Thanks to Clark Howard's web-site I found this one. I too, like everyone else got ripped off by 1st Link Benefits. I had applied for a $5000.00 credit card to get a free computer. I did not qualify, so I forgot about it. I consider myself a reasonably intelligent person, so when they called saying I did not qualify for the 5000.00 MasterCard, but I did qualify for a 2500.00 one. I am a business owner in the process of possibly opening another, so this credit card would be perfect. I asked all the questions I thought were correct. They answered them the way I wanted them too. They sounded legit. When I was transferred to the confirmation operator, he went through it so fast and spoke Hindi or something, so I told him to wait he was talking to fast and I did not understand him. He then told me he would be glad to explain. He did, again it sounded legit, and I would be getting all these free things with the package, for the so called 354.90 processing fee. I agreed and the first guy told me I would get it in about a week, and with my CARD I would be getting a signature form that I only had to sign and send back so they would have it for their recoprds.
The other one told me a week or two. After 2 1/2 weeks I called to find out the status on the card. The woman told me after being on hold listening to Dust In The Wind 3 times, that it had not been shipped yet. I told her what the others said for time, and she told me that ALL the operators tell the people 14-21 business days, quite obviously not all of them do. I got my phony package, I called they said they had me on tape, no refund allowed. I told them I wanted to listen to the tape, they said fine we will call back after they get the tape. No call, I called back, and the woman said they listen to tapes between 3-4 EST. I was to call back. I did, another girl hesitated, put me on hold and told me someone would call me in 15 mins. Sharp to listen to my tape. 48 hours went by still no call. I called them back, and the man pulled the tape up and I listened. If I listened real carefully, and knew what I was listening for after they told me then I barely heard him say stored mastercard, however, after that I heard myself on the tape saying no wait you are talking to fast I don't understand, and he said I would be glad to explain. He did, but that was not on the tape. The next thing was my confirmation. The man who played the tape said he plainly heard stored mastercard, I asked if he clearly understood me say I did not understand. He said yes, but you should have told him to explain it nthen, not later, I told him he did, but since it was not on tape what could I do but argue. He put in a request, suppossedly for a refund.
I called and they said to call back on Monday, it took 48 hours. I did and I got a woman again she pulled up my file and said that it was declined. She claims she too heard my tape, and he said "stored" card, I asked if she heard me say I did not understand? She did not answer, only to tell me that I should have insisted on talking to someone I could understand. Even If I did that, would they have been honest with me? Doubtful! I told her he must have turned the tape off during the 2nd explaination, she said that was impossible to be done. She then said no refund, have a good day and hung up.
Fortunately my husband listens to Clark Howard on the radio and told me of his web-site where I found out about this site. Reading everyone's story was like reliving the nightmare all over again. I called my bank this morning and the Federal Regulation E is being faxed to me. I did not anticipate problems with them, but now I was told they will try to process it, if she can't do it for me then I will go over her head, I am friends with owners of the bank. Sometimes it helps to live in a small town.inorder to keep this shorter I did leave out all the times I called and listened to Dust In The Wind over and over again until I was cut off. I used to love that song! Anyway thank you for all the help and information posted on your web-site. I will keep you posted as to the out come. Don't anyone give up on this fraudulant company. They all deserve to rot in *#@ for the immoral and illegal activities they took part in to scam hard working, honest people right before Christmas.
Laura
Neshkoro, Wisconsin
U.S.A.
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