Complaint Review: GSI Grant Services

A representative of GSI who called herself Tiffany Edwards (with a REALLY thick accent) called me at my office on 11/04/05. As I had just changed my office phone from the number I'd used for years, that fact along with the personal information she had made her pitch seem legitimate. That and I was still woozy from a traffic accident two days before.

I fell for the pitch and gave her my account info along with a check number for a $298.00 debit scheduled for 11/18/05. When I didn't receive the $6000.00 deposit or packet of onfo in the mail, I tried calling their number, with a "not in service" response.

I called my credit union on 11/07/05 to stop the debit. The representative charged me a $35.00 stop-payment fee and also said they couldn't guarantee they could stop a debit if GSI tried to negotiate the check a second time. She did not suggest I close my account and start another, and because I have several legitimate on-going ACH transactions each month, that's wasn't an option at the time.

When 11/18 came and went without incident, I thought I had thwarted GSI. But this morning (11/25) I checked my account and saw that the credit union paid $298.00 on 11/22. This eventually dropped my account into a negative balance and I have also accrued a number of NSF fees.

I also noticed that the check number was changed from the one I originally authorized (in the 7000s) to a different number (in the 3000s). Apparently no-one in the CU thought that was odd. When I called today to complain and request restitution, I received a run around. They ARE mailing me the Federal Regulation E form with whatever they can find out about that bogus check.

I've also called the Colorado state office that regulates credit unions and they'll help pressure the CU to pay back the $298.00 (and NSF fees, I hope).

I also called the state Attorney General's office for consumer protection. That was only good for a tiny bit of moral support because they aren't going to pursue this "offshore scam."

Since these crooks changed a check number to steal my money, what's the chance they will do it again? Has GSI ripped off anyone else had more than once?

Esther
Aurora, Colorado
U.S.A.