Complaint Review: americanstandardonline.com

As part of my assistance to a low-income family member in her move from AZ to N.C., I paid for a rent-to-own program in N.C. she found onone - Americanstandardonline.com.  She had talked to their agent, Jessica, and told Jessica I would call her with my card # for the $199 payment.  She and I understood it to be a 3 month program to find and have their assistance in renting to own.  We both understood the time period covered.  Neither of us heard or understodd that "No refund would be given" (no matter WHAT the circumstances) until the end of that time period.  I called Jessica's #, left a message, & some time later she returned the call & I gave her my card info.  I had just received a new debit card & had not used it at all when I gave her the #.  I verified with her that theirs was a 3 month program, she said she would send a link to rent-to-own information.  When it came through, I noticed the link was to a different company name -Rent-Before-You-Own.com, and that on the link, 7 days of FREE access to rent-to-own homes were advertised.  I was not especially concerned as I had paid for a 3 month program. The charge cleared the bank the next day under a strange business name - "MDSQ" - but with the $199 amount & the fact I had not used that card for any other purchase, I knew that's what it was for.  However, shortly after that my family member determined that she wold not be moving to N.C. in the near future after all. I pulled up the bank statement (which was accompanied by a phone #) to call and get a refund.  The phone # proved to be disconnected  I emailed the site, requesting a refund as the move was not going to take place.

No response came, but more concerning, although STILL not having given my new debit card information to anyone else, suddenly my bank tatement shoed several charges to prisoner organizations - 2 charges of $52.88 and $53.03 by Access Inmate (a company that ships pkgs to prisoners);, and 2 charges of $10 and $62.33 by IC Solutions - a company that allows prisoners to have prepaid phone calls to specific numbers.  With no-one else having access to my card, it could only have been "Jessica" or someone from her company that used the card for these charges.  I called both compani8es.  Access Inmate ased if I knew a "Julian" in a California prison, and I assured them I did not.  They were able to stop the 2 pkgs & give an immediate refund.  IC solutions told me the $10 charge had been used, but the $62.33 was "still on the prisoner's account, that they would dissallow the # and give a refund for that amount."  They said I should meanwhile dispute the $10, which I did through my credit union.  I then attempted to reach someone in acctg at americanstandardonline.com, and after about a 45 minute wait, reached "Nancy," who advised me NO REFUNDS were given until after 3 months.  I was awe-truck!  "Even when the person is no longer moving and needing the service?"  I asked.  After considerable argumenton the unfirness of their policy, she finally agreed they would refund $179.10 - with the remainder being a fee the company would keep - but It could take "up to a month" for the refund - although it usually didn't ake that long!" It wasn't until I hung up, thoroughly disgusted, that I realized I ha not addressed the charges to the prison businesses that HAD to have been done by her agent or company.

I sent them at least 2 or 3 e-mails charging them with scamming and being ripoff artists, and also faxed the California Attorney General.  Two days less than a month afterwards, they refunded me - NOT the promised $179.10, but only $150!  I e-mailed asking about the rest with no response.  THESE PEOPLE ARE SCAMMERS, LIARS, AND RIP-OFF ARTISTS & NEED TO BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS.  i still have not heard from the CA Attorney General.