This so-called service (SCBN) should be shut down. It is basically a scam operation. We all know Rule No. 1 which is not to give your SS number. To anybody listening, RULE NO. 2--- Don’t give your checking account No. to a telephone salesman.
This organization promises to get you very expensive medicines at ridiculously low prices (which should be a tip off from the git-go).
A “come-on” ad on the internet piqued my wife’s interest and she gave our telephone number. A sales person calls back shortly with explanations of how easy and cheap it would be to get these very expensive medicines for me. They promised to show how these two meds could be obtained for $115 per month after an initial membership fee of $50. They wouldn’t accept a check or credit card for the membership but would of course accept an ACH transaction. Minutes after getting the checking account number from my wife they withdrew $165. I was unaware of this negotiation until later and learned sketchy details from my wife verbally.
After a couple of e mails from me to SCBN for further information, I asked for the funds to be returned to the checking account.
Here is the highly unethical parts.
My wife made the agreement, but she does not have authorization to act as my medical attorney. Nor did they ask.
The meds were for me, not my wife; and they understood this very well.
In a few days the “application” arrived, which was questionnaires and medical history amounting to 21 pages. Forms for the doctors to fill out, instructions, histories, etc. and INCLUDING A FORM FOR ME TO AUTHORIZE MY BANK TO CONTINUE THE MONTHLY WITHDRAWAL. Strange that they needed the form now, after already making such withdrawal without said form.
Also as part of the applicaton process they required a copy of my SS card. At the same time they claim not to be medical providers, but rather a medical "advocacy" organization. As such, they would have no need for my SS card. (Can you guess where my SS number may end up?)
I demanded they return the money. They responded that they would first need to receive back the entire packet of application materials. This is their scam. The process is so onerous to complete and that the doctors will follow thru on your behalf is highly questionable that they are practically assured that the victim cannot complete the request.
Here is the clincher. I reported this scam to the BBB of Austin Texas. They simply closed the complaint when the SCBN responded with the request for return of the Application. "Case closed".
Remember folks, not only do you NOT give your SS number over the phone, you should never give your bank account number either.
And, the banks don’t care that you’ve been fleeced. It’s not their money.