2026-01-23
Added · Updated
The Banking Commissioner of Connecticut issues an Order to Make Restitution, Notice of Intent to Issue an Order to Cease and Desist, and Notice of Intent to Impose a Civil Penalty against Forth, LLC for unlicensed money transmission and debt adjustment activities in the state. The Commissioner alleges that Forth collected over $722,000 in fees from Connecticut consumers while operating without required licenses and engaging in unfair or deceptive practices, including providing kickbacks to debt negotiators. The document asserts violations of the Connecticut General Statutes and authorizes the imposition of civil penalties of up to $100,000 per violation alongside restitution orders.
ORDER TO MAKE RESTITUTION IN THE MATTER OF: NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE SET FORTH, LLC a/k/a FORTH, INC. d/b/a FORTH f/k/a SET FORTH, INC. f/k/a DEBT PAY GATEWAY, INC. ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST NOTICE OF INTENT TO IMPOSE CIVIL PENALTY NMLS # 1396653 AND (“Forth” or “Respondent”) NOTICE OF RIGHT TO HEARING I. LEGAL AUTHORITY AND JURISDICTION
11 - fact, it was not independent from debt negotiators and provided kickbacks to debt negotiators for referrals of consumer accounts through reduced CRM software fees, as more fully described in paragraphs 5 to 32, inclusive, in violation of Section 36a-607(c)(2) of the Connecticut General Statutes. Such violations form the basis to issue an order to make restitution pursuant to 36a-608(c)(1) and 36a-50(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes, to cease and desist against Respondent pursuant to Sections 36a-608(c)(1) and 36a-52(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes and to impose a civil penalty upon Respondent pursuant to Sections 36a-608(c)(1) and 36a-50(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes. Section 36a-50(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes authorizes the Commissioner to impose a civil penalty upon Respondent in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) per violation. V. ORDER TO MAKE RESTITUTION, NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST, NOTICE OF INTENT TO IMPOSE CIVIL PENALTY AND NOTICE OF RIGHT TO HEARING WHEREAS, the Commissioner has reason to believe that Respondent has engaged in acts or conduct which form the basis to issue an order to make restitution against Respondent pursuant to Sections 36a-608(c)(1), 36a-657(b) and 36a-50(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes, to cease and desist against Respondent pursuant to Sections 36a-608(c)(1), 36a-657(b) and 36a-52(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes and to impose a civil penalty upon Respondent pursuant to Sections 36a-608(c)(1), 36a-657(b) and 36a-50(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes; THE COMMISSIONER ORDERS, pursuant to Section 36a-50(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes, that Set Forth, LLC a/k/a Forth, Inc. d/b/a Forth f/k/a Set Forth, Inc. f/k/a Debt Pay Gateway, Inc. MAKE RESTITUTION of any sums obtained as a result of Set Forth, LLC a/k/a Forth, Inc. d/b/a Forth f/k/a Set Forth, Inc. f/k/a Debt Pay Gateway, Inc. violating Sections 36a-597(a), 36a-607(c)(2) and 36a-656(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes, plus interest at the legal rate set forth in Section 37-1 of the Connecticut General Statutes since March 1, 2016. Specifically, the Commissioner ORDERS that: Not later than thirty (30) days from the date this Order to Make Restitution becomes permanent, Set
12 - Forth, LLC a/k/a Forth, Inc. d/b/a Forth f/k/a Set Forth, Inc. f/k/a Debt Pay Gateway, Inc. shall make restitution as follows:
13 - hearing officer that acknowledges receipt of a request for a hearing, designates a hearing officer and sets the date of the hearing in accordance with Section 4-177 of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 36a-1-21 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. At the discretion of the Hearing Officer, for good cause shown, the Hearing Officer may approve requests for remote participation in the hearing by a Respondent, witness, or attorney. If such requests are approved by the Hearing Officer, such remote participation will be conducted via videoconference. If a hearing is requested, the hearing will be held on March 18, 2026, at 10 a.m. If a hearing is requested, it will be held in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 54 of the Connecticut General Statutes, unless Respondent fails to appear at the requested hearing. At such hearing, Respondent will have the right to appear and present evidence, rebuttal evidence and argument on all issues of fact and law to be considered by the Commissioner. Remote participation in a hearing will be held in accordance with Section 1-225a of the Connecticut General Statutes, and the Remote Hearing Guidelines available on the Department’s website at https://portal.ct.gov/dob. If Respondent does not request a hearing within the time period prescribed or fails to appear at any such hearing, the allegations herein will be deemed admitted. Accordingly, the Order to Make Restitution shall remain in effect and become permanent, and the Commissioner will issue an order that Respondent cease and desist from violating Sections 36a-597(a), 36a-607(c)(2) and 36a-656(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes, and may order a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Thousand ($100,000) per violation be imposed upon Respondent. So ordered at Hartford, Connecticut, this 13th day of January 2026. /s/_________________________________ Jorge L. Perez Banking Commissioner
14 - CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that on this 15th day of January 2026, the foregoing Order to Make Restitution, Notice of Intent to Issue Order to Cease and Desist, Notice of Intent to Impose Civil Penalty and Notice of Right to Hearing was sent by certified mail, return receipt requested to Set Forth, LLC a/k/a Forth, Inc. d/b/a Forth f/k/a Set Forth, Inc. f/k/a Debt Pay Gateway, Inc., Attention: Juan Cahue, 150 N Martingale Road, Suite 1200, Schaumburg, Illinois 60173, Certified Mail No. 7014 3490 00002 3525 8926. /s/_____________________________________ Swarupa Madhavan Paralegal