I got off work one Tuesday evening and got a call from Capital First that I had been pre-approved for a $2500.00 credit card and would I like to establish my credit, as I have been denied credit cards. I asked they how they knew that type of information which was confidential, and they said they had their "way" of finding out. That should have given me a signal that there was something "fishy" here... But no, I went ahead thinking this was true.
They said they'd record our conversation and asked all type of questions and got to the part about my account and how much they'd debit only after I had read their documentation and approved it within seven days. Three weeks later I was checking my account with my bank and noticed that $99.95 had been removed from my account. I was flabbergasted and asked my bank where that money went to. They checked and gave me a telephone number.
On ringing the place that had my 'hard earned' $99.95 I discovered it was Capital First. I screamed at them, because they had not even sent in the material I was supposed to have gone over within the "7 days" of receiving the material. The imbecile customer service representative had the audacity to tell me that they had already mailed out that "pakage" a long time ago according to their records. It arrived a month later. When I received it, it looked genuine and I felt a bit better that perhaps these were "ok" and went ahead filling in the paper work and sending it in.
Two days later, someone from Capital First called and said now that I had sent in these forms a fee of $59.95 was needed and an added $19.95 (to hasten the card) was supposed to be paid. They said the card would take 7-10 business days. I waited from May and this is now August. On Monday 8/12 I received what looked like an "AdvantageCapital "credit card" with the Mastercard Logo, and a letter which said "pay-as-you-go"!! I had no idea what all this was and decided to call the customer service number at the back of the card which read 1-866-416-0668.
When I got through to them, they had no idea what I was talking about and that I was not in their system and would thus not be able to discuss anything with them. They hang up. It only dawned on me that I was duped, and decided to call Capital First and asked what the "hell" was going on!!! They apologized and said that the customer service number at the back of the card was incorrect! What??? I couldn't believe it. I then requested them to cancel my account and demand for a refund. The pay-as-you-go they said was a service just like a bank "debit card", where I'd send money to Capital First, and in turn they'd sent out the money to my creditors. That they said would help me build my credit as it would seem like it is a credit card, whereas it is only a service being provided with also a $4.95 monthly ledger fee! What a scam! I continued to harrass them.
They rudely said that I had had enough time to review all the material that was sent to me and thus I was not entitled to a refund! I told them in no uncertain terms that I wanted that account closed and that I was to hear no more from them, and could I please have a letter stating that I had closed that account. They declined saying they did not do that! Duh! I continued calling them to verify that they had closed that account and only got hang up each time my SSN was asked for. I have miserably failed to get through to anyone after that because they know that I am onto them.
In closing, I hope that this will help someone out there who may fall victim to Capital First.
Caroline
Westlake, Ohio
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