On January 6th, I received a call from a telemarketer saying they were from a company called CPI, out of Las Vegas. They said they wanted to send me a packet containing $200 worth of gas coupons, of which I could use at the gas station of my choice. I was told that all I would owe was a one time charge of $1.95, and within 10 business days, I would receive my packet for review. I was told if I didn't like the products they were offering, I would have 7 days to cancel and I would be refunded my $1.95. So, it was a "no risk" proposition for me, so they said.
A few days passed, and they took the $1.95 out of my bank account. I told them I'd rather give them a credit card number, but they said they only accepted checking account information. This should have been a red flag to me, I suppose. Exactly, 3 weeks passed, and I had not received a packet, nor any information from this company. Then, I check my online banking statement to find an unauthorized debit of $139.90 taken from my account by UTalkUnlimited. I was never told there would be any additional monies I would owe, so imagine my surprise to see this money taken from my account without notice!
I called the company and got nowhere, of course. They apologized profusely. They said they would cancel my membership, a membership I never signed up for. I was told within 14 business days I would receive a refund check. I won't hold my breath waiting.
By the way, the "packet" was nothing more than a 2 page letter that arrived today, Feb. 3, after the unauthorized $139.90 was taken from my account on Jan. 30. What did the envelope contain? Gas coupons? No. It had a rebate form for a gas refund of $5! It said as long as I remain a mamber, I could receive a $5 rebate EVERY TWO WEEKS, IF I sent them my gasoline receipt, and a self addressed stamped envelope each time. There was a separate notice stating that I had 7 days from now to cancel before the "membership fee" was taken from my account. Yet another lie.
If you have been suckered in by this company, please change your bank account information before they rob you of YOUR money, and they will! It isn't enough to put a stop on the check number you gave them, with me they used a made up number of 101. I have reported this company to the FTC, and will be reporting them to any other government agency that covers fraud.
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