PHOTO WORLD CASTLE CREDIT CORP ABC FINANCE CORP ripoff scamed my son into signing up for membership offering free items & billing him $1783.00 for coupon book for "FREE" film La Mesa Chicago California, Illinois
My son was in the Navy Feb. 2002, he was at the mall in San Diego when he was approached by a person offering a free cd. He would have to listen to the man give a sales pitch. The man gave a fast sales pitch something about Photo World membership, if he signed up he would receive a free disposable camera and a free samsung camera. And he would receive benefits and discounts for free film.
The man did not discuss price or a finance company or finance charge.He did say that he could have it drafted out of his checking account. My son does not know how drafts work so he said sure and signed some papers. My son did not give the con-artist any checking account info and my son did not know the address to the ship. But the con-artist knew the address to the ship so I assume that the man thought my son had a Navy checking account but he does not.
All he received in the mail was a cheap samsung camera and a coupon book for free film.Then he gets a bill from CASTLE CREDIT CORP. for $1783.00.HE DID NOT RECEIVE ANYTHING WORTH $1783.00!!! We disputed with the BBB and now the bill is coming from ABC FINANCE CORP. for $1595.00. He has not paid them anything and will not pay them anything.We disputed with the BBB and now they said they would settle this dispute if my son would send them(ABC finance) $350.00 plus the return of the camera and Photo World book.If he did this they would cancel his contract.WHAT WOULD HE GET FOR $350.00,ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! These people are SCAM ARTIST!
I called the fraud division in San Diego,Ca.,they said they have heard of this scam that they target sailors.And they said that this is a Navy issue.My son is now out of the Navy and can't go to Navy legal.I know that this is a bigger issue than my son,alot of these young guys probably do not know that their checking accounts are being drafted because they just use the ATM.Something should be done about this ,these scam artist should be put in jail!These young people are trying to serve this country,they do not need scam artist on their backs!
Alicia
Downsville, Louisiana
3 Updates & Rebuttals
#40
Tue, September 24, 2002
#40
Tue, September 24, 2002
ABC FINANCE CORP.(The Focus Point)
#40
Tue, September 24, 2002
These SCAM ARTIST are at the Horton Mall in San Diego ,Ca. They approached my son OUTSIDE the mall offering him a FREE cd.All he would have to do is go inside the building(849,4th ave.,San Diego ,Ca.) and listen to a person for a few minutes.They said if he signed up for membership to Photo World he would get a FREE disposible camera ,a Samsung camera and book with coupons for film.My son was LURED into that building because they offered him a FREE CD.
So based upon the California Consumer Protection Law that states on any solicited sale they are suppose to give a Notice of Cancellation Form and if they do not you can cancel at anytime.They did not give a Notice of Cancellation Form so my son sent this company a letter of cancelation.They refused to cancel this so called membership saying it does not fall under a solicited sale and they sent a form that my son signed that states"I declare that I came to the Focus Point unescorted and of my own free will as a result of a sales ad." Now this tells me that these people KNOW THAT THEY ARE DELIBERATLY CONNING young gullible people into signing up for this WORTHLESS GARBAGE!My son would have never gone into that building if he was not LURED there,How can they say this is not a solicited sale!!!They have also ruined my sons credit report ,ABC sends my son a first bill in July for $1595.00 it says on the back of the bill that he has 60 days to dispute this bill.We call to cancel we dispute with the BBB ,ABC has ignored our disputes and put this bill as a charge off in July.WATCH OUT FOR THESE SCAM ARTIST,THEY ARE GREEDY ,MONEY HUNGRY IDIOTS THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST LEARNING TO BE ADULTS!!!