- Report: #177233
Complaint Review: Star Communications - Canoga Park California
-
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Why?
Star Communications
6433 Topanga Canyon Blvd Canoga Park, 91303 California, U.S.A.
Phone:
800-697-2390
Web:
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Star Communications ripoff lying dishonest Canoga Park California : *EDitor's Suggestions on how to get your money back into your bank account!
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: im Employee of star communication
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: im Employee of star communication, left the job as soon i come to know abt that the company doing frauds with the customers - operates from Asian markets i.e India new delhi
*Consumer Comment: FTC sites Star Communications
Star Communications called me in December and after several times of promising that the only amount to be taken out of my checking account would be $4.95 for a package of half price TV and other items which were attached to a $500 shopping spree. The representative went through his whole presentation and when I did not want to give my account number out he assured me that it was only $4.95 until I had the "package" and decided whether I wanted to keep it
.
This representative even went on to argue that there was no way he or anyone else could take money out of my account without my giving him a check number. I even hung up on him once and he called me back. I finally agreed to go ahead with it and of course here I am, on ripoffreport.
I called them a few days later when there were not one but two checks of $4.95 and one of $119.90 taken out of my account. I immediately closed the account as well. When I called them they told me that they could not put the money back in my account they way they took it out but would have to send me checks by mail. Of course I did not receive them in the 3 to 4 weeks they promised.
I again called and called every week for 5 weeks in a row but each week was promised that I would have it by the next week. However on the fifth week when I tried to call and what a suprise!! The phone numbers didn't work any more. They had given me three seperate numbers and I only got a person at the third one. This was a tele-check company but of course they couldn't do anything for me because they dealt with people who's checks had been returned unpaid. I hope that these criminals are caught and prosecuted.
HOLLY
GEORGETOWN, Indiana
U.S.A.
b>EDitor's Suggestions on how to get your money back!
HERE IS WHAT RIP-OFF REPORT SUGGESTS YOU DO:
Go to your bank within 60 days of the charge, or as soon as you know about the charge, don't delay, and tell them that there has been fraudulent activity within your account. Explain that you wish to file a dispute, and demand that they assist you in accordance with Federal Regulation E.
According to the majority of victims interviewed by Rip-off Report, those who immediately called their banks to dispute the charges did not get very far. Many victims got the following responses from their banks: we could not do anything for you or you waited too long; it hasbeenmore than 60 days.
If the bank is says that you have waited too long, explain to them how you called their 800 number as soon as the charges were found, and were told by the bank that nothing could be done. Remind the bank that they failed to assist youproperly at the 800 #, and instead, provided you with an inadequate explanation of your right to dispute. Tell the bank that it's their fault time has expired, and since they gave you the wrong info to begin with, they will just have to dealwith it,take the loss and reverse the charges.
Tell them the truth; this was unauthorized and your account was NOT to be charged! Keep emphasizing how you never authorized anything! Direct them to the hundreds of victims reports that were filed on Rip-off Report.com. And if you're at the bank, walk them over to their computer and make them go to this site! If you are on the phone with them, tell them you will wait while they access this site! Either way, be persistent!
DO NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!
Let them know nicely, that you were advised to Report them (the Bank) and this situation to the Banking Commission in your state. Since each state has a different name for the agency/controller over banks, find that name before you call or get to the bank so you can throw it in their face. The more knowledgeable you appear to be, the further you will get.
And just continue to demand the Federal Regulation E form! The bank CAN, MUST and WILL reverse the charge! But, you must be persistent; ask to speak to the supervisor or the area manager for all the branches in the state.
Let the bank personnel know you are meeting with the media later in the day, that you would much rather they do the right thing (as most other banks have) by looking at the complaints and immediately reversing the charge(s) to your account; no matter how long ago it was.Be sure to call the Media if necessary so you are telling the truth.
If you have to, be loud (but nice) in front of other customers. If you are just calling by phone, the above tactics should still work. The bank can easily faxor mail toyou the Federal Regulation E dispute form.
CHARGES TO YOUR CREDIT CARD
If the charge was to your credit card (not debit card, check card, or checking account), contact the credit card company as soon as possible to request a dispute form. Consumers usually have a little longer to dispute fraudulent credit card charges (up to 6 months), but it is better to act right away. In this type of situation, credit card disputes are usually successful since fraudulent companies often won't contest the disputed charge. In rare cases, credit card companies will review disputes, but refuse to reverse the charges. If this occurs, complain to a manager and let them know you will be filing a report here.
Remember Don't let them get away with it!Make sure theymake the Rip-off Report.. The more Reports filed on a Company or individual, the more likely it is that the authorities, media and attorneys will want to take action.
And good luck Let us know how you do!
ED Magedson Founder, Rip-off Report.com & Author of www.ripoffrevenge.com
[email protected]
badbusinessbureau.com
www.ripoffreport.com
Don't let them get away with it.
Make sure they make the Rip-off Report!
We are not lawyers.
We are not a collection agency.
We are Consumer Advocates.
...the victims' advocate
WE are Civil and Human Rights Activists
We are a Worldwide Consumer Reporting News Agency
...by consumers, for consumers
CLICK HERE to read about Credit Card Scams... find out how to get your money back. *Rip-off Report Investigation provides valuable information.
.
This representative even went on to argue that there was no way he or anyone else could take money out of my account without my giving him a check number. I even hung up on him once and he called me back. I finally agreed to go ahead with it and of course here I am, on ripoffreport.
I called them a few days later when there were not one but two checks of $4.95 and one of $119.90 taken out of my account. I immediately closed the account as well. When I called them they told me that they could not put the money back in my account they way they took it out but would have to send me checks by mail. Of course I did not receive them in the 3 to 4 weeks they promised.
I again called and called every week for 5 weeks in a row but each week was promised that I would have it by the next week. However on the fifth week when I tried to call and what a suprise!! The phone numbers didn't work any more. They had given me three seperate numbers and I only got a person at the third one. This was a tele-check company but of course they couldn't do anything for me because they dealt with people who's checks had been returned unpaid. I hope that these criminals are caught and prosecuted.
HOLLY
GEORGETOWN, Indiana
U.S.A.
b>EDitor's Suggestions on how to get your money back!
HERE IS WHAT RIP-OFF REPORT SUGGESTS YOU DO:
Go to your bank within 60 days of the charge, or as soon as you know about the charge, don't delay, and tell them that there has been fraudulent activity within your account. Explain that you wish to file a dispute, and demand that they assist you in accordance with Federal Regulation E.
According to the majority of victims interviewed by Rip-off Report, those who immediately called their banks to dispute the charges did not get very far. Many victims got the following responses from their banks: we could not do anything for you or you waited too long; it hasbeenmore than 60 days.
If the bank is says that you have waited too long, explain to them how you called their 800 number as soon as the charges were found, and were told by the bank that nothing could be done. Remind the bank that they failed to assist youproperly at the 800 #, and instead, provided you with an inadequate explanation of your right to dispute. Tell the bank that it's their fault time has expired, and since they gave you the wrong info to begin with, they will just have to dealwith it,take the loss and reverse the charges.
Tell them the truth; this was unauthorized and your account was NOT to be charged! Keep emphasizing how you never authorized anything! Direct them to the hundreds of victims reports that were filed on Rip-off Report.com. And if you're at the bank, walk them over to their computer and make them go to this site! If you are on the phone with them, tell them you will wait while they access this site! Either way, be persistent!
DO NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!
Let them know nicely, that you were advised to Report them (the Bank) and this situation to the Banking Commission in your state. Since each state has a different name for the agency/controller over banks, find that name before you call or get to the bank so you can throw it in their face. The more knowledgeable you appear to be, the further you will get.
And just continue to demand the Federal Regulation E form! The bank CAN, MUST and WILL reverse the charge! But, you must be persistent; ask to speak to the supervisor or the area manager for all the branches in the state.
Let the bank personnel know you are meeting with the media later in the day, that you would much rather they do the right thing (as most other banks have) by looking at the complaints and immediately reversing the charge(s) to your account; no matter how long ago it was.Be sure to call the Media if necessary so you are telling the truth.
If you have to, be loud (but nice) in front of other customers. If you are just calling by phone, the above tactics should still work. The bank can easily faxor mail toyou the Federal Regulation E dispute form.
CHARGES TO YOUR CREDIT CARD
If the charge was to your credit card (not debit card, check card, or checking account), contact the credit card company as soon as possible to request a dispute form. Consumers usually have a little longer to dispute fraudulent credit card charges (up to 6 months), but it is better to act right away. In this type of situation, credit card disputes are usually successful since fraudulent companies often won't contest the disputed charge. In rare cases, credit card companies will review disputes, but refuse to reverse the charges. If this occurs, complain to a manager and let them know you will be filing a report here.
Remember Don't let them get away with it!Make sure theymake the Rip-off Report.. The more Reports filed on a Company or individual, the more likely it is that the authorities, media and attorneys will want to take action.
And good luck Let us know how you do!
ED Magedson Founder, Rip-off Report.com & Author of www.ripoffrevenge.com
[email protected]
badbusinessbureau.com
www.ripoffreport.com
Don't let them get away with it.
Make sure they make the Rip-off Report!
We are not lawyers.
We are not a collection agency.
We are Consumer Advocates.
...the victims' advocate
WE are Civil and Human Rights Activists
We are a Worldwide Consumer Reporting News Agency
...by consumers, for consumers
CLICK HERE to read about Credit Card Scams... find out how to get your money back. *Rip-off Report Investigation provides valuable information.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Steve
SF,California,
U.S.A.
FTC sites Star Communications
#2Consumer Comment
Fri, March 03, 2006
FTC Halts "Wal-Mart Shopping Spree" Scam March 1, 2006 The Federal Trade Commission has won a temporary restraining order against a group of defendants running what has become known as the "Wal-Mart Shopping Spree" scam. The order prohibits the defendants from making misrepresentations to consumers and from engaging in deceptive or abusive telemarketing practices, freezes the defendants' assets, and appoints a temporary receiver over the corporate defendants. This is the first time, since establishing the National Do Not Call Registry, that the Commission has sued to enforce consumers' do-not-call rights, without also alleging the telemarketer has violated the Registry. Regardless of whether consumers have placed their telephone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry, they have the right to tell specific companies not to call them again. The FTC's complaint, filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, alleges that the defendants cold-call consumers falsely promising them valuable incentives such as gift cards, "shopping sprees," movie passes, and gas vouchers, purportedly worth $200 to $500, for a nominal shipping and handling fee, in order to induce the consumers to disclose their bank account information. Once the defendants have this information, they engage in deceptive and abusive telemarketing practices to coerce consumers to pay additional charges for memberships in purported discount buying programs, according to the complaint. In many cases, the FTC contends the defendants harass consumers by calling them repeatedly and threatening them until they relent and give purported authorization for the defendants to debit their accounts. The defendants also allegedly do not allow consumers to cancel the charges until they complete a recorded authorization process. In many cases, consumers learn about these additional debits for the first time when they are notified by their banks that the withdrawals have been made. The FTC contends that Defendants operated this scam through a series of corporate shells in order to prolong the life of their scam despite large numbers of consumer complaints and law enforcement inquiries. The Charges According to the Commission, the defendants' conduct violates the FTC Act by making material misrepresentations to consumers, including but not limited to misrepresenting that: consumers will receive the valuable incentive upon payment of a nominal shipping and handling charge, the defendants are affiliated with the government or major retailers, and consumers may easily obtain refunds and cancel their memberships in the defendants' programs. The complaint also contends that the defendants violated the Telemarketing Sales Rule, by causing consumers' billing information to be submitted for payment without their express informed consent, and engaging in abusive telemarketing tactics to obtain "consent" from consumers, including threatening and harassing consumers and repeatedly calling consumers, even when they asked the defendants to stop calling by making a company-specific do-not-call request. The complaint was filed against: 1) Universal Premium Services, Inc., also known as (aka) Premier Benefits, Inc., of Orange, California; 2) Consumer Reward Network, Inc., of Canoga Park, California; 3) Star Communications, LLC, of Los Angeles, California; 4) Membership Services Direct, Inc., aka Continuity Partners, Inc., of Las Vegas, Nevada; 5) Connect2USA, Inc., of Las Vegas, Nevada; and 6) Brian K. MacGregor; Harijinder Sidhu; Joseph F. Larosa, Jr.; Pranot Sangprasit; William Thomas Heichert; Michael Howard Cushing; Paul P. Tosi; and Manh D. Cao, individually.
Ajay
New Delhi,Asia,
India
im Employee of star communication, left the job as soon i come to know abt that the company doing frauds with the customers - operates from Asian markets i.e India new delhi
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, February 26, 2006
hello to all ...! hi this is ajay . well i worked for star communications . u know what this company doing scams with various process like telemarketing .. diverting no.s to 900. and travel packages . well i was working with star communication but i left the job as soon i come to know abt that the company doing frauds with the customers . well whome so. ever whose being ripped off by this company here some details abt u 1. this company operates from Asian markets i.e India ( new delhi ) 2. i name some of the company who owrk for star communication : pcl Exports : infocall : vcustomer. these are call centres based in india 3. the actual name of the company is CRYSTAL MARKETING based in colorado . and CEO is Tracy Cox and mrs jordan . ther phone no is 435-862-1605.u cann file a complaint and get them procecuted . thanks
Ajay
Cannoga Park,California,
U.S.A.
im Employee of star communication
#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, February 26, 2006
hello to all ...! hi this is ajay . well i worked for star communications . u know what this company doing scams with various process like telemarketing ..diverting no.s to 900. and travel packages . well i was working with star communication but i left the job as soon i come to know abt that the company doing frauds with the customers . well whome so. ever whose being ripped off by this company here some details abt u 1. this company operates from Asian markets i.e India ( new delhi ) 2. i name some of the company who owrk for star communication : pcl Exports : infocall : vcustomer. these are call centres based in india 3. the actual name of the company is CRYSTAL MARKETING based in colorado . and CEO is Tracy Cox and mrs jordan . ther phone no is 435-862-1605.u cann file a complaint and get them procecuted .
