Hi - I'll answer your question.

There are two types of services: consulting/editing services, which are those that work closely with an applicant guiding and advising them through multiple drafts but with the applicant writing the essays and doing the majority of the work, and essay writing services, where the applicant provides an outline and ideas, but someone else writes the essay for them.

There is a vast difference between the two.

The first is recognized by Admissions Committees, and many firms that provide this service are governed by the ethics of their professional organization (AIGAC, the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants - https://www.aigac.org/). Admissions directors speak with representatives from these types of companies (if you look at our blog for example, you'll see exclusive interviews with the directors of many top programs). There is nothing illicit or illegal about this kind of service.

Using essay writing services on the other hand are a breach of ethics, and if it was discovered that you did so, there would most likely be significant consequences.