I received a call from First National Health Care Benefits a few weeks ago, saying that I was eligible for a grant and that they wanted to send me a package detailing that grant and a few other benefits that were completely optional. They charged me $24.95 to enroll with them and they would send me a letter.
The letter came and it said that they would send me a package within 3-4 weeks with all the grant and health care information. I would have an opportunity to preview it and then respond to them to let them know that I was not interested so that they would not charge me $299.95. I authorized the company to take the first amount from my account, with the understanding that I would have the option later to have the second amount withdrawn.
I never received a package from this company.instead, I received a rude surprise from my bank in the form of the history on my internet banking, saying that I was so much in the hole and that this company had withdrawn $299.95 from my bank account.
The worst thing is that they have my voice on tape giving the authorization to take money from my account, along with my account number and other personal information that was supposed to be secure. I asked them a lot of questions prior to the transaction, including, "What guarantee do I have that this is not a scam?" To which the lady on the phone said that I could check with the Better Business Bureau; that their information would be there.
I did not check with the BBB because I knew that companies who could give that credential could be taken at their word. After all, what company wants to tell a potential customer to check them out if they have a bad rating?
I am a teacher. I do not make that much money. And I was trying to get a grant to continue to pursue my master's degree, and knowing that I was robbed of that to a degree is such a violation to me. Please, get it to stop!
Stephanie
Jackson, Tennessee
U.S.A.
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