I received a phone call offering me a credit card. They represented themselves as a "second chance" credit card company. They talked about 2 different plans that they had and of course I signed up for one. I authorized $219 to be withdrawn from my checking account, which they did on 4/26/02. On this date, 5/14/02, I had yet to receive the cards.
I called the customer service department which in itself is a joke because they want you to leave a message and they will call back, claiming that all Cust. Serv. Reps. Are busy. I just pressed redial for about 20 minutes until I finally got through to a live person. When I did, I explained that I had contacted them a few times and had received many different explanations of their credit card plans.
As they rep talked, I began to see that I had been had. I began to ask specific questions about the company's practices and policies and they rep was stumped. Also, she kept referring to the fact that I should be receiving my package from them soon. I had been led to believe that what I was going to be receiving from them were actual credit cards which I why I decided to ask what exactly this package contained.
It was then, finally after numerous phone contacts, that I was informed that the package contained an activation application, along with an application for a credit card through Citibank. I couldn't believe it. I had just paid $219 for a credit card application that I get in the mail for free each week.
At this point I asked for my money back. I was informed that in order to do this, they would have to review a recorded conversation that I had with the verification department to see if indeed I had been misled. If at this point they deemed that I had, they would begin to process a refund. But here is the real kicker, to begin to process the refund they require that I send a written request for my money back, stating why I felt I wanted the refund, along with a copy of my bank statement! I asked why this was necessary because they already had a record that they did receive my money and was told that it was policy.
Being that I am not going to send them the bank statment, I can pretty much kiss my money goodbye. I have already filed fraud charges with the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission (which were very familiar with the company), the Canandian Police Fraud Department in Kitchener, Ontario (also very familiar with the company), my local police fraud department, and will be filing with the Attorney General's Office first thing in the morning.
I would also like to add that the Canadian Police Department suggested that I contact my bank and close the account that the money was drawn from because there have been cases already with this company where unauthorized charges began to appear on a customer's account, but under a different company name. They suspect that it is still First Consumer, but they are investigating at this time to find a solid connection.
Jennifer
buffalo, New York
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