Startup Essentials - USA Card Services fast talking ripoff scam artists sold my wife garbage Dallas Texas
My wife got taken for a ride by some very well rehearsed salesmen. They totally convinced her that they could get her started in a very profitable business. They used double talk about using dropshippers to get products from to sell on HER website, which by the way, was going to be listed on the top of the search engines. First off the contract that that they rushed her into signing and sending back immediately clearly states that they provide no products to sell and they don't design a website for you. They do promise to get you a dropshipper DIRECTORY but that doesn't give you access to any products.
The contract looks as if your at least getting a laptop for your money but as you read the fine print your just leasing it for 4 years at $133 a month and then have to return it to them in good condition. She asked them for time to look over the contract but they convinced her that the sooner she signed it the quicker she would start making money. Well, to a person not working that sounds like a really good idea.
I talked to a manager who tried to convince me that they were completely honest with her in every way and just because I wasn't part of the initial conversation and my wife didn't ask my permission if she should sign it, I was upset and that was why I wanted her to get out of the contract. He read to me scripted questions and answers that my wife supposedly gave to them during the conversation. My wife said she never even heard of this guy and had talked with someone else the whole time.
I asked if he could show me just one website listed on any search engine as being on the top of the list and he said it wasn't possible for him to know that. But swore that they take a vested interest in your success in the same breath.
My attorney advised us to send a notice of cancellation -close the bank account and sit back and wait. If they decide to pursue collection efforts we will file a countersuit for deceptive practices under Illinois law.
GOOD LUCK TO THE REST OF YOU By the way keep the reports coming they will make great documentation in court.
Anyone know how to file a class action suit?
Mike
West Chicago, Illinois
U.S.A.
10 Updates & Rebuttals
Ryan
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
IDENTITY THIEVES!!
#11Consumer Suggestion
Sun, December 03, 2006
There's a whole new scam surfacing from this company.
Yes, besides conning you into a lease that will suck you dry these people are actually committing acts of Identity Theft!
They have their telemarketers pulling your credit before they even call you to solicit their ripoff to your business.
If you don't meet their basic qualifications, you are then sold as a lead to credit counseling or credit repair companies!!!
Check your credit reports! If you have an unauthorized hit from USA Card Services, you have a right to have them fined for up to $1,000!!!
Don't wait! there are free credit report offers all over the Internet!
Don't let them keep getting away with this! THEY ARE CRIMINALS!
Sean
Mesquite,Texas,
U.S.A.
Take it and run with it
#11Consumer Suggestion
Tue, November 14, 2006
This isnt a get rich quick scheme. If you want to be a successful business owner of any kind you have to learn how to think like one.
There are two ways to make money. One way is to get a job and the other is to make a job. Start-up Essentials Presents the opportunity to make a job for yourself placing your security in YOUR ability. Your wife was lucky to get the phone call she recieved. The people at Start-up Essentials are very busy and have gotten used to the questions that come from people with a poverty mentality.
The answers to your questions and the questions you were asked were part of the professional consistancy that Start-up Essentials has to offer. Your counter law suit will fail.
Loretta And Scott
Landisburg,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
Same Here
#11Consumer Suggestion
Sat, November 04, 2006
I was looking up something on the company startup essentials but I didn't expect to find this. I must say from personal experience that you all are right.
I spoke to a Mrs. Monica Hazelwood who seemed to rush me to signing and now I am in the same shape as you all are.
I thought it was a bit odd that I had to sign up under my husbands name because of his credit score and he was in bankruptcy at the time but I was not and they would not allow me to do it.
I sent them a copy of this and told them that I am contacting an attorney and stopping payment on my account to them.
If I had only found this page a month ago.
Maybe we could all get together and make a support group on yahoo or msn and share thoughts and work to try to put a stop to this and companies like them.
if anyone is interested in joining me
Loretta and Scott
CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.
Arlene
Kirkland,Washington,
U.S.A.
I am in the same situation...
#11Consumer Comment
Mon, October 16, 2006
I too got duped into signing this non-cancellable contract. My situation is a little different though. When I signed the lease, I made the person I was speaking with, Mr. Paul Ghassemi, totally aware that I did not have my bank information on hand and that I would have to sign it later. Because he was so eager to close this deal, he told me he could easily pull up my routing number. I gave him my bank name, and its' location and he gave me a number.
The first payment was supposed to come out last month. I noticed that nothing came out. I thought maybe it would have taken the bank a couple of days to post. I wait a few days, nothing posted. So I call up A-1 Leasing to inquire about my account. I leave numerous messages but never get a call back.
Then a couple days ago, I get an email stating that my lease went into default because of non-payment. Can you guess WHY? The routing number that their representative gave me was wrong. And on top of that, when I tried to rectify the situation, no one called me back on a timely manner resulting in this default.
They have asked me to return all equipent asap to avoid legal action. And I will return the equipment. With regards to this default... I will stand my groud and say that I am not responsbile for owing them anything due to their mistake.
I hope I have a chance of getting out of this. They need to be stopped. If anyone has any advice to my situation... PLEASE HELP! I hope they do not pursue collection efforts.
Diane
Ashburn,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Another Victim
#11Consumer Comment
Sun, October 15, 2006
I'm in the same shape, but haven't sent my laptop back yet. But have gone by the bank and put a stop on them talking any money out of my account. I'm going to call tomarrow to see if I need to open another Acct. I'm waiting to here from a lawyer about what I should do. I sure wish I had found this site before I got myself in such a mess. If there is a law suit I'm also in Ashburn GA
Debra
Iron River,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Class Action
#11Consumer Comment
Thu, October 12, 2006
There is a group trying to get together to try and solve this. If you have changed your e-mail and been contacted by someone before you changed that e-mail address please go to any you may have saved to give us your name and address so that we have force in numbers. Companies should not get away with lying to sell you a product.
Another victim
Debra
Iron River,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Class Action
#11Consumer Comment
Thu, October 12, 2006
There is a group trying to get together to try and solve this. If you have changed your e-mail and been contacted by someone before you changed that e-mail address please go to any you may have saved to give us your name and address so that we have force in numbers. Companies should not get away with lying to sell you a product.
Another victim
Debra
Iron River,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Class Action
#11Consumer Comment
Thu, October 12, 2006
There is a group trying to get together to try and solve this. If you have changed your e-mail and been contacted by someone before you changed that e-mail address please go to any you may have saved to give us your name and address so that we have force in numbers. Companies should not get away with lying to sell you a product.
Another victim
Debra
Iron River,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Class Action
#11Consumer Comment
Thu, October 12, 2006
There is a group trying to get together to try and solve this. If you have changed your e-mail and been contacted by someone before you changed that e-mail address please go to any you may have saved to give us your name and address so that we have force in numbers. Companies should not get away with lying to sell you a product.
Another victim
Kyle
Grand Prairie,Texas,
U.S.A.
Happened to me and my wife also, Mike in West Chicago, Illinois
#11Consumer Comment
Thu, May 04, 2006
Mike, you are exactly correct. This happened to my wife and I just last month. Fast talking rep and you know, I had to "qualify", after a 5+ hour phone interview. I told them I had a computer and they still sent me the laptop for credit card orders. I do not need a laptop for internet merchant services and also for the price of $131 or so a month for 48 months, which is over $6000. They said they would invest $5000 in my business. It appears that I was going to invest it after all.
What I did was what your attorney suggested. I stopped the first payment (draft) at my bank and closed the account. My bank's claim and fraud department helped me with this. I also sent the laptop and materials sent to me in the same box unused and insured for a correct amount back to USA Card Services and the UPS carrier to obtain a signature for receipt. I tracked its shipment. Inside the box was a letter stating my concerns with the company and its misleading and deceptive sales techniques and that I was cancelling the deal, since I did not get anything from them in the short period of time.
I am now waiting to hear from them if I do. I am reviewing the Federal Trade Commission's web site and will probably submit a complaint.
Kyle
Grand Prairie, TX
U.S.A.