I got a phone call from Anthony Francis (ID#1030) with what I thought was Oxford Financial saying that I was preapproved for a $2,000 credit card with no interest for 3 years, 4.9% interest rate after that, my payments would be 5% of the balance and because I wasn't a resident of Alaska I wouldn't have to go through the 40 day waiting period. I would receive the card in about 5 business days.
I waited the 5 days and called the number to find that I couldn't get through. I used an alternate phone to contact them and was able to get through. They told me that I had to wait 40 days. I called my bank and told them what had happened and had them send me a copy of the generated check for documentation.
I waited the 40 days and called them back on Wednesday. I was told that the card would be sent out that weekend and I should have it by the end of the next week. I called again on Friday (same week) and they told me that the 40 days was an estimate and I would get the card in a few weeks. I got the name and address of the telemarketing center (Anchorage, Alaska) and the name and address of Oxford Financial (Champlaign, New York).
I called my bank, filed a fraud complait, closed the account, and waited. I called 411 to find that this company doesn't exist so I filed a report with the BBB and FBI. I called the DA and police and was told that it was a civil issue. I called the civil department at the court house about filing a civil suit.
The bank refused to help me get the money back so I asked for the name, address, and phone number of the bank where my money was sent. All they could give me was a phone number.
August 6, '05 I am now on day 54 and running out of time (60 day limit to recover funds without filing small claims suit.) The following is the action and information that I have received to date.
The police called me back today and said my situation is a civil suit. I called my bank and asked about the fraud report I filed. Their response was that they couldn't recover the funds even after I threatened them with a lawsuit. I proceeded to call the number the fraud department gave me and with the help of the numbers located on the duplicate check I heard my own recorded voice authorizing the transaction.
I called the number located on the back of the cancelled check and was connected with Payment Resources International (a legitimate company in New Port Beach, Cal.) I politely asked the gentlemen for the name of the company, what type of financial institution they were, and the address where they were located. He gave me the requested information and then I got rude.
I asked the guy for the name of the companies legal representation, phone number, and address because I was going to sue his company. At this point, he said he needed my information. I gave him my name and started on my address when he started reading my information off to me (keep in mind I have never heard of this company).
I came unglued and told him if he had my info that obviously this company was partaking in the credit card scam and proceeded to tell him what I have gone through for the last 54 days and I was filing a civil suit.
He said that I didn't want to do that because they were expensive. My reply was that, after contacting the courts, a civil suit cost $54.50 and I can have the filing fees waived. I explained to him that it wasn't going to cost me a dime, but I was going to cost the company alooooooooot!
I proceeded to tell the very kind man that the amount of money these three companies would pay just in traveling expenses to Oregon for a lawsuit would cost them more than the $249 dollars I lost. I then told him that if the companies didn't appear in court I would get the maximum settlement the courts would allow for a civil suit which is also more than $249.
I then told him that I didn't necessarily want to go the lawsuit route if I could just recover the $249 they took. At that point, he said that he could get me my funds back into my account. He said if the account was still open they could deposit it back into my account by this next Friday otherwise they would have to send me a paper check within the next six weeks.
I called my bank on the other phone and via speakerphone the guy was able to verify that I had filed a fraud report with the bank, the account was still open; however, withdraws were being denied, and that there wasn't any freezes on money coming into the account (only going out.) He gave me his personal line and extention number and said if the money wasn't there by Friday to call him.
He said the money could only be processed once and then it would be six weeks for a paper check. He said he would be able to tell (if I hadn't received the funds) what the hold up was.
I will let you know the outcome next week.
The gentlemen who helped me listened to me cuss, rant, and rave for almost 45 minutes. He was patient with me and never once was disrespectful. I told him I apologized for yelling that I understood that he was only doing his job and he didn't cause this problem. He said no apology needed he helped another lady earlier this week recover her funds and he was cool with everything. I was smart enough to get the guys name and will retain the actual phone number on the back of the check until the funds are recovered.
I told the guy that if the funds were in my account by Friday I wouldn't file charges, but if the funds aren't there I was going to proceed with a lawsuit because Tuesday is day 60.
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