Complaint Review: First House Financials - Santa Cruz California

I was looking for apartments to rent in new area and I saw a listing on Craiglist which I couldn't open for more details without calling up First House Financial. The girl whom I spoke to, told me that I need to pay $1.00 to view the listing and that this is one time fee only. Also, I asked her few times that I am not looking to buy the property but to rent and she said that she would send me the listing for rental properties too.

Then I received an email from them saying that they have charged me for $1.00 fee. And an email saying that I would receive more information within 48 hours. Then I received another email, asking me to fill out details as to what type of apartment I am interested in and a few specifications.

Then I receive an email with LISTINGS OF HOUSES FOR SALE!!!! I called them 2 times after this with no reply from them and then the 3rd time the guy said that they would send me the listing for rental property soon and hung up fast.

That soon never happened, but what happened really fast was my credit card was charged with $9.95 as monthly service fee... WHAT MONTHLY SERVICE FEE.. I wasn't informed that I would be charged some money for coming months and I didn't receive the information I was interested in and the people I talk to are almost always rude, except for the first time, when you pay the $1.00 fee.

So to view one listing which was crap in itself I had paid $10.95 and was unaware of more charges to come. I reviewed company information and saw another customer in similar situation. I quickly called up and a guy picked up my call after 15 minutes, who was VERY VERY RUDE and told me that I should have read the terms & conditions. I should say 'YOU ARE THE FIRST COMPANY TO NOT SEND ANY INFORMATION TO CUSTOMERS AND CHARGE THEM MONEY' if you call yourself a good company that is.

The cancellation wasn't a simple process. I had to pay a $5.00 cancellation fee!!!!!

SERIOUSLY!! He was least bothered of what had happened with me and said that he would cancel my account and that the $5.00 would be charged to my card. And when I called back to confirm that they won't charge me any more and that they have actually cancelled my account, no one picked up even after 20 mins of wait on the line.

So, I just got charged the following:

$1.00  (supposedly) to see the listing which was crap

$9.95 per month for ????  Nothing!

$5.00 to cancel (to cancel my account even though there was no contract!!)

So, all in all, I got charged $16.95 for NOTHING. Seriously, I am pissed off for spending 17 bucks for nothing but more than that, I am pissed off that I WASN'T INFORMED OF ANYTHING HAPPENING WITH MY ACCOUNT. And for all those employee rebuttals, I DARE YOU TO SAY THAT I HAD RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM YOU GUYS!! I didn't.