Complaint Review: American Grant Information Center

On 2/7/05 I was called nine times by this company to place an unsolicited $249 order for grant information that is available free at the library. I told them to stop calling then eventually gave them my information so they would leave me alone.

Before 2/15/05 (the date my account was to be charged) I called 3 times and cancelled the order. All three times I was told that the order was cancelled and I had nothing to worry about.

2/15/05 my checking account was charged $249.

I immediately called the company and said that I wanted a refund, and was told I had to wait for the grant guide and that I must send it back when it arrived. The books weren't scheduled to leave their warehouse for at least another week.

In the middle of March when I still had not received this guide I called the company and requested a refund. I called nearly every day until mid April before they provided me with a FedEx tracking number.

The guide had been delivered to me, but was left on my porch when I was not home. When I came home the day it was delivered there was no package so I had nothing to return to get my money back.

After several more phone calls I was finally promised a refund letter that would be delivered to me no later than 4/28/05. I was to sign this letter and fax it back in order to receive a refund. The letter never came.

The letter was promised to me several more times (5/2, 5/6, 5/10, 5/15, 5/19) Nothing was ever delivered on any of these dates as promised. Every time I call I am told "wait 2 more days" and when I become upset with them over this they say "if you keep speaking to me this way I will hang up and we will keep your money."

I have the names of many (not all) of the people I spoke to and on what days. Everyone says the same things, and none of them will even give me their real name (all have heavy East Indian accents and names like John Smith, Steve Johnson, and Mark Davidson)

I have been told by my bank that at this point I am unable to have them reverse the charge because the initial charge to my account happened on 2/15/05

Jamie
Tucson, Arizona
U.S.A.