I am writing this as I try to recover from the stupidity of answering a phone solicitation. Capital First called me and promised a $2500.00 MasterCard at 0% interest. I asked if the card was a secure card, if the interest was a teaser rate, and if I could transfer balances. The hispanic woman was evasive and I asked if there was someone with a better command of the language.
I figured that I could get the information for the $29.95 process fee and cancel if the promises were not there. The pay-as-you-go feature is not a secured card by deposit, it is secured by the balance in your bank account. I read the information as soon as it arrived and determined that this program was not as advertised and called the 800 number immediately to cancel. I inquired about a refund of the process fee and was told that this was actually a shipping and handling fee that was not refundable.
I wrote to the corporate address and requested a refund within 10 days. After the 10 day period had expired with no contact (surprise), I called again, wrote a second letter to request a refund and visited my bank to get the transaction cancelled. I was dumbfounded to discover that Capital First had charged my account a $59.95 process fee and a $99.95 membership fee after I had called to cancel my account.
My bank comforted me by explaining that they were aware of Capital First and that with the proper forms filled out I could and would receive a complete refund of all charges. The bank warned to be on the look-out for additional charges from Capital First since they had my account information. I have learned a lesson from all of this. Don't give up when confronted by the continuous run-around of Capital First.
Your bank can return the charges if you get on the transactions right away. Capital First is a major player in the fraudulent credit card industry. Am I stupid for feeling sorry for the "customer service" people who might well go to jail for their actions? Or should I take pity on these people because they could not possibly work there and not know that they are working for a crooked organization and will get what they deserve?
Pete
Leesburg, Virginia
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