This company called me and said I qualified for a "credit-builder card". They said I just needed a steady income and a bank account. They took my information and, prior to performing their "verification process", the rep said something about "catalog purchases".
I stopped him before the "process" and asked him if this was one of those cards used for catalog-type purchases and, if so, I was not interested. He said no. I could make purchases from their catalog if I wished, but that it was not limited to that. I asked if it was a regular credit card and he responded "Yes".
After the verification process, he said that I qualified for this "credit-builder card" with a limit of $2000.00 and would be eligible for a $1000.00 cash advance upon first payment toward my credit bill. Also, they required a $200.00 "security deposit", to be debitted from my bank account before I could get the card, which I ok'd.
Sound good so far? Well, the good news ends there.
First, instead of taking $200.00 from my account, they took $300.00. Then, when I called them on it, I was told I had to fax documents to their "Financial Department" in order to get the extra $100.00 refunded. I have no fax capabilities and had to go to the UPS store and had to pay to fax four documents to them. Funny. I thought all corporations, especially financial ones, used computers. One would think that, somewhere in their data banks, this information could be found instead of making me pay for THEIR mistake.
It took almost a month to finally get my $100.00 back (of course they never offered to pay me back for the faxes I HAD to send them).
But, even before I get my money back, I finally get the "Acceptance Letter" that I need to sign and return, which basically says that I accept and agree to their terms and conditions. Problem is, though, that this is for a "merchant" card, not a credit card. You know, the one I told them I WASN'T INTERESTED IN. Now I'm locked in a battle with them to get my $200.00 back. I have enlisted the help of the Better Business Bureau as they are telling me that the $200.00 is non-refundable. According to their "terms and conditions" in the Acceptance Letter, my account isn't activated until they receive the letter with my signature and that the $200.00 (which I would get back in the form of 4 $50.00 "payment vouchers" when I receive the card) would be "non-cash refundable" if I should cancel my AmeriTrust Merchant Catalog Finance Account. I didn't cancel it because I haven't even started it. But they are still fighting me on it.
They have sent rebuttals to my responses sent them via the BBB. They have lied, saying that they have tried contacting me numerous times to resolve this issue, which they haven't (my caller and call-waiting ID's can prove that) and that I can listen to the recording of my verbally agreeing to their "merchant catalog finance account", yet I leave three messages on their voicemail and they don't contact me. They even have my cell number.
So, those who haven't heard from this company, save yourself the headache. My advice: JUST SAY NO!!! For those of you who are in this boat too: I'm right there with you. My advice to you: Contact the BBB and the Florida State Attorney General. Don't let these big corporations take advantage of us little guys. Remember ENRON? Let's show 'em that we can fight back and prevail
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