They promised to fix her debt problems, but instead a Texas based credit relief company took her cash -- leaving a Seattle woman deeper in debt.

So what did she do?

She called our KIRO 7 Consumer Investigator David Quinlan for help.

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Clearpoint Financial Services The new Consumer Credit Counselling Services clearpointfinancialsolutions.org/ 877-422-9040

As Golda Franz arrives at work every day, the thought of debt looms over her head. She owes around $16,000 in school loans.

"(It's a) lot of money, a lot of money," she said. "Prices are going up right now. Everyone is struggling."

Franz, who works as a nurse, has a hard time paying the bills and she came across an online ad last September.

"I was, like, 'Wow, this can help me,'" she said. She thought her troubles were solved. "'Yeah, yeah we can help you with your school loans. no problem.'"

Clear Your Debt, out of Austin, Texas, promises to help reduce or eliminate debt and avoid bankruptcy. Franz was impressed, signed up and then started making monthly payments.

One hundred twenty-three dollars here, $252 there. Six months later, Franz had paid clear your debt more than $1,500.

"I started making payments to them, but they never really helped me at all," she said.

Golda said soon her creditors started to call. They weren't receiving payments for her school loans.

"They never saw a penny. They said they never heard from them."

Confused as to why Clear Your Debt never contacted or paid her creditors, she stopped making payments and asked for a refund.

"They didn't give me any options. 'Sorry, you can't get your money back. Tough luck.'"

According to an e-mail from Clear Your Debt, they told Franz there is no refund due because she stopped making payments and therefore didn't live up to the agreement.

Kristin Alexander with the Washington State Attorney General said anytime you're dealing with an online credit consolidator, you take a chance.

"It can be very, very risky. It's hard to get your money back. You don't know who you are dealing with when you're dealing with virtual reality," Alexander said.

According to the Better Business Bureau Reliability Report, Franz isn't the only one that has had problems. The BBB says clear your debt has an unsatisfactory record due to a pattern of complaints.

So we contacted Clear Your Debt and asked about Franz's refund. They told us she broke her agreement -- and that they tried to work with her.

One day later Franz got a call. Clear Your Debt agreed to pay her back $1,527.88.

"I didn't know how to react. I was jumping all over the place," Franz said.

Franz said the refund money will go directly to her school loans.

When you find yourself in credit trouble, experts suggest calling the credit companies yourself and try to work out a payment plan that works for you.

If you need more help contact consumer credit counseling services. It's free.