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State Closes, Fines Foreclosure Rescue Firm

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By SHANNON BEHNKEN

sbehnken@tampatrib.com

Published: February 11, 2009

TAMPA - A Tampa-based foreclosure rescue company agreed to pay a $10,000 fine and shut its doors until it complies with the law, the Florida attorney general's office announced Tuesday.

The company, Attorney Debt Services LLC, did business under the name HomeKeeper USA. The attorney general's office said it investigated the company for four weeks and found it violated the state's newly-enacted Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act by accepting upfront cash payments for arranging an alternative payment plan. The law requires services to be completed before payment is rendered.

The company, according to the attorney general's office, offered to assist financially-strapped homeowners in arranging new payment plans with their lenders.

The company's address is 3030 N. Rocky Point Drive, Suite 400, according to public records.

Under the settlement, the company has 60 days from the date of the settlement to complete any contracted services. Some customers may receive refunds.

Reporter Shannon Behnken can be reached at (813) 259-7804.

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