALLAS (CBS 11 I-TEAM) - Following an on-going CBS 11 I-Team investigation, the state of Texas is ordering a former Dallas company to pay more than $34 million to consumers. Thousands of people could soon receive notices.
The I-Team began digging into this story more than two years ago.
It all began when a Grand Prairie man contacted CBS 11 Investigative Reporter Ginger Allen, saying a Dallas company promised to get him out of debt.
After the first story aired, dozens of other people from all over the country began contacting the I-Team with similar complaints against Credit Alliance Group.
The state is now searching for the man and the business CBS 11 once tracked down thriving in a downtown Dallas high-rise.
One of the victims, George Spray is 84-years old. He has more debt than he'll ever pay off and can't even get a credit card. But he can finally have one thing that has been worth the wait: satisfaction.
The state of Texas just issued a final judgment against Shane Garner and Credit Alliance Group accusing it of "false and deceptive practices."
It says the one-time debt management company took more than "12-million dollars" from more than "3000" "mislead" customers, like Spray.
CBS 11 first interviewed Spray in 2012, when the I-Team first began digging into this.
The photojournalist had once hobnobbed with some of Hollywood's most recognizable stars but the spotlight had turned to his money troubles.
He had signed a contract with Credit Alliance Group to help get him out of debt, paying more than $2,000 dollars into an account that was supposed to be used to pay back his creditors. But that never happened.
Then we learned George Spray was not alone.
Other consumers, from all over the country contacted CBS 11, saying Credit Alliance Group had taken their money but never resolved their debts.
At the time, we found the company's CEO, Shane Garner in a downtown Dallas high rise.
He told CBS 11's Ginger Allen to come back. She did, but Shane Garner never met with her face to face again.
The court will be notifying creditors of this $34 million judgment by mail this summer. But the Attorney General's office stresses collecting the money will be tough.
CBS 11 has repeatedly tried to reach Shane Garner, but he has not responded.
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