About two to three months ago, I recieved a phone call from 866-467-5980 (November). It was a Tracy Clifford at x532 who was calling on behalf of Citizens Financial Group. She told me that I was approved for a loan for $5,000 but that it was a collateral loan. She told me that I would need $911.64 up front, the first six monthly payments, once they received that I would get the loan, and wouldn't have to pay anything for six months. After that, my payments would be $151.94. For 2 and a half years. Nevertheless, skeptical, I asked for more information, because at the time I didn't have that kind of money laying around. So I investigated the company name and got a well known bank Citizens Financial Group that operates in the north. I checked out their website and it was legit and I did remember filling out the form on the internet about two to three months forward.
Two weeks passed and she called back, I told her that I would need an extension to my next payday and that I would do it. She said that it would be hard, but could be done, because they work with private investors. Nevertheless, three weeks went by and about twice a week she would call and keep me updated on the loan status, she faxed over to me the contract and agreement, and kept a bi-daily basis on whether I had the money to wire them for the transaction. Once I had the money, she told me to Moneygram it to a Dianna Kemp in Thompson Manitoba Canada. They were the financial center of the company and Dianna was the individual who was handling my case and the transaction of my funds. Once complete, she told me to call back with the reference number. I did. She tells me, your funds will be in your account tomorrow. Keep in mind, there is a $14.16 transfaction fee, which Tracy told me would be refunded to me.
The next day, I receive a call from Michael Taylor at x371. He tells me, the lender wants a year payment up front because of my credit risk. This is about two weeks before Christmas. They wanted a year's worth of payment in order for me to receive the loan, already receiving $911.64, they wanted another $911.64. Afterwards, there would be no need for me to pay anything for a whole year. I remember crying on the phone to Michael, telling him that I sent them my entire paycheck expecting to get the loan today, I have a set of twin boys, Christmas was right around the corner, where was I going to get that type of money. How was I supposed to survive two weeks until my next paycheck. I cursed at him, sobbing, accused them of being a fraudulent company. Calmly, he said that he understood, and that he went to school for four years and would not waste his time working for a fraudulent company. He had been working with them for seven years and all he could mention was the good compliments that they received. He even sat on the phone with me and we tried to come up with ways to get more money, by asking family and friends, and then he suggested pawning my car title. I suggested to him a refund and he said December 28. December 28? How was I supposed to live and eat, my kids needed diapers, until then? At this moment, it was December 10.
Before making the decision, I attempted to get in contact with Tracy Clifford x532, three times, to verify with her the loan status. Each time I got her voicemail. The automated system they use, prompts you to reveal your identity before the call is connected. I even got connected to customer service. I asked the unknown agent if they were a fraudulent company and with an attitude he says, "What do you mean if we're a fraudulent company. What kind of question is that?" I told him my situation and he stated that I would have to talk to my loan advisor individually that they only assist with monthly payment options for current customers. I was transferred back to Michael Taylor left a message on his voicemail, then began searching for options to get the money.
My car is the only thing that I own. It is the only thing that I was able to keep from my mother's untimely death in the collection of her insurance money. It is the primary source for both me and my kids to get back and forth to work, to get to the library to do school, and take weekend trips as a family. Promising me, that I would get the funds the next day I pawned my car in for $1,000, it's worth $6,000 bluebook value. I sent him the money, called with the reference number and he promised me, "I promise, your money will be in your account tomorrow."
Tomorrow came, but no money. About noon, the following day, he calls me and says the lender completely backed out. "But don't worry, " he says through my sobbing cries of mercy, "it's going to be a legal matter and you will receive fund from that because of the pain and suffering they put you through. They signed the contract, it is a legal agreement." I cried! Heaven knows I cried! Because I had no vehicle, no Christmas money, and another broken promise. I had no paycheck money either. How were we supposed to eat? How was I supposed to get to and from work? My kids car seats, my workshoes, their Christmas was that car, in that car. I didn't remove the items because I expected to get my funds the next day and get my car out. I cursed him out again, cried, screamed, yelled, and calmly he said, " let me call you back I'll see what I can do." He hung up the phone and I cried myself to sleep.
About four to five hours later he called back and said, "I have an emergency lender who, out of a favor for me, can get you $10,000 but that's it. Or you can wait for your refund on the 28th." I asked him could he give me half of it from the collateral I already sent?"No, we need twice as much as collateral, so we need an additional $1800.00 to secure the loan for you. The terms are the same, you wont have to make any payments for three years and then for six you would need to pay $151 monthly. Exhausted, weary, and tired he sat with me on the phone and said, " What about the place you pawned your car?" I told him that here in West Palm Beach, FL, they do not do title pawns. That they actually keep the car and the title." I had to bum rides to work, I couldn't pick my kids up from there grandmothers house, I couldn't go to work, do Christmas shopping, let alone get a way to find more money.
I hung up the phone with him and called the pawn company. They agreed to lend me $1800 more dollars for my vehicle. Once they gave me that, I took $300, paid the light bill, just in case something happened with the loan again and sent the $1500 to the same Dianna Kemp in Manitoba Canada. I called Michael back with the reference number. He says I promise Keisha, the fund will be in your account tomorrow, there is nothing else.
But there was something else, the next day he calls me and says, in order to receive the funds I need an additional $700.00 transfer fee to transfer the funds from Canadian to American. For tax purposes. Tired, weary, hurt, confused, I told him I had nothing left. Which, I didn't. My car was gone, my paycheck was gone, everything I had left they had taken from me. I said I would give one more try to get it. I called my sister, who had been my ride to Walmart for Moneygram and to the pawn shop. She picked me up and with laptop and camcorder in hand I went to the pawn shop. Luckily, they couldn't accept it because they had too many and that was the end of the line for me.
I called Michael Taylor and told him, "Just send me my refund." "Okay, " He said, "But if you change your mind, you have up until the 28th to get the money." We hung up from there. Christmas came and went, sadly, every minute it seemed like an hour. More and more the pain and suffering deepened and got worse as I was unable to provide a Christmas to my twin boys, I couldn't even take them to see Christmas lights. I was wearing flip-flops to work and risked my boyfriend job because he had to get me to work before he could go to work.
About three days ago, to make sure that everything was going smoothly with my refund, I called. The first two times I got his voicemail and I left messages. After that, I get "Good-bye" and the phone disconnects. I then Googled the number to find an alternate number to reach them and I ended up here on Rip Off.com in which I found similar reports, which validated that I too had been ripped off. I'm not going to see that money again. I currently have no car and am unable to provide for my kids. They live with their grandmother because I can't pick them up. I can't take them to the park, I can't give them back their Christmas, I can't give their father back the security of knowing that I didn't do this on purpose and without valid evidence, making me look rather gullable and stupid.
I can't get back my self-esteem of being a good girlfriend and mother. Please, please, please, this company destroyed my life. They took all I had and walked me through taking it. Even when I cried and explained my situation, Michael laughed in my face all the while helping me to make his pockets fatter. Please, they got me. Let's not let them take from anymore people.
I'm a young 23 year old mother. Both of my parents are dead. I have no one to help me from these thieves, but God, and so help me Him, they are going to pay for this. If you know anything or anyone else please help. Private Investigators, Police Officers, current or former employees, anyone! Please help.
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