Steer Clear of the National Financial Hardship Loan Center – What the BBB Says

The National Financial Hardship Loan Center has been making dubious claims of providing loans to people across the United States. But can you trust them? I decided to dig deeper and here is what I uncovered about this questionable company.

I first came across the National Financial Hardship Loan Center when I received a voicemail from them claiming I was “approved” for a $36,000 hardship loan. The message said I could use the money however I wanted – for bills, personal use, anything. This immediately raised red flags for me.

Too good to true? I had to find out more.

When I called back to inquire, I was connected to a man who told me the company name was “Hardship Loan Center” and that all Oregon residents qualified for their loan offer. However, when I started to ask questions, he hung up on me! Very suspicious.

I called back again and this time the man denied hanging up earlier. Clearly he was lying. I told him I thought he was a scam artist and I would be reporting them to the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

That’s when I decided to do some digging on the National Financial Hardship Loan Center and what I found on the BBB website made it undoubtedly clear this company cannot be trusted

The National Financial Hardship Loan Center’s Troubling BBB Profile

I looked up the National Financial Hardship Loan Center on the BBB website and found they are actually operated under the company name National Financial Relief located in Lake Forest CA.

National Financial Relief has only been in business for 5 years and just recently became BBB accredited in August 2020. Their current BBB rating is A+.

However, they have already received 1 customer complaint filed with the BBB. The complaint was about double payments being taken out of the customer’s account without permission causing overdraft fees.

National Financial Relief responded saying it was due to a processing error and they were refunding the money, but this shows they are still working out issues with improperly accessing customer accounts. I would not trust them to withdraw thousands of dollars in loan payments from my account!

Key details on National Financial Relief’s BBB profile:

• 1 complaint closed in last 3 years
• Debt settlement company
• Located in Lake Forest, CA
• In business for 5 years
• BBB rating: A+

While National Financial Relief seems legitimate on the surface, the BBB profile revealed some concerning details beneath that I would not ignore if considering doing business with them.

Victim Accounts of the National Financial Hardship Loan Center Scam

One of the best resources the BBB provides is their Scam Tracker where people can report scams to help warn others.

I searched the BBB Scam Tracker for the National Financial Hardship Loan Center and found a very similar victim account to my experience.

Here are the key details from the scam report:

• Received voicemail about being “approved” for $36,000 hardship loan
• Caller ID showed 855 area code
• Victim called back and was told “all Oregon residents qualified”
• Man who answered hung up when questioned

This aligns exactly with what happened to me. I’m in Oregon and received a voicemail saying I was approved for $36,000. When I called back to ask questions, the man hung up on me.

Clearly this company is targeting Oregon residents with these sketchy “pre-approved” loan offers using 855 numbers.

After reading this scam report, I am certain the National Financial Hardship Loan Center voicemail I received was a scam attempt. The BBB Scam Tracker provided vital confirmation that saved me from becoming a victim.

Warning Signs of the National Financial Hardship Loan Center Scam

Based on my experience and the victim account reported to the BBB, here are some key warning signs to watch out for if you receive an offer from the National Financial Hardship Loan Center:

• Voicemail claiming you are “pre-approved” for a loan you never applied for
• Caller ID shows area code 855
• Company name on voicemail doesn’t match business name when you call back
• Person who answers avoids questions or hangs up on you
• Claims “all residents” of your state qualify

I highly recommend being skeptical of any “pre-approved” loan offers that come out of the blue. Do your research before providing personal information or money to any lending companies.

The BBB is the best resource for Background checks including:

• Serious complaints as well the companies responses
• Length of time in business
• Company rating

Never assume a BBB rating alone means a company is trustworthy – always check for complaints and scam reports specifically related to their business practices.

Don’t Become a Victim – Report National Financial Hardship Loan Center to the BBB

If you receive an unsolicited loan offer from this company, I recommend hanging up and reporting it to the BBB Scam Tracker. The more reports received, the more visibility warnings about this scam will receive.

You can help protect others from falling victim by taking a few minutes to report your experience here. The BBB keeps identities anonymous when sharing scam reports publicly.

Don’t become another victim of the National Financial Hardship Loan Center like I almost did. Trust your instincts, do your research, and report scammers to help stop them in their tracks! By arming yourself with information and knowledge, you can avoid costly scams and warn your community.