Complaint Review: The Grant Professor

On or about 15 October, 2008 I was searching the internet for grants to help me restore my home after the devastation of Hurricane Ike. I do not recall the specific website but I found a site claiming to review and recommend several grant program sites and The Grant Professor was listed as a rebutable, fair and trustworthy site so I clicked on the Grant Professor within their list. This link took me to a seemingly harmless and hopefully helpful site where I registered as required and submitted my MC debit card number to pay the $1.99 shipping and handling charges. The site recommending TGU (The Grant Professor) nor the actual Grant Professor site states anything about additional charges. The following day I received a phone call from someone at the site and before she could get started into her sales pitch I begged her pardon and informed her that I did not wish to participate in their "program" and wanted my CD order cancelled and my $1.99 refunded. She responded that she would make the changes to the account and refund my shipping. I thought this was the end of the situation! Boy, was I wrong!About a week later I received their worthless CD in the mail. I brought the CD home and out of curiosity I inserted it into my computer and was very unimpressed. The CD contains less than 23mb of data and 22mb of it is an activeX html document which opens internet explorer and asks you to input a username and password to log on to their site. Username? Password? What? I had neither of these so I simply forgot about the whole thing until my bank statement arrived. Yep! There it was, the first $69.95 charge to my bank account. I was devastated and horrified because my bank charged me $22.50 to pay the unauthorized debit because there were not enough funds in my account to cover the $69.95 charge. On November 15, 2008 there is another $69.95 debit and another $22.50 bank charge for insufficient funds. Needless to say; I am outraged that there are groups of individuals claiming to be some corporation, LLC or this or that which prey on people at their most vunerable time. I am a disabled single parent dying from liver failure and I do not have superfluous income to give these unscrupulous people. The have taken food and sustanance money from my son and myself. What can I do to recover my $186.89 and possibly seek other damages?

Dave
Ace, Texas
U.S.A.

EDitor's Suggestions on how to get your money back!

HERE IS WHAT RIP-OFF REPORT SUGGESTS YOU DO:

Go to your bank within 60 days of the charge, or as soon as you know about the charge, don't delay, and tell them that there has been fraudulent activity within your account. Explain that you wish to file a dispute, and demand that they assist you in accordance with Federal Regulation E.

According to the majority of victims interviewed by Rip-off Report, those who immediately called their banks to dispute the charges did not get very far. Many victims got the following responses from their banks: we could not do anything for you or you waited too long; it has been more than 60 days.

If the bank is says that you have waited too long, explain to them how you called their 800 number as soon as the charges were found, and were told by the bank that nothing could be done. Remind the bank that they failed to assist you properly at the 800 #, and instead, provided you with an inadequate explanation of your right to dispute. Tell the bank that it's their fault time has expired, and since they gave you the wrong info to begin with, they will just have to deal with it, take the loss and reverse the charges.

Tell them the truth; this was unauthorized and your account was NOT to be charged! Keep emphasizing how you never authorized anything! Direct them to the hundreds of victims reports that were filed on Rip-off Report.com. And if you're at the bank, walk them over to their computer and make them go to this site! If you are on the phone with them, tell them you will wait while they access this site! Either way, be persistent!

DO NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!

Let them know nicely, that you were advised to Report them (the Bank) and this situation to the Banking Commission in your state. Since each state has a different name for the agency/controller over banks, find that name before you call or get to the bank so you can throw it in their face. The more knowledgeable you appear to be, the further you will get.

And just continue to demand the Federal Regulation E form! The bank CAN, MUST and WILL reverse the charge! But, you must be persistent; ask to speak to the supervisor or the area manager for all the branches in the state.

Let the bank personnel know you are meeting with the media later in the day, that you would much rather they do the right thing (as most other banks have) by looking at the complaints and immediately reversing the charge(s) to your account; no matter how long ago it was. Be sure to call the Media if necessary so you are telling the truth.

If you have to, be loud (but nice) in front of other customers. If you are just calling by phone, the above tactics should still work. The bank can easily fax or mail to you the Federal Regulation E dispute form.

CHARGES TO YOUR CREDIT CARD

If the charge was to your credit card (not debit card, check card, or checking account), contact the credit card company as soon as possible to request a dispute form. Consumers usually have a little longer to dispute fraudulent credit card charges (up to 6 months), but it is better to act right away. In this type of situation, credit card disputes are usually successful since fraudulent companies often won't contest the disputed charge. In rare cases, credit card companies will review disputes, but refuse to reverse the charges. If this occurs, complain to a manager and let them know you will be filing a report here.

Remember Don't let them get away with it! Make sure they make the Rip-off Report .. The more Reports filed on a Company or individual, the more likely it is that the authorities, media and attorneys will want to take action.