First Link Benefits ripoff Champlain New York
One sunny afternoon I get a phone call. Someone wants to offer me a credit card with a $2500 limit. How shocked was I to hear that, me with bad credit and all.
So I listened to the lady and for only $354.90 I could have this remarkable card. So I agreed. I told them I got paid once a month so they couldn't take out the money until Oct 1st. cause I hadn't alloted for that expense so close to payday.
When I got home I thought about it. I decided that it was a ripoff and I had many other bills to pay I didn't need to spend that much money on a credit card. So I did what I thought I should have done and I called and cancelled it. The man tried to talk me into keeping it many times. He even transferred me to someone to say "please keep our card." I still cancelled regardless of their efforts.
About 2 days later I drop off my rent check and check my bank acct to go to the fair, and low and behold the money was gone from my account. It's Sept 4th. The money I approved for Oct 1st, then cancelled is now out of my account. It's saturday so of course they're closed and monday was Labor Day. I called at the butt crack of dawn for me on the pacific coast so I could catch them first thing when they opened in hopes to get my money returned to me that afternoon.
The first person I talked to, Ann, tells me when the payment center opens I will talk to them, and they don't open for another hour and a half. (some luck) So, I stay up for another hour and a half, even though I worked a 12 hour shift the night before, and talk to Benjamin. Benjamin tells that my wonderful 5 bar signal on my cell phone is cutting out repeatedly. He also tries to cover up anything they've done. I explain to him, you have spent my rent money, I will be homeless when that check bounces. This is not funny, how would you like it if someone spent your rent money. He tells me you're cutting out and it takes 5 days for our payment center to verify the funds came out of your bank. I gladly explained to him I could call the bank on 3-way for him, and he informed me that they only verify funds on Fridays. (which also must be the day they take money)
Right now I'm impatiently waiting for my $354.90 back and I want to warn anyone out there not to fall into the same obvious scam I did.
Sara
Lynnwood, Washington
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Sara
lynwod,Washington,
U.S.A.
Got my money back.
#3Author of original report
Wed, October 20, 2004
For all of you out there, your bank can give you the money back, you don't have to wait for the company. I called my bank and told them I wanted to reverse the ACH transaction in accordance with some law, and told them I knew I had the right to. The bank informed me I had to sign a piece of paper saying I didn't authorize that transaction and it was taken out early and the company won't do anything for me. I reported them to the Better Business Bureau. And would you believe after all that, they never responded to my complaint. It's still left open. Soon, they won't be on the Better Business Bureau as a good company. (I'm told thats what happens when a dispute is unsolved or unanswered). All that just tells me they knew they were guilty. Be careful what you fall for. I was lucky enough to call the bank and have the money in a few minutes, you may not be as lucky.
Paul
South Bend,Indiana,
U.S.A.
I Was ripped offer by First link finicial.
#3Consumer Comment
Tue, October 19, 2004
I had the same promise as the others on this 2,500 credit card with a computer. They didn't leave a contact number. They tried to take a 354.90 out of my checking. I just want it to stop. and for them to leave me alone... and for sll the trouble they caused me.