Complaint Review: Consumer First - Tampa Florida

I am a undergrad college student in debt. And when you have extentuating circumstances you look for help anywhere. I was employed in the hospitality industry for several years until 2 years ago. I had a minimum amount of credit card debt.

The more I advanced at my job the more I disqualified for federal financial aid. Knowing that I would have to be on my own one day, I thought it would'nt be best to take out any more student loans. But this is when everything went down hill. As a undergrad you are only allowed a certain amount in federal student loans per year. When I transfered colleges my sophomore year my financial aid counselor guaranteed me aid.

In the middle of the semester after the drop/withdrawal deadline I found out that I didn't qualify for federal aid and I could still take out a loan but it would still leave me a balance, I was left with 3.000 tuition bill with no money to pay it. I dropped out just to work another job to pay off the tuition owed. I had no finacial assistance from my family because they were also financially strapped. I often used my remaining credit cards to make payments to the college because I didn't want to go to collections. I soon un expectantly had to move out and high rent for a half safe neighborhood and soon my job began to cut hours because they were not doing well I went from working at least 50-60 hours a week to barely working 30. And after Sept 11 our hotel was evenmore in the red which meant bad news for the employees.

I began applying for jobs that I highly qualified for but was declined because I had experience but no degree.So now several collections and charge offs later I am back in school working a wonderful job making way less than I should be making with no benefits.

I now have to take out student loans because eventhough I don't make enough to pay bills, eat, and survive, I still make to much to recieve federal grants or aid. School was going well until my teacher turned in my grades late and I now an cut off from recieving my student loans. I thought the Acceptance Certificate from Consumers First was a God send. I could now pay my tuition!!!! WRONG.

There are some legitimate credit card companies and banks who give people credit cards to re-establish their credit to show that they began making their payments on time. I don't have enough debt to file bankruptcy but it is still too much to pay on my on with the money I make. I said to my self as I was writing out my check for the $49.00 rush processing fee to check this company out first. I tried to find the Consumer First company but to no avail. I went to RIP-OFF and I began to read claims from others who had received this deceitful crap but all of the Names of the companies were SLIGHTLY different from Consumer First until I read further. I scrolled down only to find an actual copy of the letter I received, the only thing different is that my name wasn't the one on the form. I wasn't really surprised it just ticks me off that these companies or fronts can just close down because of fraud just to change there name and start all over again. I an currently working to pay my debt off and now function on a cash only basis.

Credit is a privilege and this country more than provides a way to give it to you. And when you take it and whether you abuse it or appreciate it. It must be repayed no doubt about that. This country was built off of credit. To bad it doesn't provide a way to help you retify your situation when it turns sour. God forbid you get into an unexpected life circumstance and you are unable to pay it accordingly like I did.

For those who wrote in previous complaints that people with poor credit are pathetic people (not exact words of course) be careful to what you say into the lives of others for one day it may come into your own (or something to that extent). Why can't these places be shut down!!! How can this be legal. I sent the ACCEPTANCE LETTER back with a nice little note. I don't care if it doesn't directly stop the situation, but when that person opens the letter so that they can recieve my payment and dupe me only to find fradulent written across the page with a nasty letter attached I would have deceived and wasted just as much of their time and they did mine. Oh Well!!!!!

M.R.

calumet city, Illinois
U.S.A.

Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Consumer First

CLICK HERE to read about Credit Card Scams... find out how to get your money back. *Rip-off Report Investigation provides valuable information.