Complaint / Review
Empire Advantage Program/Your Benefitz/First Capital Consumers
First Capital Consumers & Empire Advantage Program is a ripoff

I received a call from a Debbie about 8:00pm (eastern standard time) from a company (Empire Advantage) selling a master card/visa program offering 0% interest, no monthly fees, $4,800.00 credit limit and for a charge of $210.00 you would get a complete computer package and for $199.00 I believe it was a camcorder. When I told her I neded to think about it as I did not have the funds she said no problem, they would not withdraw the money until the date I said. I agreed and gave them my checking account number and routing number before I even had time to consider the consequenses. I was given a temporary pin nimber and phone number to activate the card that I was to receive 10 days after the above chosen fee was taken from my account.

The next day I woke up and realized I'd probably made a bad choice and called the number provided to me. I received a voice mail every time I called. I left numerous messages telling them not to sign me on, I wanted to cancel etc...

I never received any return calls. I later realized the number I was given was in Canada after I got my phone bill.

I thought (stupidly) if I kept the account real low for a month or so they would forget or, maybe they got my messages and this affair was over. As soon as I made a substantial deposit the money was hit!!!

I did not know what to do so I waited for the card to arrive. I tried to call the number after about 2 weeks and still no human being. About 2 months later I received a packet in the mail full of coupons but No credit card. I then received a follow-up letter stating that if I made a minimum deposit of $50.00 they would send me a master card that I could begin using. I still continued to try and call to no avail.

I then received another letter about 1 week later stating that if I was not satisfied with the program and if I expected anything different to cancel within 10 days. I was sent an email address and a PO Box mail address. I immediately emailed them with a very stern refusal and a demand for my money to be returned. I received an email response stating that they are not affiliated with the program I was sold but provided some contact info which hopefully is now leading to a resolution of this nightmare.

This complaint is part of what I have been asked to fill out in order to alert others to the dangers of phone solicitation. I hope this company is busted and prosecuted. I have really learned a big lesson.

Charles (Chuck)
Lake City, Florida