About 3-4 weeks ago, I received a call from one Alister Lopez of Advantage America assuring me that I qualify for a grant from the government for paying my taxes. He assured me that I would receive $12,500 in grant money and that all fees would be taken from the grant such that no fees would be taken from my checking account.
Being suspicious, I gave him what a customer service representative told me was a "deposit only" account number for my account with the bank since I had been expecting a payment from a company I didn't know well enough to trust. I gave this account number to Mr. Lopez.
Later on he told me that in order to complete the transaction and to get the grant money to me, he needed to ask a few questions that would be recorded. The questions asked were to get my name, address, bank account information, and my confirmation that it was ok to take the money from my account.
I answered each of the questions until I was asked for a yes to withdraw funds from my account. At this point I said no. Mr. Lopez quickly asked me what the problem was and I explained that I didn't want any money taken from my bank account that he had just said it would come from the grant money before depositing it. He assured me that that was the case, and I just needed to answer yes and it would be taken care of.
At this point, since I believed that I had "protected" myself with a "deposit only" account number, I went ahead and said yes.
About a week later, I noticed on my bank statement a fee of $49.95 for Advantage America, and NO $12,500! I was shocked and quickly contacted the bank to find out what happened. I was informed that there is no such thing as a "deposit only" account number and that I was misinformed by the other customer service rep. I then contacted Advantage America, complaining that I had been lied to and that I wanted a refund, and they refused.
I also received a little package in the mail from Advantage America with a bunch of coupons, and a letter that told me that if I didn't call within 7 days that I would be charged $399.95 for the "Grant" information services. Unfortunately I didn't see that IMPORTANT little piece of information until 8 or 9 days had passed, but I called them anyway asking them to cancel everything and issue a refund for the $49.95. I was informed that they couldn't do that and that they had already charged me the $399.95.
I quickly called my bank, and talked to a customer service representative and told them my story. They did some research and determined that the first transaction had been hand cleared since the account number was incorrectly formated for an electronic transaction. They then told me that the only way to get the money back, since it was paid with a check, was to fill out a "affidavit of forgery" which basically charges Advantage America as though they criminally forged my signature.
At this point I may have to withdraw the "affidavit of forgery" since I actually answered "yes" to their question even though I originally answered "no" and was coerced into saying "yes". I am now working with my bank and plan to conference call Advantage America tomorrow to once again demand a refund of the $49.95 since it was taken from me by their deceptive lying practices.
If you received a call from "Advantage America", JUST HANG UP! Don't even give them a chance to rip you off! And whatever you do, don't answer "Yes" to any of their questions! They may record it and use it as the yes for removing funds from your account.
Anonymous
Salem, Oregon
U.S.A.
0 comments