Complaint Review: Branson & Branson Gold Financial Culligan & Associates - New York New York

I noticed an ad in the August Family Flyer 2006 issue(family flyer.com)that stated Bad Credit, Bankruptcy, Need A loan... $5,000 to $500,000. Call 1-866-834-6795. Open 24

I did the 5 minute application over the phone, and I had to wait 1 day to see if I had been approved. The information I gave over the phone was my name, date of birth, social security number, address, for "credit check".

I spoke to aperson by the name of Steve, unfortunately, I failed to write down his name(August 20, 2006).

I waited until early evening of the 21st of Aug. and did not receive a return call, so I decided to call them back. I talked to the same person by the name of "Steve" that night and he stated that they could not approve you due to bad credit, low income, he had to find another institution that would accept me.

During this particular phone conversation, "Steve" told me I needed to go through "Mr. McDonald" for approval through a different institution. Call Anthony Mcdonald; (416)824-1096.I called "Anthony McDonald" the same day, immediately after I had hung up with "Steve"; upon speaking with Mr. McDonald he received all of the information and after he reviewed he would get back to me in a couple days.

Approximately 1 week later he contacted me to let me know they were still looking for somebody to approve me. About a week and a half later, Mr. McDonald called me back and stated they are still seeking out an institution and I was already getting fed up.

Around the beginning of the third week of September, approx. one month after initial contact with "Branson & Branson" I decided to give it one more shot and contacted Mr. McDonald to see what was going on with my approval. Mr. Mcdonald stated to me that I was approved however since I was classified as "high risk" that I needed to secure the loan with $685.00 through Western Union (MTCN:517-879-9203).

I explained to him that I receive social security in a monthly amount of $600.00 and that I could not afford the amount of $685.00. And he then explained to me that he would have to call the approved lender, that being Gold Financial out of New York, and for me to contact him the following day.

I contacted him the following day, and he told me that $600.00 would be acceptable for a "security deposit" towards the approval of a $5,000.00 loan. I explained to him that I would not have the funds until the 1st of Oct., he stated that he would have to seek approval from said lender and informed me to contact him the next day.

On the 2nd of Oct. he had faxed a 16 page document with the cover sheet "Gold Financial" typed on the top to the apartment complex office. The fax number on the cover sheet is 6472220518.

Before I received the 16 page document with a possible fraudulent Bus. Lic. # 03-298-483-588 and Fed ID# 34-49620-45, I was asked to fax my proof of ID to Anthony McDonald(647-222-0518) which I did on the same day about 5 - 10 min. later, I received said documents.

On page 12 of said documents is a loan distribution form stating how you would like to receive the funds in the amount of $5,000.00. I checked the box that requests funds to be sent via courier, I signed dated.

On the top of these documents states it is from a "User 19" which makes me wonder if this person or people are working out of New York University as the address of Gold Financial is actually part of New York University.

The undersigned of page 12 of the document I signed is Karen Ocklowsky; Head Accountant of Financial Dept; Gold Financial, with stamped names, all of the names on the document(s) appear to have a stamped look.

It also states on page 12 "from this point on, the final processing of your loan will take approximately 1-2 bus days." Page 14 letter of approval, where i also had to sign and date states "once the security deposit is made the allocation of you funds can be allocated to you two ways by direct deposit into a checking/savings account, this process will take approximately 12-24 hr, or mailed out to you by a certified check, this process will take approximately 3 business days. The undersigned is Langston Bailey, Supervisor, Gold Financial

On page 16, final document, fraudulent use of BBB logo. Also states participation since 2/28/1989. also includes address of 116 University Place, Ny, NY 10003.

On the 4th of Oct. I called Anthony McDonald to inform him that I have all the necessary funds for the Western Union Transfer and he gave me Kimesha Murray as the "bonded courier" at which time he stated she was licensed, bonded, insured out of Toronto Canada.

I used the Western Union out of Big KMart, store #7042, 2801 calumet ave, valparaiso, in, 46383 219-464-1091, cashier lindsay. total amount 651.99, transaction#03g 1b1 5zu 04j 0dx ft2, 3 p.m. central standard time. MTCN: 517-879-9203.

Monies were paid out at 3:55 p.m. on the 6th of Oct. I contacted Mr. Mcdonald on the same day said amount was received and he stated I should be receiving funds no later than Tuesday, October 10, 2006 through Fed Ex. I asked for a Fed Ex tracking number during this conversation and stated that he did not have one yet due to processing.

I have been trying to contact "Mr. Mcdonald" since Oct. 10, 2006, every day and there is only an answering machine with his voice and I have left a message every time.

Last night, or Oct. 12, 2006, I called Branson & Branson and I have been so upset that I failed to ask for whom I was speaking to but did ask to speak to his supervisor and I explained to him that I have not received a fedex tracking number and obviously no loan money, and he stated as soon as he hung up with me he would e-maild Mr. Mcdonald's supervisor and asked when a "good time" would be to contact me and I had told him 10:45 a.m. tomorrow.

I had waited by the phone well over an hour and since then have contacted local police, BBB, Western Union, FedEx, two lawyers. My next step will be to contact social security, state senate of indiana, federal trade.

Nicky

Valparaiso, Indiana
U.S.A.