My wife also got scammed by Freedom Gold. She got the call offering free gas coupons and airline vouchers because we have good credit. The telemarketer had our bank name address, routing number and what my wife thought was the account number, which he rattled off to my wife. She did not know the account info so got a check and verified what our info was (yes she knows now how dumb that was). He said the conversation needed to be recorded and proceeded to talk as though the phone call just began, said was was being offered, had her repeat the account info, and at some point my wife decided she did not want to get the package and the telemarketer basically said it was too late and she had to wait for the package to decline it. I know down the line the topic went from free stuff to something like $19.95 but he rattled off everything so fast that she was not sure what was said.
The package never came and two weeks later a charge for $149 was on the account. I called our bank (USAA) and they said if we filed a police report and faxed it to them that they would do a reverse transaction. I also contacted the FBI locally by phone and online, The Florida Attorney General's office, Florida Better Business Bureau, and my local police department. I contacted Freedom Gold as well and they gave a big run-around about sending written cancellation for a refund. They also played back the recording of my wife's conversation but denied that not all of the conversation is recorded. When the police were at my house for the report, they even called Freedom Gold and got the run-around.
The Florida Attorney General's office contacted Freedom Gold about the complaint, which Freedom Gold responded back to with a cheesy statement and a check for $149 back to us. I also got a letter from an Attorney General investigator who I will be calling soon because getting my money back is not enough. They need to be stopped and people like you and I need to make a big stink to every agency we can until it becomes big enough of a problem that the government has to act.
Here is the letter sent from Guardian Marketing Services' (Freedom Gold) legal counsel Donald L. Booth:
"Guardian Marketing Services Corp. Is a telemarking service company doing, among other things, customer ervice for companies in the telemarketing industry. This is the case with Ms. *. As a part of our customer service policy, this office handles customer service complaints that reach the level of a written complaint to a third party.
At your request, a review of the * account occurred. While a review of the account, records of conversation with customer service representatives and the digital verification record, seems to support the sale; we've requested a refund from Freedom Gold. Enclosed in Ms. *'s copy of this letter is a reimbursement check in the amount of $149.00 per her request.
Ms. *'s telephone number, obtained from her complaint, is on the company's Do Not Call list by visiting www.donotcall. Gov.
Unless Guardian Services Corp. Hears further on this matter, it will be considered resolved. Should you require anything further, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned."
What a bunch of bull. If these people scammed you, contact the following agencies:
-FBI: www.ic3. Gov to file an online report and contact your local FBI office as well
-Florida Attorney General's office: to file an online complaint go to http://myfloridalegal.com/contact. Nsf/contact
-Florida Better Business Bureau: http://www.bbbwestflorida.org to file a complaint and see the many complaints already on file
-US Post Office: If you did get the package from them, you might be able to file a complaint through them also at www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/MailFraudComplaint.htm
-Florida Dept. Of Consumer Services:
http://www.800helpfla.com/
-Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Agency:
www.hillsboroughcounty.org
Kevin
Colorado Springs, Colorado
U.S.A
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