Last reviewed: October 2, 2026
Disclaimer: This review summarizes publicly available information, including customer reviews, forum posts such as Reddit, BBB and Trustpilot listings, court records, regulator actions, and news reports. It is not the opinion of MCAFax. MCAFax cannot confirm or deny any allegations, complaints, or claims described here. Information may be outdated or incomplete. MCAFax is not affiliated with this lender. This is not legal or financial advice. Lenders who believe something is inaccurate can contact info@mcafax.com for review.
Summary verdict
Complete Business Solutions Group, Inc., doing business as Par Funding, was a merchant cash advance company. In July 2020, the SEC obtained an asset freeze and the court appointed a receiver for the entity defendants, including Par Funding (SEC). In November 2020, the court entered a consent judgment permanently enjoining Par Funding from violating the antifraud provisions of the securities laws, without Par Funding admitting or denying the allegations (Judgment). In November 2024, the court entered a final judgment ordering founders Lisa McElhone and Joseph LaForte to pay a total of $196,924,738.24 (Final judgment). This case concerned Par Funding's investors, the people who put money into the company, not the businesses that borrowed from it.
Paper Grade: TBD
Par Funding is in receivership and no longer offers funding. We have not assigned a paper grade. Paper grade describes the borrower profile this lender targets, not the lender's quality.
Research-Based Reputation Score: 1.0 / 10 (reputation rank: tied #63 of 72 lenders scored, as of October 2, 2026)
How we got there: start at 5.0, then −5 for a court finding of liability. The Eleventh Circuit noted that McElhone and LaForte "consented to liability for numerous securities violations" before the district court set disgorgement, interest and penalties (Eleventh Circuit). The final judgment holds them liable for $142,529,980 in disgorgement, $10,694,758.24 in prejudgment interest and $43.7 million in civil penalties (Final judgment). The score floor is 1.0. To be clear, this was an investor case: the SEC's claims and the judgments concern money raised from investors, not the treatment of borrowers. The SEC's complaint also alleged loans to small businesses, some at more than 400% interest (SEC).
About the Paper Grade: it reflects only the borrower profile and deal type the lender targets (stated credit, time-in-business and revenue minimums, and product type). It is not a judgment of the lender's quality. A = strong credit (about 625–650+), established businesses, APR-priced loans or lines. B = fair credit (about 600+), short-term or factor-rate products. C = credit about 500–599, younger businesses, MCA or revenue-based, or sales-based platform financing with no credit check. D = minimal credit requirements, very new businesses, stacked positions or high-risk industries. Lawsuits and regulator actions never change the Paper Grade.
About the Research-Based Reputation Score (1–10, half-points): it summarizes public signals and is not the opinion of MCAFax. Every lender starts at 5.0. Points are added for BBB accreditation and an A+ rating, years in business, strong Trustpilot ratings, and a clean record (no regulator orders or court judgments in which the lender itself is a named party). Points are subtracted for a BBB rating of C− or lower (−1), a BBB customer-review average below 2.5/5 (−0.5), recurring complaint themes (−0.5 to −1), and a pending class action (−0.5). Government actions are scored only when the lender itself is a named party: −1 for a settled action not about borrowers, −2 for a regulator consent order with a penalty and no admission, −3 for active enforcement or a final order about borrower treatment, and −5 for an industry ban or court finding of liability. The lowest score, 1.0, is reserved for lenders under an industry ban or a final fraud judgment. Ratings we could not read score zero, and routine collection suits are not scored. Every point applied to this lender is listed above. Ranks are as of the date shown; MCAFax cannot confirm or deny any allegation counted here.
At a glance
| Item | Details | |