Here is a portion of the complaint that I filed yesterday with the LA Better Business Bureau:
Summary Line: Unauthorized $159.95 debit (via electronic check) against my checking account, for a debit card that I did not apply for
Complaint Description: I received my bank account statement in the mail today and discovered that Visa Liberty Card/EDebitPay LLC had submitted an electronic check against my account in the amount of $159.95. I did not authorize this transaction, furthermore I did not apply for a debit card. The application is misleading in that I believed that I was applying for a credit card, and had no idea that completing the application would allow this company to make electronic deductions from my bank account. Furthermore, I have not been sent any type of debit or credit card from this company, so I am paying for goods/services that the company never delivered on.
Resolution Sought: I want a complete and full refund of the $159.95 fee that was deducted from my bank account, and I wish to cease any further deductions by cancelling/deleting any application that they may hold in my name for a debit or credit card.
Date Problem Started: 5/30
Date of Transaction: 5/30
Amount in Dispute: $159.95
Invoice Number:
Complaint Type: Credit/Billing/Coll.
Product or Service: Credit card
If you have any questions regarding your complaint, please contact the Complaint Dept. At (909) 825-7280.
Thank you, Complaint Dept. Better Business Bureau of the Southland, Inc.
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Portion of LA Better Business Bureau Report on this company:
"DBA: EDebitPay, LLC
This company offers pre-paid debit cards for a one time activation fee of $159.00.in addition the company offers a variety of other financial services such as savings cards, buying clubs, and on line payment services. Buying Club cards claim to provide the buyer with a 10% to 50% discount on most internet or retail purchases, including travel, entertainment, medical costs, and pharmacies, and provide a variety of services such as roadside assistance service, or debit services.
We urge caution. The Better Business Bureau warns, a growing number of consumers are finding charges on their credit card statements and debits from their bank account for products or services that they never agreed to or did not agree to renew after an initial trial offer. New customers are usually solicited through mailings, phone calls, and increasingly through what is called "upselling" - encouraging a customer who is calling to buy one item to order another product. Oftentimes, consumers are sent packages detailing the product or service, however the material may appear to be junk mail and it is thrown away. As a result, people may not know they have enrolled in a club, or agreed to purchase something until they find charges on their credit-card bills.
To avoid charges pay close attention to the fine print on websites and TV screens when ordering merchandise. It may indicate that you will be enrolled in a club that offers discounts on other products. When you receive club offers through the mail, be sure to read the materials thoroughly. Some clubs offer "free trial" memberships. If you do not call to cancel the offer within a certain number of days, you will automatically be charged for membership. If ordering anything by phone, be alert! If you are made an offer you are not interested in, make sure you are very clear in refusing it.
Review your credit card and debit card statements carefully. Once someone has your account number, it is possible to charge you or debit your account even if you never agreed to purchase their services. If you find unauthorized charges on your statements, dispute them immediately, in a letter to the company that made the charge, and in writing to your credit card company or bank."
Primary Contact: Paul Cleveland
Owner Other Contacts: Paul Cleveland
Owner
Email: [email protected]
Bill Wilson
President
Email:
Debbie Fecik
Fraud/Compliance Rep
Email: [email protected]
Karla
Supervisor
Email:
Velia
Supervisor
Email:
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
Website: http://www.edebitpay.com Other Websites: http://www.edebitpay.com
http://www.edpreporting.com
Company ID: 13185947
Business Start Date: 1/1
BBB Created Record on: 2/14
Nature of Business:
This company's business is providing the sales of value and debit cards, support services.
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Bureau Membership
Join Date:
This company is not a member of the Better Business Bureau. This fact does not disparage the company in any way.
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Licensing and Bonding Information
We know of no licensing or registration requirement for companies engaged in this company's stated type of business.
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BBB Comments and Analysis
This company offers pre-paid debit cards for a one time activation fee of $159.00.in addition the company offers a variety of other financial services such as savings cards, buying clubs, and on line payment services. Buying Club cards claim to provide the buyer with a 10% to 50% discount on most internet or retail purchases, including travel, entertainment, medical costs, and pharmacies, and provide a variety of services such as roadside assistance service, or debit services.
We urge caution. The Better Business Bureau warns, a growing number of consumers are finding charges on their credit card statements and debits from their bank account for products or services that they never agreed to or did not agree to renew after an initial trial offer. New customers are usually solicited through mailings, phone calls, and increasingly through what is called "upselling" - encouraging a customer who is calling to buy one item to order another product. Oftentimes, consumers are sent packages detailing the product or service, however the material may appear to be junk mail and it is thrown away. As a result, people may not know they have enrolled in a club, or agreed to purchase something until they find charges on their credit-card bills.
To avoid charges pay close attention to the fine print on websites and TV screens when ordering merchandise. It may indicate that you will be enrolled in a club that offers discounts on other products. When you receive club offers through the mail, be sure to read the materials thoroughly. Some clubs offer "free trial" memberships. If you do not call to cancel the offer within a certain number of days, you will automatically be charged for membership. If ordering anything by phone, be alert! If you are made an offer you are not interested in, make sure you are very clear in refusing it.
Review your credit card and debit card statements carefully. Once someone has your account number, it is possible to charge you or debit your account even if you never agreed to purchase their services. If you find unauthorized charges on your statements, dispute them immediately, in a letter to the company that made the charge, and in writing to your credit card company or bank.
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Complaint Closing Statistics
The following grid displays the number and responses to complaints over the last 36 months:
No. Of Cmpl Type of Response
171 Making a full refund, as the consumer requested
10 Making a partial refund
89 Agreeing to perform according to their contract
6 Refusing to make an adjustment
16 Refuse to adjust, relying on terms of agreement
7 Unanswered
0 Unassigned
299Total
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Complaint Experience
Our complaint history for this company shows the company gave proper consideration to some complaints presented by the Bureau.
Although in some cases the company failed to respond to complaints.
We have received a significant number of complaints against this company.in at least some cases, the complaint allegations are very serious.
Most complainants allege unauthorized credit or debit card charges, along with deceptive or misleading advertising practices regarding the "stored" value debit card offer. Customers complain that website advertisments contain incomplete disclosures on the true nature of the offer. Some complainants allege they were led to believe they were applying for a credit card, not a debit card.in some cases, consumers claimed that they applied for a pay day loan or received telephone calls telemarketing various services and received charges on their bank account for a debit card. Other complainants report they have no idea how the company obtained their account number and debited their accounts or that they applied for some other card but received this company's card, but in some cases were charged more money. A few customers allege their accounts were debited monthly for $159.00 but they received nothing from the company.
The company responds to some complaints by advising complainants that refunds will not be issued due to their 3 day cancellation period only and to other complaints by stating that they will provide a courtesy refund, but require a copy of the consumer's bank statement proving they were charged. To complaints alleging fraudulent activities, or that consumers had had no prior contact with the company, a form letter was generated by the company explaining that the website's design would eliminate any misunderstandings, and in order to be eligible for a refund, the customer must download a form which must be printed and filled out by a police officer detailing the police investigation of the ip address usage.
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Government Actions
We know of no government action taken against this company.
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Advertising Review
We believe this company's advertising is deceptive or misleading.in almost all complaints for this company, consumers report they believed they were applying for a credit card, not a debit card. All advertisements should clearly disclose the true nature of the offer, as well as all costs associated with the transaction. On January 4. we advised the company of our specific concerns with selling practices currently used to market the company's debit cards and the Executive Benefits Package. We believe that modifications are in order to assure that consumers have a clear understanding of what they are agreeing to purchase.
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Other Considerations
We know of no other matter or practice relating to this company that may assist you in your consideration of this company.
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Paul Cleveland
Owner
Email: [email protected]
Bill Wilson
President
Email:
Debbie Fecik
Fraud/Compliance Rep
Email: [email protected]
Karla
Supervisor
Email:
Velia
Supervisor
Email:
Other Phone Numbers: (818) 487-0672
(866) 630-3457
(877) 278-2274
(800) 604-0784
(800) 430-0672
(877) 499-5675
(866) 883-4980
(800) 757-0717
(818) 487-0672 x141
Other Addresses:
5301 Laurel Canyon
Valley Village, CA 91607
5301 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Suite #132
Valley Village, CA 91607
5301 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Suite 214
Valley Village, CA 91607
8712 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite #923
Los Angeles, CA 90069-4507
8721 Santa Monica Blvd #923
Los Angeles, CA 90069-4507
1000 East William Street
Carson City, NV 89701
10800 Alpharetta Highway
Roswell, GA 30076
Primary Contact: Paul Cleveland
Owner Primary Phone: (818) 487-0672
Primary Fax: (818) 487-0675
Better Business Bureau Company Rating: F
We strongly question the company's reliability for reasons such as that they have failed to respond to complaints, their advertising is grossly misleading, they are not in compliance with the law's licensing or registration requirements, their complaints contain especially serious allegations, or the company's industry is known for its fraudulent business practices."
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I'd love to hear your response to all this Bridgett. Don't bother replying with "you should file a police report" and "we want to help catch any "criminals" involved in fraudulent activity". You and your company are fully aware that you are making money from fraudulent and deceptive advertising.
I would strongly recommend that anyone who has had the misfortune of dealing with this company to file a complaint with the LA Better Business Bureau, and also the California Attorney General's Office:
Attorney General Bill Lockyer
Attorney General's Office
California Department of Justice
Attn: Public Inquiry Unit
P.O. Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
Voice
1-800-952-5225
(Toll-free in CA) or
(916) 322-3360
TDY
1-800-952-5548
(Toll-free in CA) or
(916) 324-5564
FAX
(916) 323-5341
Http://ag.ca. Gov/consumers/consumer_complaint.htm
Jennifer
Quincy, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
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