Approximately 3 weeks ago my husband noticed an unknown charge on our checking account in the amount of $149.90. Due to time constraints, we had not yet gotten the time to contact the bank about it, but had not forgotten about it either. Monday morning he notices another charge for the same amount.
We went to the bank that afternoon and was told that the ACH withdrawls were from a Star Communications. The was done by a computer check stating that authorization was approved by account holder and that no signature was required. This was unfamiliar to us both and stated as much to the bank.
So, we told the bank that we wanted to dispute both charges. The bank gave us an 800 number that came with the charges and we attempted to call the company from the bank without success. We filled out the required dispute paperwork from the bank and was directed by them to attempt contact with the company again.
The next day I attempted to contact Star Communications again and finally made it thru. I was then told that they could not talk to me because I was not the person whom authorized the membership. I said "What membership?" They refused to tell me. I asked what the company was and what services they offered. I was told that they offer unlimited international calling services. That right there told me that we were being ripped off. Neither myself or my husband make any international phone calls and would never join any such membership club for that service.
That is when I googled their company name in an attempt to gain more information on them. I found no company match. So I did a reverse search on the 800 number and was directed to Usa Consumer Complaints.com. When I saw that this place has been at this scheme in the recent and distant past, I called out banker and forwarded her the link to your website.
Today, we went back to the bank to make a stop payment on the account yo prevent them from attempting another withdrawl and my husband then tried once again to contact the company himself. When he finally got through, he was told that he did in fact authorize the account withdrawl, and refused to authorize not just a refund, but ALSO REFUSED TO CANCEL THE ACCOUNT!!! He then informed them that he was sitting in the bank at that moment and was signing a dispute against them and filing a complaint against them. That is when they finally gave him a cancellation number but still refused a refund.
Thankfully, our bank has been very helpful and co-operative with us in this matter and said we will be refunded our money after they have investigated the matter themselves. But, this happening a month before Christmas and with it a loss of over $300 dollars with overdraft charges resulting from the first withdrawl, our children are not going to have much of a Christmas this year. I hope these people have Insomnia for the rest of their lives for working for a company that preys on innocent hard working individuals like us.
Joel
Del City, Oklahoma
U.S.A.
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