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DRB Capital Review

Thursday, November 7th

2024 Structured Settlement Buyer Reviews

DRB Capital Review 2 Star Rating

DRB Capital

2 Star Rating
  • "Best Price Guarantee” +$50
  • "A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau

DRB Capital is a company whose policies reveal unscrupulous practices in the purchasing of structured settlements. We'll state right up front: we feel there are better companies out there.

Well managed reviews: disgruntled employees

While DRB Capital has well-managed reviews on aggregate review sites, looking through employee reviews on Glassdoor reveals a different story. Many employees complain of a frenetic sales environment in large call-center locations, in which workers are pushed to use high-pressure sales tactics on people who may not fully understand the implication of selling their structured settlement. Employees also complain that when they did attempt to buy structured settlements, it was exceedingly difficult to make a sale, as competitors would offer better rates.

An exploitative website and practices

DRB Capital's website is a barren information desert designed to drive technologically-inept customers into a sales call. With a confusing user interface, frequent chat box pop-ups, and endless prompts to call for a "free quote”, their website feels more like a minefield of potential exploitation than any kind of legitimate business. DRB Capital goes to great lengths to assure you that they offer "fast cash” and that selling your structured settlement is "easy”. Few major financial decisions are ever easy. When it comes to something as important as selling a structured settlement, most who say anything like that are trying to scam you.

Tread carefully

And in fact, you need to be careful. Hidden behind all the buzzwords is this bombshell of a sentence: when describing their process, they state that "all you have to do is provide us with the paperwork for your structured settlement or annuity, and fill out a few forms that allow us to work on your behalf”. To translate, this means that they want you to sign away your representation in the mandatory court hearing (meant to ensure you are not being scammed), all under the guise of making things "easy”. Yes, this makes things easy - but agreeing to this means you're giving the company the rights to look after your money, when in reality they have their own best interests at heart.

Best Structured Settlement Buyers

Discrepancy between rating and reviews

DRB Capital has an "A+” rating on the Better Business Bureau, but a 1.67/5 from customer reviews on the same site. This discrepancy between their rating and their reviews is likely due to the fact that they respond to and "resolve” every complaint actually posted to the BBB website, even as they engage in potentially unscrupulous practices. Reviewing DRB Capital's profile on the Better Business Bureau reveals a company whose modus operandi is the harassment of beleaguered customers.

You're on the list

Clients frequently complain that DRB Capital spams them for years with calls from changing phone numbers. Customers also receive unrequested advertisements from DRB Capital made to look like real checks sent through the mail promising upfront cash payments. While it seems that DRB Capital addresses these complaints once they show up on the BBB page, if a customer doesn't formally complain, then the calls and emails simply continue.

"Best price guarantee” offered

DRB Capital does have some perks when compared to competitors, including a "Best Price Guarantee”. If you receive a better offer than the one DRB Capital provides, then they will match the price or pay you $50. However, doing so means you need to give your contact information to DRB Capital, and then agree to sell all or part of your settlement to them. Reading from customer reviews alone, we would be hesitant to give DRB Capital any kind of contact information, let alone agree to sell all or part of our structured settlement to them for a mere $50 dollars extra.

Settlement buying sweatshop

Almost everything we found about DRB Capital points to a predatory settlement-buying sweatshop, one that targets their customers with unending mail and spam calls. Their focus seems to lie more in exploiting their call center-esque employees and promoting their brand management online, as opposed to actually helping their customers. The fact that DRB Capital states they "work with the courts” on your behalf is very misleading. All it means is that they are trying to make it so you don't work with a person - an attorney or a financial advisor - who is looking out for your best interests.

What's the Best Structured Settlement Buyer on the Market?

Well, it's a critical question, and one that should be explored with care. Many receive a structured settlement as an annuity paid over a long period of time in compensation for injury or malpractice. While the stable income of a structured settlement can be a necessary key to financial security, many people are often left in a bind when they need money for a sudden expense or emergency, and are unable to procure the collateral for a loan.

That's where structured settlement buyers come in. These companies offer a single lump sum of cash in exchange for your monthly payments, giving you the up-front capital you need to manage a crisis, or make a needed purchase/investment.

The Best Structured Settlement Buyers Compare Structured Settlement Buyers Compare Structured Settlement Buyer Reviews What are the best Structured Settlement Buyers Best Structured Settlement Buyer Reviews

Structured Settlement Buyer FAQ

A structured settlement is usually awarded after an accident or a win in court. Instead of a one-time lump sum payment, the money is distributed monthly for a certain number of years.
You may want to consider a structured settlement buyer. You sell all or part of your settlement to their company in exchange for a lump sum payment now.
Simple: they make money from it. Most structured settlement buyers/companies levy interest rates on the buyout, which can range from 5-20%. You'll want to get a complete listing of all of the terms and fees before agreeing to sell your structured settlement, especially since some companies are more upfront than others with that information.
They might sound shady, but structured settlement buyouts are fairly common. It's a win for the client who can't wait months and years for their payments to trickle in, and it's a win for the service that makes money on the transaction.
Reputation is everything. If you're considering a structured settlement buyout, be sure the company you choose has a solid reputation: find out what previous clients have to say about the process and experience, and definitely see if the Better Business Bureau has given the service a positive rating. You don't want to entrust such a large financial decision to any buyout provider that can't prove their dependability.
Yes, there are several. First, understand that a settlement buyout will have to be approved by the court. Depending on the circumstances of the settlement, a judge might not give a buyout the green light. Next, if your monthly payments are intended to take care of regular expenses for many years, but you spend a lump sum all at once, you may not have the money you need to pay bills in the future. Another consideration is whether a lump sum payment can disqualify you from receiving Medicaid and SSI benefits. There are other situations where a structured settlement buyout wouldn't be in your best interests; it's worth discussing it with your financial advisor, attorney, or anyone else who can give you an objective assessment of the situation.
Many factors impact how quickly you can get the lump sum payment from your structured settlement. Not only does the court have to approve the arrangement, but some states also have mandatory waiting periods to take into account. Your process could last anywhere from 30-90 days, so don't expect to have a check in hand the day after you contact a structured settlement buyer to get more information.
We recommend that you start by browsing the websites of several companies that offer structured settlement buyouts. You'll find plenty of details about how the process works and what to expect, and you may even find answers to your questions before speaking with a representative. Those representatives will be extremely eager to talk with you, which is why it can be helpful to already have done some research before you reach out. Some services have a live chat feature where you can get help too, if you prefer not to make a phone call or fill out an online form.
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Continued from above...

It almost goes without saying that you should take care when you sell your structured settlement. While there are reputable buyers out there, many companies appear out of nowhere, or engage in less-than-reputable business practices. As the sale of a structured settlement is a major decision, a bit of careful investigation to determine the quality of the buyer can go a long way towards a transaction you'll be happy with.

Typically the sale of a structured settlement requires that you appear in court to talk to a judge in order to determine that you understand the particulars of the sale of your structured settlement, and that the sale is in your best interest. While potentially annoying, your court appearance is a critical step in the process, and something that directly protects you as a consumer.

Before this step, companies are required to advise you in writing that you can hire independent legal counsel to review your sale in court with you. This is strongly recommended, as legal counsel and financial advice can give you power and leverage in your structured settlement sale, making it so you get a better deal, and potentially earning multiple-thousands more from the sale of your settlement. If you sign this away to another person or a company, they may represent their own best interests, rather than yours.

So, which structured settlement buyers are worth your time? As you investigate the options, here are some tips for you to keep in mind:

  • Information offered. Look for companies that inform you about their process, and the nitty-gritty details of the sale of structured settlements. Do they explain their process of purchasing structured settlements? Do they have specific recommendations for you as a seller? Oftentimes, the more information a company gives you, the more reputable they are.
  • Low-pressure environment. Selling your structured settlement is a big deal, and you should never feel pressured to make a decision before you're ready. You should also not feel like you're being pushed to sell all of a settlement if a partial sale is what you need. Choose a buyer with a reputation for letting clients take the time they need to make whatever decision is best for their situation.
  • Client reviews. Look for the testimony of past customers before engaging with a structured settlement buyer. Those who have gone before you can relay whether the company treated them with respect, and speak to the quality of the deal they received.

At Top Consumer Reviews, we want to make sure that our readers are well-equipped to navigate the sometimes murky waters of the structured settlement industry. We've gathered the best companies we could find, and ranked them based on their overall reputation and business practices. As you shop around for the best deal in the sale of your structured settlement, you should feel comfortable using our curated list as a starting point for finding a fair and honest buyer.

See the Best Structured Settlement Buyer
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