Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Burlington Financial Group

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, also known as the CFPB, is a government agency responsible for enforcing laws that protect consumers.

The CFPB sued Burlington Financial Group, LLC, Richard W. Burnham, Sang Yi, and Katherine Ray Burnham (collectively “Burlington Financial Group”). Other entities that were not named defendants but were involved in this matter include BFG LLC, Clearing Solutions, FPCS, and Flying Point Financial LLC. The Bureau alleged that Burlington and its principals charged advance fees for debt-relief and credit-repair services in violation of the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) and engaged in deceptive acts or practices to market and sell Burlington’s services in violation of the TSR and Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010.

Affected consumers paid advance fees or excessive fees to Burlington Financial Group. If you were a Burlington Financial Group customer between January 1, 2016, and June 29, 2021, you might receive money from the legal settlement.

Eligible consumers include all consumers who paid Burlington Financial Group fees on or after January 1, 2016, through June 29, 2021.

If you believe you are eligible for a refund (or an additional refund beyond the check you received), you have the option to file a Claim Form. You will need to provide a list of all fees paid to Burlington Financial Group (including amount, date of payment, and description of fee if known), and provide proof of all your payments, such as credit card or bank statements or copies of canceled checks. Examples of supporting documentation are in FAQ 3.

Receiving a refund from the CFPB does not prevent you from pursuing other legal claims, if any, against any individual or entity named in the CFPB’s lawsuit. Neither Epiq nor CFPB can give you individual legal advice; you can speak with an attorney who can provide legal advice specific to your situation.

To file a Claim Form, you can download a copy of the Claim Form or you can call 1-800-507-6157 to have a claim form mailed to your current address.

Please return the Claim Form and supporting documentation to Epiq at:

CFPB v. Burlington Financial Group
Civil Penalty Fund Third-Party Administrator
P.O. Box 4274
Portland, OR 97208-4274

You may also email your Claim Form and supporting documents to burlington_info@cfpbconsumerprotection.org.

Please be advised the filing deadline was August 3, 2023. You may still file a claim and, depending on timing and available funding, it is possible your late claim will be accepted. There is no guarantee claims filed after the deadline will be reviewed or considered for payment.

The letter details reasons we were unable to refund all payments you made to the Defendant, Burlington Financial Group. For most items, you can fix the problem by sending us additional information and documentation by the Response Deadline printed on the letter.

To qualify for a refund, each payment must be supported by documentation proving the payment date and amount, and that you made the payment to the Defendant. Types of documentation you can use to prove you made a payment may include copies of the following:

• Cancelled check;
• Receipt from the Defendant;
• Receipt for a money order or eCheck;
• Credit card statement or bank statement; or
• Invoice showing the payment was made or the remaining balance is zero.

Please make sure the documents include the payment date and amount, and identify the Defendant, or someone acting on their behalf. Documents you prepared yourself or invoices with “Paid” handwritten on them, are not enough proof to qualify payments for a refund. We cannot say whether a specific document is sufficient proof until you send us the document for review.

The deadline to respond is printed on the letter. You may still respond after the deadline, and it is possible your late response will be accepted. There is no guarantee responses filed after the deadline will be reviewed or considered for payment.

To request that we update your name and/or address and reissue your check, please send a signed letter via postal mail with your request. Please include your full name and current mailing address. For name changes, also provide copies of any documentation that support the name change. Documentation could include a Marriage Certificate, Divorce Order, valid state-issued ID, or other documentation, depending on your situation.

Mail your request to:

CFPB v. Burlington Financial Group
Civil Penalty Fund Third-Party Administrator
P.O. Box 4274
Portland, OR 97208-4274

You may also email your reissue request to burlington_info@cfpbconsumerprotection.org. If you are requesting a name change, supporting documents must be attached to the email.

If the check is made out to someone who has passed, please mail the original check to us with a letter requesting the check be reissued. Your request should include the name and address for the reissued check. Please include a copy of the death certificate and documentation showing that you are the executor, surviving spouse, or sole beneficiary of the Estate. If you are identified as the surviving spouse on the death certificate, no additional documentation is required.

Acceptable documentation for estates includes the pertinent portion of the will or a Court Order/Letters Testamentary naming you as Personal Representative, Administrator, Executor, or Executrix, or the sole beneficiary. Local laws may provide guidance for situations in which there is no probate action filed in court, no will exists, or a small estate is involved. We cannot say whether a specific document is sufficient proof until you send us the document for review.

Please return the original check, your signed, written request, and documentation to:

CFPB v. Burlington Financial Group
Civil Penalty Fund Third-Party Administrator
P.O. Box 4274
Portland, OR 97208-4274

You may also email your reissue request to burlington_info@cfpbconsumerprotection.org. Supporting documents must be attached to the email.

For security reasons, we cannot reissue a check until you return the original check to us, the U.S. Postal Service returns it to us as undeliverable, or the original check’s stale date has passed or expired. Because one of these events must occur before we can act on your request, we can reissue your check before it expires only if you return it by mail. If you email your request, it is not possible for us to reissue your check until after the expiration date.

We reissue checks in batches on a rolling basis throughout the year. Unfortunately, we cannot provide a specific date your reissued check will be mailed. We thank you for your patience.

Please note that information you submit is treated in accordance with the Privacy Act. The Privacy Act covers ways in which your information might be shared for state or federal government purposes.

Some additional information, including the final court order, is available on the Important Documents page of this website or by visiting the CFPB websites at www.cfpb.gov/payments/Burlington or visit www.consumerfinance.gov and enter “Burlington Financial” into the search box.

The CFPB stands for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 established the CFPB.

Congress established the CFPB to protect consumers by carrying out federal consumer financial laws. Among other things, the CFPB:

• Writes rules, supervises companies, and enforces federal consumer financial protection laws
• Restricts unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices
• Takes consumer complaints
• Promotes financial education
• Researches consumer behavior
• Monitors financial markets for new risks to consumers
• Enforces laws that outlaw discrimination and other unfair treatment in consumer finance

To learn more, visit www.consumerfinance.gov.

Epiq Class Action & Claims Solutions is a Third-Party Administrator. CFPB contracted with Epiq to assist in processing refund payments, reviewing claims, answering questions about this case, and administering this website

No, this is not a scam. This is a legitimate program. If you wish, Epiq can verify the information on your check and confirm if your check contains a valid tracking number. You can reach Epiq at 1-800-507-6157 and follow prompts to speak with a representative.

Additionally, you can verify that Epiq is contracted with the CFPB by calling the CFPB directly at 1-855-411-2372 or visiting the CFPB website at: www.cfpb.gov/payments/Burlington.

To learn more about the CFPB and other CFPB matters, please visit www.consumerfinance.gov. If you enter “Burlington Financial” into the search box, you can read CFPB announcements related to this case.

Neither the CFPB nor Epiq will ever require you to pay any fees before or after cashing checks issued by CFPB. If someone asks you to pay them money before or after cashing a check, it could be a scam. Please contact us right away if this happens to you or if you have other questions about this matter.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, never requires consumers to pay money or provide additional information before consumers can cash refund checks issued by CFPB.

All of Epiq’s costs for this program are paid separately by CFPB. Consumers are never charged either directly or indirectly for Epiq’s services as Third-Party Administrator.

If anyone contends they can get you a refund but asks you for money, it could be a scam. Please contact Epiq right away if this happens to you or if you have other questions about this matter.

If Epiq mailed you a Claim Form or letter saying information was missing from your claim, you may be asked to provide additional information about payments you made to Burlington Financial Group or someone acting on their behalf.

You may contact Epiq in writing at:

CFPB v. Burlington Financial Group
Civil Penalty Fund Third-Party Administrator
P.O. Box 4274
Portland, OR 97208-4274

Or by emailing burlington_info@cfpbconsumerprotection.org.

Do not send any information to the CFPB.

Please note that information you submit is treated in accordance with the Privacy Act. The Privacy Act covers ways in which your information might be shared for state or Federal government purposes. You can view the Privacy Act in FAQ 7.

The information requested is being collected to determine your eligibility for a refund from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to compensate you for harm suffered from a violation of Federal consumer financial laws.

Identifying information collected may be used by and disclosed to employees, contractors, agents, and others authorized by the CFPB to receive this information to assist in related activities. It may also be disclosed:

• To a court, magistrate, or administrative tribunal in the course of a proceeding
• For enforcement, statutory, and regulatory purposes
• To another federal or state agency or regulatory authority
• To a member of Congress
• To the Department of Justice, a court, an adjudicative body or administrative tribunal, or a party in litigation
• Pursuant to the CFPB’s published Privacy Act system of records notice, CFPB.025 – Civil Penalty Fund and Bureau-Administered Redress Program Records

CFPB v. Burlington Financial Group
Civil Penalty Fund Third-Party Administrator
P.O. Box 4274
Portland, OR 97208-4274

The collection of this information is authorized by Pub. L. 111-203, Title X, Sections 1017(d), and 1055(a), codified at 12 U.S.C. §§ 5497(d), 5565(a). You are not required to submit or provide any identifying information; however, if you do not provide this information, we may not be able to send your refund.