I think I have been ripped off by one of these companies as well. Here's my story.
I had an unauthorized charge to my savings account at my bank on December 3, 2001 in the amount of $199.99. The label on the transaction read "CAPITAL CREDIT AMEMB." From this label, I assume the company to be associated with Capital Credit Alliance, that many people have had problems with on this site. (The bank later gave me the name of a company called Money Market Capital Credit, that is located in Las Vegas, NV.) The fact that I have been given two names seems to suggest to me that both of them are just a front for the larger company that is ripping people off all over the country.
I have given this company no authorization whatsoever to take money from my account. I never received anything in the mail from them, nor did anyone contact me by phone. I took it to my bank and disputed the money, which worked for 2 weeks when the bank put the money back into my account, but a few days ago (1/03/02) they took the money right back out. They said that they had done an investigation and that, basically, they found proof that the transaction was authorized. They are, however, unable to produce proof of this authorization (which I know to have never taken place, as I never gave it to them).
I tried calling the company today to ask them what they thought they were doing, and all I got was a nice 20-minute wait on the phone. I did get to talk to a lady who informed me that all representatives were busy, and she would have to take my name/number and have someone call me back. I don't expect to hear back from them.
That is the point I am at now in this whole thing. I stumbled across this site today while checking for information on this company, and needless to say, I found a bunch of stories from other people that made me sick. I am writing this message because I want to know if anyone else is in a similar situation. If you are, I would appreciate it if you could email me at
[email protected] and let me know your story. Thanks a bunch, and the best of luck to all of you who are fighting this.