I was contacted by Bright Builders con men last year. They were online as an entity called "Internet solutions". They were advertising as a "legitimate" company who was endorsed by E-bay. They contacted me by phone after I inquired about more information, as I, like many people, was looking for a legitimate way to break into E-bay.
Boy were they Slick! The man on the other end, was a seasoned sales professional and knew how to break down any defenses you may put up. He pointed out that Bright Builders was endoresed by the BBB in Utah. He pointed out that the Utah Travel Council had used their company to build a website for the travel and tourism devision of the Utah State Government.
Slick as grease! To make a long story short, after a lengthy talk with the representative, I was convinced. Then... The trouble began. He put me through to their "billing" (I guess) department. Who then proceeded to get my Bank on the line and "walk and talk" me through an agreement (3-way conversation)... To debit my bank account.initially, I thought they were going to take out 29.99 for getting my website domain name. Then, unbeknownst to me (I found a couple of days later) they had debited my account for over $3,000. I immediately called my bank and told them that this amount was NOT authorized.
The bank did do a "provisional credit". The friendly bank representative told me that "this kind of thing happens all the time". She advised me to call and file a "dispute". I went online and found out the best wording to put into my dispute letter. Additionally, I called Bright Builders the 3rd day (I remember this because the 1st phone call happened on my birthday no less!). I explained that after thinking about the whole situation, I wanted to back out. (Unlike other reporters here in this forum, they never apprised me of my rights as a consumer to back out in three days if I decided to... During my initial contact). I was greeted by an EXTREMELY rude and hostile man on the other end of the phone who said " We get people like you all of the time, who just don't have what it takes to succeed!". He then proceeded to tell me that I COULD'NT cancel and that I was just letting my "lower self run the show". He was rude, condescending, paternalistic all in one breath. Needless to say, I knew which side my bread was buttered on and that he was not about to help me.
So... Now... The bank got my dispute letter. Nothing happened within the first month. I thought everything would be handled by the bank in my favor. Then, lo and behold, one morning I was checking my online bank website, and damned if they hadn't come back in, and taken the more than $3,000 dollars out again! The bank had also charged me overdraft fees! Once again, I call the bank and explained my situation. They, again to their credit, were "sympathetic". They credited my account back again.
Then, I got a letter from the investigative unit of the bank on a form letter that said to "fax back a statement and a copy of the initial contract." by December 24th or they would consider the matter closed and that Bright Builders would be given my money (basically). Well, I immediately went to my local Kinkos to fax back a statement that (this was on Christmas Eve no less), there WAS NO contract. The fax number kept coming back with an error message. I went to my work, and tried to fax from there, thinking that it was somehow Kinkos fault. Still would'nt go. I asked my secretary to do it. Still no go.
Then, I went to the bank, with my proof of my trying to fax with no response.By this time the bank had taken the money out again! Right around Christmas time. Again, a very helpful bank representative, looked at the form that I had been sent, and he and another bank representative stated that it was an old form with an outdated fax number. He then called someone at headquarters and as I waited a very long time (he did too), and he explained my plight, they again credited my account back.
Now, I changed banks at this point thinking the matter closed and done with. I made sure my bank was at a zero balance and closed it the way the bank representative told me to do. (In person).
Then, later, I received a letter from the bank's investigative unit stating that there was nothing they could do for me and that I would have to take the matter up with the merchant. The bank then proceeded to let these people debit my account once again for $3,430.36!!
I then got a call from a bank representative that they were going to get their investigative unit involved and the police AGAINST ME!
I am now writing the attorney's general of both Utah and my state, my local representatives and the Federal Reserve boards to try and help get this matter solved. I believe that this has happened to a LOT of unsuspecting people.
I have never in my life seen such a scam! They never provided any services to me, there was never any written contract, there was no contact from these people to even offer any services, once they got my money. They misrepresented how much this would cost etc. Etc. Etc. Yet the bank, allowed them to go into a CLOSED account! Now the bank has the audacity to call me up and threaten me!
This has been a nightmare!!
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