I was contacted by Freedom Gold Buyers Club with an offer that I really was not interested in. Foolishly, I listened and said that I would take a look at their program. I preface this with telling the telemarketer that I was not comfortable with giving out my checking account information and he said that they could not do it without my authorization.
Herein lies the problem. I was told a packet would be sent out to me within 7 days and that I could look at it and call an 800 number if I was not interested, but could keep some gas vouchers etc. if I chose not to use the program. I NEVER RECIEVED ANY INFORMATION from them, and of course, did not think twice about it.
When I began having money taken from my account each month, which caused me $$$$ in overdraft fees, I contacted them. They said they had recorded my OK... and that they had sent me the information and it wasnt thier fault that I didnt get it. I also had withdrawls from a Versa Talk. When I mentioned this to a CS person... they knew exactly who it was and said I would have to call them directly.
Of course when you call these numbers you only get a recorded message and cannot talk to a CS person directly. I found out by calling the Payment Processing center, whose name appears on the "checks" and they said that if you press ## it will get you to them. May I say, I have learned my lesson the hard way but what protection do we as consumers have to keep this from happening? They get the money... we get ripped off!