My mother (90 years old), is homebound with early dementia, congestive heart failure, severe glaucoma etc. She received an unsolicited Haband catalogue via the US Mail. She fancied some winter clothing in that catalogue and asked my wife and I to order them from Haband for her - on line via our computer/internet. She has never had a computer. My wife ordered the two items of clothing for my mother and used my mothers VISA card to pay for the items. The two items arrived in the mail - not stellar quality.
I have a full power of attorney to handle all of my mothers affairs. When I reviewed her Visa bill in September I found an auauthorized charge of $14.95 for "Haband Perks" - no explantation. On line research reveals that it appears to be a discount program that offers discounts on cruises, restaurant meals etc. Called the number shown on the Visa bill and got a "representative" obviously somewhere in India. Barely audible, even with my special phone for the deaf. Poor English language skills - couldn't understand him - moved on to his supervisor - he started to argue with me, then promised that the "membership account" would be closed and the $14.95 credited back to the Visa account. It hasn't happened yet!
Next, my mother received in the US Mail an "important notice" from "World Financial Capital Bank" about her "Haband Credit Card Account". She never requested a card, never signed a card agreement of any kind, has never received a card, doesn't need one or want one. Nothing on the notice received clearly identified an account number.
Having gone through Identity Theft recently, and also been victimized by fraudulent 3rd party billers/aggregators via my AT&T phone service - I smell a rat! World Financial Capital Bank - who in the h& are they. Well, go on line and look up Haband, World Financial Capital Bank - also Alliance Data Systems. Read between the lines.
Am sending a letter to World Financial Capital Bank with my full complaint. Am demanding a written response from them via US Mail and to my e-mail account. Since I am practically stone deaf, and abhor MUZAK waiting periods, and have a hard time with Indian dialects, I must pursue this issue in writing. Wish me luck! Note: Any Haband catalogues received in the future will be promptly shredded. P.S. Will also contact VISA and will seek to have my mothers Visa Card re-issued with a different account number.
It appears to me that White Collar Crime/Deception/Fraud is alive and well!
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