Arizona veterans who were misled by a disability-claims company called VetLink Solutions are starting to see money land back in their pockets this week. The Arizona Attorney General's Office says it is distributing more than $1.2 million to veterans deceived by the company, the result of a consent judgment resolving allegations that VetLink charged disabled veterans improperly and operated without the accreditation federal law requires.
According to KVOA, Arizona veterans will begin receiving restitution checks this week. State investigators alleged VetLink Solutions charged disabled veterans contingency fees for help filing disability claims, even though the company was not legally accredited to assist veterans with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs claims, the office says. Separately, kold.com reports that veterans who were misled by VetLink and filed claims with the Attorney General's Office will begin receiving restitution checks, with the company paying $1.2 million into a restitution fund.
The case traces back to a lawsuit alleging VetLink Solutions violated the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act. The station reports the lawsuit alleged VetLink violated Arizona consumer law from January 2019 through March 2024, with investigators finding the company falsely marketed its services and unlawfully charged disabled veterans. abc15.com reports that state investigators alleged VetLink charged some customers fees as high as $12,000, based on increases in their monthly disability benefits — and that the company advertised its services nationwide between 2019 and 2024 before ceasing operations in 2024, according to the Arizona Attorney General's Office.
Who Qualifies and When Checks Arrive
Eligibility for restitution includes veterans who paid consulting fees to VetLink Solutions during that five-year period and who submitted a claim form before the September 10 deadline. State officials expect to distribute all restitution checks this week, according to the Arizona Attorney General's Office. Claimants who don't receive a check within 14 days are advised to contact the settlement administrator at 866-880-0070 or [email protected].
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes framed the settlement as a matter of protecting veterans from predatory sales tactics. “Veterans deserve trusted assistance — not deceptive sales tactics,” Mayes said. She added that her office “is proud to have secured this settlement on behalf of veterans in our state,” and said it “will continue to hold accountable anyone who tries to take advantage of Arizona veterans.”
A Broader Reckoning Over Unaccredited Claims Companies
The $1.2 million restitution figure is part of a larger settlement; the Arizona Attorney General's Office previously announced it had secured $1.95 million in restitution, civil penalties and fees in the case, according to azag.gov. Federal law requires accreditation by the VA for anyone to charge a fee to assist another person with a VA benefits claim, the Attorney General's Office notes. The VA itself says accredited Veterans Service Organization representatives provide help with benefit claims for free, while accredited attorneys or claims agents may charge fees — though the agency generally advises that no one should charge more than 33 percent for such services, per benefits.va.gov.
VetLink is not an isolated case. A federal judge ruled that Veterans Guardian VA Claim Consulting acted as an unaccredited agent while preparing and presenting veterans' disability claims and charging contingency fees, according to moaa.org. In Texas, the attorney general's office reached a resolution with VA Claims Insider that resulted in more than $6.8 million in debt relief for disabled veterans. The site also reports that the SAFEGUARD Veterans Act, a bipartisan bill, would strengthen enforcement against companies that unlawfully charge veterans for claims assistance while operating outside the VA's accreditation system.
Consumers who believe they have been victims of fraud can file a complaint online with the Arizona Attorney General's Office, which is based in Phoenix. The office's Phoenix line is 602-542-5763, its Tucson office can be reached at 520-628-6648, and callers outside metro areas can dial 800-352-8431.
