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Consumer First Getting Wise to Fishy Credit Rip-Offs! Tampa Florida
I, like so many others, have received the certificate. "Congratulations, you are guaranteed approval for a consumer first platinum card..." I'm a college sophomore with a respectable but very low-paying waitressing job.
After several ventures have ripped apart my credit worthiness, I needed some way to make a decent living while rebuilding my credit. I expended nearly all of my hard earned funds situating myself in an apartment on campus where I struggle to meet the rent every month.
So of course it seemed like a blessing when, after weeks of trying to get collectors off my back, I received this certificate in the mail. Reading carefully, I discovered that it could only be used for purchases from the credit provider.
So I thought, "Ok, maybe I can't pay my bills with it, but I can buy some of the things I really need (i.e. bedclothes for the new apartment, equipment such as a tv, radio, and maybe a computer to replace the one I had to sell just to pay first month's rent). Getting excited, I decided to go online and look up the company to find its website. I wanted to browse the company's catalog to see if any of the things I was planning on getting were sold by the company. But the MSN search yielded something totally unexpected.
This website came up, with all of the testimonials of individuals who had been ripped-off by this company. Upon reading, I was horrified! THese people were just like me. Credit problems beyond relief, needing a way out of debt while still being able to live every day life. I'm glad I happened upon this website. I'm so sorry for the people it happened to, but I'm glad it wasn't me.
With the job I have versus the rent and debts to be paid, I just can't afford to waist or loose ANY money, even $49 (which I was planning to send for RUSH delivery and processing). I'm still struggling, and my debts AND the things I need for my apartment and school will just have to wait. But at least I haven't lost anything.
There are better ways to rebuild credit, even if you have to start from the very bottom. Don't let the severity of your financial situations overtake your ability to reason and think logically. You may take longer to get to where you want and need to be, but would you really want to risk deeper debt to get there?
Ina
Columbus, Georgia
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Ina
Columbus,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Don't Fall Prey to Consumer First-Like Scams: Suggestions for the Wise
#2Author of original report
Wed, February 05, 2003
I realize that some companies out there really ARE legit. But in order to ensure that your company does not end up on websites such as these, take the necessary steps to put safe insurance on your company.
* Report to the BBB (Better Business Bureau) in your city. Get a license and all other proper documentation for your new company. Also, it isn't a totally bad idea to get get good legal counseling, just in case. If you don't want to go through these steps, then you as a company better be prepared to back up whatever you're promising. In some cases, this works out fine. Just be sure to at lease have legally notorized contracts between yourself and your customers. Don't promise what you don't have, can't get, and can't provide. The companies who do so may not get caught right away, but it does catch up to them, and can result in more reprecussions than you're able to handle.
For consumers who want to be wise, ALWAYS check out offers like these. Legit companies will have all the necessary contact information (contact person or department's name, phone numbers, websites, email addresses etc.) Those who don't have something to hide. They don't WANT you to be able to contact them. Always check with the BBB in the area of companies you are investigating. They may not have them on file, which tells you something, or they may have them on file as "Companies in Question" or "Unauthorized Business." If you can't find any information at all, LEAVE THEM ALONE!!! It's not worth it to looze money and arouse false hopes. It only contributes to the severity of your situation and the desparation of your demeanor.