I had not heard of Value Benefits of America until they began charging my credit card. When I contacted them, using the number on my credit card statement, I was routed in circles on the phone several times, disconnected and routed in circles several times before getting an answer. The operator told me that I had accepted those charges via a telemarketing call to my home telephone number. When I told her I did not have a home telephone, she became beligerent. She told me she could not help me if I did not either give her my telephone number or my crdit card number. When I repeated that I do not have a home telephone number, never received a call from a telemarketer and was not giving anyone my credit card number particularly in this situation. She hung up.
I called back spoke to someone named Chris, had a similar conversation but she had different questions. She unlike the 1st operator, asked for my name and advised that she had no record of an account in that name. She asked for an address and credit card number to look up an account. My sense is that they did not have any information but my credit card number and I was not about to legitimize the charges by giving them additional information. She then advised that I send something in writing. When I asked for an address, she told me they were in Phoenix, Arizona and I did not need anything but a fax number which she provided. I asked for a web address which she provided. The web address has no contact information for the company.
Chris told me that perhaps I ordered insurance or something like that on-line which I did not do so she had no explanation for how my account was charged.
My credit card was charged V Ben Amer and I was charged 25.00 on 6/30 and another 24.95 on 7/1.
I know for a fact that I did not authorize this company to charge my account, did not respond affirmatively to any pop-ups on the internet, did not get contacted by a telemarketer, did not receive any advertisement or membership information in the mail from this company. I don't think the company knew my name or address or e-mail and have no idea how they came upon my credit card number. This has to be stopped immediately.
The charge card companies must be held accountable to ensure charges are authorized, companies are legit and consumers are protected from predatory companies. It violates common sense that a legitimate businesses would resort to trickery, fraud and deception to market their services. I have read the tactics used by this company in other complaints and the company cannot possibly be legit. I also read on better business bureau that companies similar to this one have been banned by Attorneys General in many states.
I would appreciate any information on action taken against this company to prevent this practice from continuing and consumers being ripped off.
0 comments