Back in July of I was mailed an "Acceptance Certificate" stating, "You are guaranteed approval for a First National Credit Gold Card with a credit line of $15,000. This is not a "Maybe". We have already reserved a card in your name."
Approved For: Pre-Approved Gold Card
Line of Credit: $15,000
Interest Rate: 0% Interest 1st 12 months
I am quoting them verbatum, because I still have a copy of the certificate.
The certificate went on to say that all I needed to do was sign and mail the gauaranteed acceptance certificate (GAC) with a "one time only" $37.00 membership fee. They would send me the card and further details of membership.
At the time I was starting a new business and thought this was a stoke of luck. A decent credit limit, 0% for 12 months and a "30-day money back guarantee for membership fee" if I was not satisfied for "whatever reason". I felt I had nothing to loose!
I either missed the line or didn't read/comprehend it, that said, "you may use your gold card immeadiatley upon receipt for all PURCHASES FROM CREDIT PROVIDER." Those last four words should have given it away!
Anyway, On July 10th of I sent the $37.00. I did receive a "Gold" card and I did get a $15,000 credit limit. The only problem was, it was not a Bank Credit Card! It was a store/catalogue card.
So on August 6th of 2002 (still within my 30 day guarantee) I returned the card and the entire "membership" package to the company (First National Credit). That cost me $6.03 because I sent it certified/return receipt first class mail vis the USPS.
As of September 5th of I still had not received my refund. After searching the phone companies information desk and the '800' directory, I found a phone number (949-448-8822) for them in the on-line yellow pages. At 12:56 am EST, I spoke with an Eric (unfortunately I did not get a last name) at the company office. He ackowledged receipt of my package on the 12th of August and said it would take 6-8 weeks for a refund.
As time went on I had shuffled my copy of the GAC around a few times and kept telling myself I needed to follow up with this. Then I was e-mailed the same type of ad on on a number of occasions but there was no address or phone number. Their domain url (2002Express GoldCard.com) comes up as a blank page. I pulled out my GAC and proceeded to call them when I found that the phone number I have no longer works and there is no listing for the company.
I have not given up yet!
Buyer BEWARE!!! Read all the print, fine and large, a couple of times. If it seems too good to be true, it usually is!
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