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nid 91377
Mar 17, 2026
ataylor@vixio.com
Oregon
Oregon Bankers Association
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1751 charsOregon Division of Financial Regulation Issues Final Order Against United Advocacy Counseling for Unlicensed Debt Management Services
On March 17, 2026, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, acting on behalf of the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, issued a final order against United Advocacy Counseling (operating as United Booking Services) for conducting unlicensed debt management services in violation of Oregon law.
The Division found that United Advocacy, operating through websites www.united-advocacy.com and www.united-advocacy.org, offered to modify home mortgages and other loan terms for Oregon consumers without being registered as a debt management service provider (DMSP) or holding a required surety bond. Between January 2021 and November 2024, United Advocacy solicited at least four Oregon consumers, offering mortgage modifications at 2 percent interest rates. The consumers collectively paid approximately $5,735 in fees but received no loan modifications or received services with significant errors. One consumer received a foreclosure notice after paying United Advocacy $1,975. The Division initiated its investigation following a consumer complaint filed on November 14, 2024, and discovered that United Advocacy operated from a UPS Store mailbox in Signal Hill, California, under the name of Susan Bustamante.
The Director concluded that United Advocacy violated Oregon Revised Statutes sections 697.612(1)(a) (operating without registration), 697.642 (operating without surety bond), 697.692(1)(a) (charging excessive initial fees), and 697.707 (failing to provide required disclosures). The Division issued a cease and desist order and assessed civil penalties totalling $40,000. United Advocacy may request judicial review by filing a petition with the Oregon Court of Appeals within 60 days of service of the order.
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1565 charsOregon Division of Financial Regulation Fines United Advocacy Counseling for Deceptive Mortgage Restructuring Claims
On March 17, 2026, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) issued a Final Order by Default against United Advocacy Counseling (United Advocacy). The Director found that the entity engaged in unlicensed debt management services by soliciting Oregon consumers promises of mortgage loan modifications in violation of Oregon Revised Statute Chapter 697 . Specifically, United Advocacy collected payments from consumers by claiming it would act as a mortgage restructuring expert to negotiate loan modifications with third-party lenders. The investigation revealed that United Advocacy was also not registered to provide these services in Oregon and engaged in predatory fee structures.
The DFR found:
Deceptive Service Claims: United Advocacy collected fees from customers under the guise of being an expert that could broker alternative repayment plans with external lenders.
Unlicensed Activity: United Advocacy performed debt management services for Oregon consumers without the required state registration.
Illegal Fee Structures: United Advocacy charged fees that significantly exceeded the $50.00 statutory cap. It also failed to provide customers with a written budget analysis or mandatory legal disclosures required before any money is accepted.
Bonding Requirements: United Advocacy failed to maintain the mandatory surety bond required for all debt management service providers in the state.
The DFR imposed a $40,000 civil penalty and a permanent cease and desist order requiring that United Advocacy stop further violations of the statutes.