The Golden Home payment may appear under a business name a homeowner does not immediately recognize. The FTC program connects seven names used by the mortgage-relief operation.
What Was Announced?
The Federal Trade Commission says it is mailing 1,821 checks totaling more than $2.8 million to people who paid Golden Home Services for mortgage relief. Recipients should cash or deposit the check within 90 days.The operation used several names, including Academy Home Services, Amstar Service Group, Atlantic Pacific Service Group, Home Matters USA, Home Relief Service of America and Westwood Advocates. A check referring to one of those names may therefore trace back to the same enforcement case.
What Did the Court Find?
The FTC and California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation brought the case against the companies and operators. A federal court found that the scheme falsely promised to lower mortgage payments or interest rates and to help prevent foreclosure.The agencies also said the operation created a false impression that its services were connected to government or COVID-19 mortgage-relief programs, collected prohibited upfront fees and did not deliver the promised help. Court orders banned the operators from telemarketing and debt-relief businesses and required monetary relief.
Why the Business Name May Look Different
Mortgage-relief customers may remember Home Matters USA or another brand instead of Golden Home Services. The FTC lists all of the names together because the operation used them in the same scheme.Review old invoices and bank records if the name on the notice is unfamiliar. Matching a past payment to one of the listed brands can help explain why the recipient was selected.
What Recipients Should Do
Cash or deposit the check within 90 days, keep the letter and retain a copy of the payment until it clears. Use the official FTC program page below to verify the distribution.A legitimate refund does not require a release fee, a wire transfer, an online-banking password or a new mortgage-relief contract. A person who asks for those things is not following the FTC process.
What If You Paid One of the Listed Companies?
The current program is an automatic distribution based on enforcement records. The FTC has not opened a new public claim form, and paying one of the listed businesses does not by itself guarantee a check.Homeowners should be cautious about any service that demands money before speaking with a lender or promises a guaranteed modification. Suspected impersonation or a new deceptive pitch can be documented using OCA’s FTC complaint guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is receiving a Golden Home Services refund check?
The FTC is sending 1,821 checks to people identified from case records as customers who paid the mortgage-relief operation.
How much is the Golden Home Services refund distribution?
The June 2026 distribution totals more than $2.8 million. Individual checks can vary under the FTC redress calculation.
What other names did Golden Home Services use?
The FTC lists Academy Home Services, Amstar Service Group, Atlantic Pacific Service Group, Home Matters USA, Home Relief Service of America and Westwood Advocates.
Can I file a new Golden Home Services refund claim?
No. The FTC program page describes an automatic check distribution and does not provide a new public claim form.
How long do I have to cash the check?
The FTC instructs recipients to cash or deposit the Golden Home Services refund check within 90 days.
Sources
• FTC — Golden Home Services refund program• FTC — June 2026 mortgage-relief refund announcement
• FTC — court orders and industry bans
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