I arrived at my boyfriend's house to find him talking to a nice young man who approached my boyfriend outside the house. Young man started chatting, petted the dog, said he lives in the neighborhood, few streets over, blah, blah, blah. Then, after confidence gained, says he is trying to sell enough magazines to take trip to London to perform with his school theater group and John Cleese... Just 3 more people to buy 2 magazines each and he is done.
Said can buy one magazine to be sent to the troops overseas... His dad helped him come up with that selling stategy for people who don't want a magazine but want to support local students. Oh, yea, group will be televised on local PBS station, performing Fawlty Towers, even gave the date of airing.
We were on our way out the door and my boyfriend couldn't find his checkbook so I wrote a $96.00 check and left the pay to blank, as I wasn't involved to the conversation and thought the young man was on the up-and-up and would fill the (legitimate) company in for me.
It looked like a scam to me and quickly looking over the receipt it said can be cancelled within 3 business days. Also, my boyfriend's name and address were not filled in. We saw the young man on our way down the street and stopped him to tell him he didn't get the right info... He said he thought the info on the check was correct... He let us fill in the correct name/address. I didn't bother to ask him about the check being filled in correctly. I thought it was a scam then and should have asked for the check back but we were in a hurry.
When we got home, we did an internet search on Integrity Program and also looked at the web site, www.integritypgm.com, which clearly states the following:
... Cash award is noncompetitive. Each participant with proper amount of points receives cash award in accordance with company policy and in addition to regular compensation. This company does not sponsor any scholarships, tuition fees, or participate in any educational programs in affilliation with any school or institution. Participant is not permitted to state or imply such. These people are self employed clearing orders through Integrity Program 2620 S Maryland Pkwy #953 Las Vegas, NV 89109...
I have put a stop payment on the check at a cost of $15. Have filled out the Notice of Cancellation on the back of the tickets and sent them in with a letter...
To Whom It May Concern:
Please be aware that I have placed a stop payment on my check number 1240 which I wrote in the amount of $96.00. Your representative, David Whittington, was to fill in the payee field. If the stop payment is averted (by your representative or anyone) and the check is paid, I will be filing charges with the District Attorney of Harris County, Texas for fraud and any other charges deemed necessary.
Your representative, David Whittington, presented himself as an area theater student who lived a few streets over and was trying to win a trip to London to perform with John Cleese. Among other things, he also mentioned that his fellow students would be seen on an upcoming PBS special. His tactics go against your stated policies on the web site www.integritypgm.com.
I have since done some research and found your company to be generally fraudulent. I am requesting that your company refund the $15.00 stop payment fee I have been charged by my bank.
I am requesting by way of this cancellation notice that your company never use, sell, distribute, give or in any way transmit my or (boyfriend's name deleted) name, address, phone or any other personal information to any other company, whether used for marketing, mailing lists or any other reason.
I await your refunding my $15.00.
Thank you,
(my name deleted)
So hoping the stop payment works. Know I'll never see a refund of the $15. Glad my boyfriend is an old softie and very kind and wants to help the local kids but I won't be handing over a check to an unknown person again without asking the questions myself!
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