Complaint Review: A Divorce By Phone

Contacted "A Divorce By Phone" after seeing it advertised in the Yellow Book for fees starting at $150.  Called and spoke with Frank Sparko and he assured me how reputable they were.  When I inquired why they weren't listed in the regular Yellow Pages he replied, "Well, it's more expensive and we prefer the Yellow Book." OK. Why aren't you listed with the Asheville BBB if you're in the Asheville Yellow Book? Well, we won't pay their outrageous annual fees. So how much is the divorce?  Think he quoted me $649. 

I told him I didn't have it and started to hang up. He told me that if I could come up with $150 right away, he would "do me a favor" and go ahead and start the paperwork.  When could I come up with the balance?  In two weeks?  No I replied, I am on disability and receive my check once a month.  Well, how much more can you come up with this week?  I will try to call my mom in Tennesssee tomorrow and see if she will loan me $200, so maybe $200.  O.K.  Constantly putting me on hold.  I agreed to call him the next day and advise him whether or not I could get the $200. 

In the meantime he said he would email me my receipt, some form to sign, and a guaranty of their service.  Nothing happened.  I called the next day and he said he had emailed me the night before.  Nothing.  In the meantime I called the county court clerk and my eyes were openned!  She stated they sounded like scammers, there were alot more costs associated with a divorce and filing papers.  There were filing papers cost, serving papers, court costs, etc.  She said I had definitely been "conned" and should contact my bank immediately. 

I called Frank Sharpo back and advised I still hadn't received email. (second attempt). He said he would resubmit.  Waited. No email so I called again.  He stated this time the email had been returned, he was so sorry and would retransmit.  I told him not to worry.  Just forget it, cancel the service and refund me the $150.  I noticed the $150 had cleared my bank.  He started arguing with me and refused to refund the money.  While on the phone with him I was watching my screen and all of a sudden a $200 pending transaction for North American Group shows up on my bank statement on line. 

He refused to refund my money.  I never signed or even opened their attachment.  I called my bank to stop the $200 and was advised to cancel my VISA card immediately and allow the $200 to go through cause it would be reimbursed once I signed a notarized statement and brought in a statement of what happened.  I took everything to the bank the next day to include all the irate emails from North American Group and denying my refund.  My bank called them and asked them if they would voluntarily refund the money.  No. The clerk said whoever she spoke to was very rude. 

My mother called and they had her in tears as the $200 they took was from her social security check and now she can't pay her rent.  She told them she had to have the money.  (We have joint account due to her health and age.)  She told them that if we didn't get the money back she would be evicted.  Lenny Johnson told her to move then.  I called the number listed for North American Group in Nevado and the lady that answered told me she was in Wyoming. (I got this number from the BBB Las Vegas report which rated them F.) 

Then the rude Lenny Johnson get's on the phone and tells me I am not getting my $350 no matter what.  I told him I filed a complaint with the BBB and the Federal Trade Commmission.  He told me he didn't care-file one with Obama-he wouldn't be able to get my money back either.  My bank said they can do nothing.  So that's where things stand right now.  I don't know what will happen but I'm still not divorced.