In the middle of March of I received a call from a pleasant-sounding gentleman who told me I was selected to receive an unsecured MasterCard for the purpose of helping me rebuild my credit. The limit on the card was supposed to be $5000. He went on to tell me that there would be 0% interest charged at the beginning, but it would go up after a period of time, but it would never go higher than 12%.
He told me that since this was for the purpose of rebuilding my credit, I would have to pay a one-time fee of $299. He also said things about air travel miles, a Walmart gift card, etc., which would be included in the "welcome package" I would be receiving with my new unsecured MasterCard in it, in about 30 days. I told him I did not have $299. He wanted my bank information and withdrawal date anyway. I gave it to him. I know I was a sucker. Not anymore.
After he was finished with his spiel, which included his admonishing me to use my new "unsecured credit card (with a $5000 limit)" responsibly, he asked if I wanted to name someone else to receive a second card, like my husband. I told him I didn't want my husband to have one. He laughed and said that was okay. He asked me what I would be using the $5000 for. I told him I would use it to help pay for college. He said that was a wonderful thing to use it for. It just makes me sick to think how this man deceived me.
He told me that a representative would be calling me back to confirm, gave me their "customer service" number and physical address, and we hung up. After about ten minutes, the other representative called, and we confirmed everything. Both people I talked to claimed this was an UNSECURED CREDIT CARD from MasterCard with a CREDIT limit of $5000, and that they were affiliated with MasterCard.
The withdrawal date (March 28) came and went, they took my $299, and I waited. After 30 days went by, without a sign of my "unsecured credit card (with a $5000 limit), " I called the customer service number. It took the "representative" about 45 minutes to answer the phone. I listened to Sting's "Fields of Gold" for 45 minutes straight, while a recorded voice told me, every 5 seconds or so, that my call WAS important to them, and to "please hold for the next available agent."
Finally, the "agent" answered, and I told her that I had been on hold for at least half an hour, and she laughed and said, "Well, that's customer service for you."
I told her that I had paid $299 for a credit card from their company, and that my it hadn't come yet, and she said, "Yes, we usually send them out within 15 to 30 business days from the date of withdrawal."
Nowhere in there did she tell me that it was not a credit card I would be getting, but an application for a "stored value MasterCard." I told her I would call back on the 28th of April if it was not here by then.
It came on April 27th.in the package, was a letter, an APPLICATION for a stored value MasterCard that could have up to $2500 loaded on to it (NOT a credit card), and a brochure about a Cancun vacation, a book of coupons, an advertisement for internet access, and a book of "helpful credit repair hints." This was not what I was led to believe I was getting. Also missing from the package, was the Walmart gift card the man had said would be included.
I called "customer service" back and waited AN HOUR AND A HALF this time - after being hung up on once, and calling back, only to be put on hold AGAIN. When the "agent" finally answered, I told him I was angry, I told him what the man had said, and I told him that I wanted my money back.
The guy told me "nobody gets a $5000 credit card right off the bat, " and I would have to "send my request, in writing, to the Champlain office." He also told me that Majestic Benefits was not MasterCard, they were not a credit card company at all. (That was not what the man had said that I had first spoken to.)
He said to write to the Champlain office, tell them how mad I am, tell them why I want to cancel, and they would "review it and get back to me." I told him that wasn't good enough and to credit my account for the $299. He said he couldn't do that. I told him to connect me with someone who COULD.
When I told him I wanted to speak to a supervisor or a manager, he said he WAS one, and repeated that I had to write to the company. He said again that I had to put it in writing to the Champlain address. I told him I had spoken to an attorney, and I WOULD get my money back, or I would sue. I am sure he was laughing at me as we hung up.
If anyone wants to sue Majestic Benefits, PLEASE get a hold of me. I will gladly help put this fraudulent company out of business.
Veronica
Fort Hood, Texas
U.S.A.
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