Some months ago CapitalFirst phoned me to let me know I qualified for its $2,500 MasterCard for a small fee of $29.95. The customer rep quite forcefully talked me into accepting a trial membership in the company's CapitalFirst Benefits program, annual cost of $99.95 after a 7-day free trial membership.
The trial membership would not start until I had received the company's brochure and confirming documentation.
The company did not send me the confirming documentation and I initially forgot about all of this. Then, lo and behold, on about 8/5/02 suddenly deducted from my checking account was $59.95 and $99.95.
Upon immediately calling the customer service number, I was informed that no one at customer service could not give refunds or cancel memberships, that that was handled "at corporate, " there was absolutely no phone number or name at corporate that could be given out to the public, but did say that I would receive a refund within 14 days of making written request.
So I mailed my complaint and cancellation to corporate on 8/6/02 demanded an immediate full refund. About 20 days later, having not received a refund, I called customer service again and was told this time that the company changed its refund policy to 30 days. To date (9/17/02), I have not received a refund nor has anyone at CapitalFirst acknowledged my 8/6/02 letter.
I also filed a complaint against the company with the Florida BBB — and to date I have not received acknowledgement from the BBB of the filing of my complaint or that the BBB has reported my complaint to CapitalFirst.
Perhaps a class action is in order.
Mary
St. Paul, Minnesota
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