Fraudulent Charges:
After researching loans online a few days ago for debt consolidation loans, I discovered this morning a $99.00 check transaction from a company called Starter Credit Direct. I said to myself "I never wrote a check in my history of writing checks for $99.00, what the hell is this, and who the hell is Starter Credit Direct?!" I looked at the check online and it clearly has my name on the check, however, it's not my check. I decided to first Google the name of the company and then visit their website... I've never been to this site which clearly states that a $99.00 fee will be deducted for joining their services and then an additional $14.00/mo until you cancel, I guess. I have no clue who this company is or what they offer. I did not "knowingly" sign-up for their services as this is not what I was researching. I used LendingTree.com and I highly doubt they would treat their customers in such a disrespectful manor by distributing my information to such a shitty company that charges their customers for supplying them with a shitty credit offer.
Long story short, I called the Check Fraud department of my bank (Bank of America) and they have refunded my $99.00 and filed a fraudulent claim against this company. My next step is to call this company (818-255-9978) and go up one side of them and down the other. I'm sure I'll end up with a Customer Service rep that can't do shit but I'm going to make it known that this type of behavior is not acceptable nor will it be tolerated by unsuspecting individuals such as myself. Not only are they stealing from people, obviously, but they're creating other havoc in people's lives by forcing them to change their bank account numbers which in turn you now have to update all your creditors. Companies like Starter Credit Direct should be forced to close their doors with "x" amount of complaints. The doors get closed on such things as public smoking in restaurants with so many complaints, same should be said for companies like Starter Credit Direct.
Starter Credit Direct, you should do yourselves a favor - close your doors and take down your website. You're doing more harm to people than you are good. And as for the site (s) that redirect information to you they, too, should be at just as much fault.
Company History
After doing a little digging on this company I have found that this company is just a subsidiary of a company called EDebitPay, LLC. Which is based out of Sherman Oaks, CA.
It appears as though this company EDebitPay, LLC. Is no stranger to lawsuits due to their deceptive business tactics which is a clear violation of Section 5 (a) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. 45 (a).
In July the FTC filed complaints with the United States District Court, Central District of California against this company, EDebitPay, LLC.in January the court ordered said company ordered monetary relief of over $2,258, 000.00 - not to mention each one of the owners, Dale Paul Cleveland and William Richard Wilson, had to pay over $667,000.00/each to taxing authorities! If they failed to pay it then they would have been ordered to pay over $23,000, 000.00/each! Apparently these knuckle heads have not learned their lesson and continue to rip consumers off with their deceptive business tactics.
If you want and need to reference this material, the FTC act has the court order documentation posted on their site which can be found here:
Http://ftc. Gov/os/caselist/0623125/index. Shtm.
If you need to contact the company, like bill collectors you should use any tactics possible, phone numbers and other info can be found here:
Http://www.whois.net/whois/startercreditdirect.com.
Your best bet is to report it to the bank as soon as possible, and then report it to the FTC - I'm sure they would be happy to collect another couple million from these asshats.
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