Turnbull Law Group Under Investigation: What Consumers Need to Know

Key Takeaways

• Turnbull Law Group has 115 BBB complaints in the last three years, with 38 closed in the last 12 months, according to public BBB records as of June 2026 (BBB.org)
• The company charges 28% of the total enrolled debt in fees. Georgia law caps debt relief fees at 7.5%. Turnbull claims a law firm exemption to charge more. (Atlanta News First, March 10, 2026)
• The Georgia Attorney General’s consumer protection division has confirmed a pending investigation into both Turnbull Law Group and Freedom Debt Relief (Atlanta News First, March 10, 2026)
• Freedom Debt Relief answers Turnbull’s phones and handles back-office support, per Freedom Debt Relief’s own statement (Atlanta News First, March 10, 2026)
• Justice Consumer Law offers a free consultation. If we win, the other side pays our legal fees. If we don’t, you owe us nothing.

Turnbull Law Group promises to settle your debt for less than you owe. They charge 28% of your total enrolled debt in fees to do it. For many consumers, the results have not matched that promise.

Victoria Walker from Atlanta signed up when she was between jobs. She had $14,000 in debt from medical bills and credit cards. She found Turnbull Law Group online, signed an agreement, and handed over power of attorney. She expected her assigned attorney to start working on her accounts. During her whole time in the program, she spoke to that attorney exactly once. That was the intake call. After that, she heard nothing. She later came across a news report about Turnbull’s fee structure and realized how much she would end up paying. She canceled her contract before more fees were taken. According to Atlanta News First reporting from March 10, 2026, canceling saved her around $4,000.

Consumer complaints on file with the BBB show a pattern. Consumers allege that Turnbull collected fees while delivering little or no debt relief. Others report that their bank accounts were debited after they had already submitted cancellation requests. Some say creditors filed lawsuits against them while they were still enrolled and making monthly deposits. Turnbull Law Group has 115 BBB complaints in the last three years, with 38 closed in the last 12 months, according to public BBB records as of June 2026.

The Georgia Attorney General’s consumer protection division has confirmed a pending investigation into Turnbull Law Group and its phone-answering partner, Freedom Debt Relief. A Georgia AG spokesperson confirmed this to Atlanta News First on March 10, 2026. Consumers may still pursue individual claims for damages under federal and Illinois laws.

The Record Against Turnbull Law Group

• Company: Turnbull Law Group NJ, LLC / Turnbull Law Group LLC
• Headquarters: 1431 Opus Place, Suite 110, Downers Grove, IL 60515 (BBB.org)
• Additional offices: 332 S Michigan Ave, Suite 900, Chicago, IL, and 211 W Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL (BBB.org)
• Licensed in: 37 states, per Christopher Turnbull’s statement to Atlanta News First, December 30, 2025
• Fee charged: 28% of total enrolled debt. Breakdown: 4.5% legal retainer plus 23.5% for non-legal services (Atlanta News First, March 10, 2026)
• Program length: 24 to 48 months (turnbulllawgroupnj.com)
• BBB status: Not accredited. BBB placed an alert on the company in November 2020. BBB later requested fee disclosures and written agreements. Turnbull refused to provide them. (BBB.org)
• BBB complaints: 115 total in the last three years. 38 closed in the last 12 months. (BBB.org, verified June 9, 2026)
• Pending investigation: Georgia Attorney General’s consumer protection division. Confirmed quote: “Turnbull Law Group as well as Freedom Debt Relief are currently part of a pending investigation.” (Atlanta News First, March 10, 2026)
• Back-office partner: Freedom Debt Relief answers Turnbull’s calls and handles administrative and customer service functions, per Freedom Debt Relief’s own statement (Atlanta News First, March 10, 2026)

How Turnbull Law Group Allegedly Affected Consumers

1. Fee Structure Not Clearly Disclosed at Enrollment

A consumer filed a BBB complaint on May 1, 2026. She had been paying $450 per month. She later calculated that only $106 of her three monthly payments had gone toward actual debt. The remaining $334 per payment had gone to fees. She said the company never gave her a clear fee breakdown before she enrolled. While she was in the program, several of her accounts moved into charge-off status. That charge-off activity appeared on her credit report and damaged her credit score. (BBB complaint, May 1, 2026)

2. Fees Collected With Minimal Debt Relief Delivered

A consumer filed a BBB complaint on February 21, 2026. He had been enrolled for 11 months and had made 11 payments of over $550 each. In total, he had paid more than $6,050 in fees. Despite those payments, he said almost nothing had been resolved. He formally asked for a refund. Turnbull refused. In its BBB response, the company said the fees were “earned” because settlements had been negotiated. However, those settlements had already fallen through after a missed deposit. (BBB complaint #24556015, February 21, 2026)

3. Failure to Respond to Creditor Legal Action

A consumer filed a BBB complaint on February 17, 2026. She had been making monthly payments to Turnbull for over a year. She believed her debts were being handled. Then she received a court subpoena for a debt she had signed over to Turnbull to settle. A court case was now moving forward against her. She alleged that Turnbull had not done what the contract required. (BBB complaint #24536798, February 17, 2026)

4. Account Debited After Written Cancellation

A consumer filed a BBB complaint on April 13, 2026, about her mother’s experience. Her mother signed up on a Saturday and decided to cancel by Monday. She sent an email and a certified letter within four days of signing. Turnbull acknowledged receiving the cancellation. Despite that, the company still debited her account. It also continued sending program emails as though she were still an active client. (BBB complaint #24743883, April 13, 2026)

Consumer Complaints Against Turnbull Law Group

At Justice Consumer Law, we see clients affected by debt relief companies whose practices do not match what was promised at enrollment.

Common Complaints

• • Fees collected for months with little or no debt actually settled, according to BBB records
  • Bank accounts were debited after consumers had already submitted written cancellation requests
  • Creditors filed lawsuits against consumers who were actively enrolled and making monthly deposits
  • Wrong debts were added to the program on a representative’s advice, causing credit damage that lasted years (BBB complaint #24849524, May 14, 2026)
  • Consumers who spoke to their assigned attorney only once, during the intake call, and never again (Atlanta News First, March 10, 2026)

Red Flags Consumers Report About Turnbull Law Group

• • Consumers are told to stop paying all creditors when they enroll. This causes accounts to go delinquent and damages credit reports.
  • Turnbull charges 28% of enrolled debt in fees. Georgia law caps debt relief fees at 7.5% under the Georgia Debt Adjustment Act (2006). Turnbull claims a law firm exemption under Georgia statute §18-5-3 to charge the higher rate.
  • When consumers call Turnbull, the call is answered by Freedom Debt Relief, not a Turnbull attorney (Atlanta News First, March 10, 2026)
  • The BBB asked Turnbull to provide fee disclosures and written agreements. Turnbull refused. (BBB.org)
  • Turnbull is not BBB accredited. The BBB placed an alert on the company after a November 2020 investigation.
  • Christopher Turnbull declined an on-camera interview when contacted by Atlanta News First Investigates

What You Can Do If the Turnbull Law Group Hurts You

1. Legal Claims and When

You may be entitled to compensation if Turnbull Law Group:

• Collected fees before settling any of your enrolled debts, which may violate the FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule
• Took money from your account after you submitted a written cancellation notice
• Did not respond to a creditor lawsuit, even though your contract required legal representation
• Added accounts to your program that should never have been included, and that damaged your credit
• Did not give you a clear written breakdown of fees before you signed your enrollment agreement

2. Federal and State Consumer Protection Laws

2.1 Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA), 15 U.S.C. §§1679 through 1679j

• • A debt relief company cannot collect fees before it delivers results
  • A written contract must be provided before any services begin
  • If these rules were violated, you may be entitled to actual damages plus punitive damages
  • Attorney fees are recoverable under this law, so you do not need money up front to pursue a claim

2.2 Illinois Consumer Fraud Act

• • This law covers deceptive business practices and allows you to recover actual damages plus attorney fees
  • Courts may apply enhanced penalties when the practices target financially vulnerable consumers
  • The statute of limitations is three years

2.3 FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule

• • A debt relief company cannot charge fees until at least one debt has been settled and the consumer has made at least one payment toward that settlement
  • If Turnbull collected fees from you before any debt was resolved, that may already be a violation of federal law

Better Alternatives to Turnbull Law Group

1. Nonprofit Credit Counseling

• • Free or low-cost help with no credit damage required
  • Debt management plans that keep your credit intact
  • Find approved counselors at justice.gov

2. Direct Creditor Negotiation

• • Call your creditors directly at no cost
  • No fees paid to any third party
  • Many creditors prefer working directly with consumers

3. Legal Consultation

• • Bankruptcy often costs far less than years of settlement program fees
  • It also gives you immediate legal protection from creditors and active lawsuits
  • Our page on debt settlement versus bankruptcy versus legal defense walks through all three options in detail

Why Justice Consumer Law for Turnbull Law Group in Chicago

Exclusive Consumer Protection Focus: We only handle cases against companies like Turnbull Law Group that are accused of violating consumer rights.

No Risk to You: Our no-cost guarantee means you pay nothing unless we recover money from Turnbull Law Group or another company that harmed you.

Experience with Debt Relief Cases: We understand the specific tactics companies like Turnbull Law Group are accused of using, including alleged fee nondisclosure, debiting accounts after cancellation, and failing to respond to creditor lawsuits during active enrollment.

Maximum Recovery: We fight to recover every dollar you may be entitled to under federal and Illinois consumer protection laws.

Take Action Against Turnbull Law Group

The Georgia Attorney General’s consumer protection division has confirmed a pending investigation into Turnbull Law Group, according to Atlanta News First reporting from March 10, 2026. The public BBB record shows 115 complaints filed in the last three years. If the company’s alleged practices harmed you, your legal options are available right now.

Contact Justice Consumer Law today:

• • Free consultation to review your Turnbull Law Group case
  • No attorney fees unless we recover money for you
  • Experienced representation against debt relief companies accused of violating consumer rights

Remember: There are strict time limits on legal claims. The sooner you act, the more options you have.

FAQs

Can I take legal action against Turnbull Law Group without a government enforcement action against them?

Yes. You do not need a government enforcement action to file your own claim. The confirmed pending investigation by the Georgia Attorney General and the documented BBB complaint record can both support your individual case. Contact an attorney to review your situation.

What if I signed Turnbull Law Group’s contract with an arbitration clause?

Many arbitration clauses in debt relief contracts conflict with federal consumer protection laws and may not be enforceable. Do not assume an arbitration clause stops you from taking action. Have an attorney review your contract first.

How long do I have to take legal action against Turnbull Law Group?

It depends on the type of claim. Illinois Consumer Fraud Act claims have a three-year limit. Other federal claims have different deadlines. Contact an attorney as soon as possible so you do not miss your window.

What evidence do I need for a Turnbull Law Group case?

Start by gathering your enrollment contract, all fee statements, payment records, and any emails or call notes from the company. Also, pull your credit reports to show damage that occurred during enrollment. If your account was debited after you canceled, gather that documentation too.

How does Justice Consumer Law’s no-cost guarantee work?

You pay no attorney fees unless we win. When we win, federal law requires the other side to pay our legal fees. You pay nothing out of pocket.