On 10/18/2006 I got a surprise when I logged on to my credit union account. There was a charge for $21.95 from MEMBERSHIP PLUS. I did not even know who this was and the writing is so small on the bank draft I could not read the telephone number. I called my credit union customer service representative, Ms. Delia Castro, at ASSOCIATED FEDERAL CREDIT UNION this morning. They are located at 3300 Texas Ave.Texas City, TX 77590, Phone - 409-945-4474 Fax - 409-943-5523. Mrs. Castro gave me the telephone number and web address for this company. I logged on to the MEMBERSHIP PLUS website (www.membershipplus.biz) and I need a USER ID and a PASSWORD to access the account that they created for me. Since I did not deal with this company and do not have either of these access identifications I cannot log on to protest and ask that this be stopped. I also called the number they use 888-683-4432. I waited for twenty-two minutes with the operator telling me first that I was number four in line. I was finally number one and a recorded message came on to tell me that they could not answer my call to leave a message. This is really great. A bunch of crooks taking our money with impunity and we cannot reach them.
This problem originated at TEN DOLLAR PAYDAY LOAN.CO. I emailed TEN DOLLAR PAYDAY LOAN today at http://tendollarpaydayloan.com/ and telephoned them at 1-800-992-9482. I have one company email address;
[email protected] and an apparent individual email address that I used today;
[email protected]. I haven't gotten any responses to my four emails and the telephone number is just a recording.
The credit union representative, was very helpful, however, this is my only recourse at this moment. They will stop payment on this one draft. In the meantime, I have to deal with this myself and hope that it has been cleared up by the next draft date. Apparently, we are operating under the delusion that our Federal, State and local banking authorities are protecting us. It is only when something like this happens that we understand that this is really not the case. The credit union wants me to close down my account and open a new one. I flatly refuse to do this. I have had this account number for over 44 years. Why should honest people continue to be punished for something that crooks should not be doing in the first place? The credit union is telling me that they are doing this for my own good and that MEMBERSHIP PLUS has all my bank information and could use it in some other illegal way. This is certainly true. However, I do not see one complaint on your site where this has happened. If it has happened to anyone out there in cyberspace please put it on ripoffreport.com and I will be notified.
I will keep you updated on how this finally works out. My plan of action at the present time includes protesting the first draft to stop it, contact the Pennsylvania and Texas Banking Commissions. I am sure that this company is already on their radar. My question will be why are they still online doing the same tired scam? When will they be stopped? I will also contact the Attorney General's Offices in both states.
Thank you for your time and attention. It helps to commiserate with others who have either been through this, are going through this or they are future sitting ducks.
Carmen
Houston, Texas
U.S.A.