Freedom Debt Relief Sued Over Illegal Robocalls From ‘Ashley Johnson’

Case information

• Court: US District Court, Northern District of California
• Plaintiff: Jon C. Hanson, individually and on behalf of others in a similar situation
• Defendant: Freedom Debt Relief, LLC
• Claims: Violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)

The story behind this lawsuit

According to the complaint, plaintiff Jon Hanson is a retired member of the U.S. Air Force who served for nearly 24 years and deployed overseas nearly a dozen times.

The complaint alleges that Hanson registered his phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry on February 28, 2010 – more than a decade before the alleged calls occurred. According to the filing, he never inquired about Freedom Debt Relief’s services, was never a customer and never consented to be contacted.

Nevertheless, the complaint alleges that March 8, 2023, at approximately 2:51 PM CSTHanson received a pre-recorded conversation. According to the filing, the caller stated:

“Hello! My name is Ashley Johnson. How are you today?”

The complaint alleges that after Hanson responded, the caller continued with a scripted message: “Well, I’m calling you from Freedom Debt Relief. There is a promotion on an existing debt you owe on your credit cards and you are eligible to have your bills forgiven when the new year 2023 begins.”

According to the complaint, Hanson identified the call as pre-recorded due to “unnatural pauses and cadence” while speaking to the “representative.” The filing alleges a second similar call was made March 24, 2023, at approximately 12:43 PM CST use the same script.

What the complaint alleges

The lawsuit carries two charges under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA):

The complaint seeks class certification for two proposed classes: a “Pre-recorded Voting Class” and a “DNC Class” representing all individuals who allegedly received similar calls from Freedom Debt Relief or those acting on its behalf.

Who is freedom debt relief?

According to the complaint, Freedom Debt Relief is a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business in San Mateo, California. The company’s website describes it as “one of the largest debt settlement companies in the United States, specializing in helping consumers resolve unsecured debt, especially credit card debt.”

Debt settlement companies like Freedom Debt Relief work by negotiating with creditors to reduce the total amount owed. Consumers typically stop paying creditors while saving money in a special account, which is then used to make settlement offers.

What this could mean for consumers

Understanding the TCPA

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) was signed into law in 1991 to protect consumers from unwanted telemarketing calls. The law:

• Prohibits pre-recorded or artificial voice calls to mobile phones without prior express consent
• Establish the national do-not-call registry
• Requires telemarketers to maintain internal do-not-call lists
• Provides consumers with a private right to sue violators

The Robocall Problem

According to the complaint, approximately 52.5 billion robocalls were placed in the United States alone in 2025. The FCC receives more consumer complaints about unwanted telemarketing calls than about any other problem.

How to follow this case

You can follow this case and read all court files via PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records):

1. Go to pacer.uscourts.gov
2. Create a free account (required)
3. Search for case number: 4:26-cv-00708
4. Select Court: Northern District of California

PACER charges $0.10/page for documents, but the first $30/quarter is free for most users.

Frequently asked questions

What does this lawsuit mean for Freedom Debt Relief customers?

At this stage, the lawsuit is nothing more than filing a complaint, allegations that have not yet been proven. Current Freedom Debt Relief customers should not experience any immediate changes to their services based on this filing. If you have any concerns, please contact the company directly.

Is Freedom Debt Relief a Scam?

This lawsuit contains allegations about marketing practices that have not been proven in court. Whether a company’s services are legitimate depends on several factors besides telemarketing. Freedom Debt Relief has not been found liable for any wrongdoing in this case. We recommend that you thoroughly research any debt relief company before signing up.

Can I participate in this lawsuit?

If the lawsuit is certified as a class action, individuals who received similar calls from Freedom Debt Relief could automatically be included in the class action. The complaint seeks to represent all individuals who received pre-recorded calls or calls to numbers on Defendant’s DNC list. Contact the plaintiff’s attorneys (Miller Shah LLP or Butsch Roberts & Associates) for more information about possible class membership.

How long will this case last?

Federal lawsuits typically take one to three years to be resolved through trial or settlement. Class action cases often take longer due to the class certification process. I will update this post as any significant developments occur.

What are my rights if I receive unwanted robocalls?

You can register your number on the National Do Not Call Registry free. If you continue to receive unwanted telemarketing calls, you may file complaints with the FTC and the FCC, and you may be entitled to sue under the TCPA for $500-$1,500 per violation.

Contact Vrijheid Debt Relief immediately

If you have any questions about this lawsuit or are a current customer of Freedom Debt Relief, I encourage you to contact them directly rather than jumping to conclusions based on accusations alone:

(Source: US District Court, Northern District of California, Case No. 4:26-cv-00708-KAW)