Complaint Review: United Benefits Global Benefits Special Benefits - Champlain New York

EDitor's UPDATED info 2-20-04: Rip-off Report is still receiving complaints that they are not receiving the refunds as promised. Rip-off Report has been in contact with the Company and has made them aware of these issues. They have assured us that refunds are being given to those who are providing them with all the correct contact information requested by them. They have also provided confirmation/proof of over 2,600 refunds to date, on a spreadsheet, and Rip-off Report staff called and verified more than a dozen consumers at random, all very angry & outraged, but, they all did get their refund. The company again apologized for the delay and reported that credit to your account could take as long as 4-5 days. As we understand it, this company only does the processing for all the other companies, so they are at the mercy of those companies funds, further delaying your refund.

Rip-off Report is hoping they will live up to what they have promised, we think they will, ..we'll see. Rip-off Report will continue to investigate more into this situation, and we will eventually post an UPDATE to the main Report at this web address: https://www.ripoffreport.com/view.asp?id=76605

Please be patient, we can only tell you what they are telling us.

ED Magedson

[email protected]

badbusinessbureau.com

CLICK HERE to see how Global Benefits contacted Rip-off Report, stating they will give REFUNDS to unsatisfied customers.

In early December I received a call that I had applied for a credit card online and had been appoved. I had applied with Bank One online recently and so I thought that it was legitimate call. The woman on the phone told me that she was with Global Benefits. I was told that my credit was weak and that I would have to be charged a one time processing fee of $299.00.

I asked if this was for a mastercard or visa and was told it was my choice. I chose a visa. I asked if this was a secured credit card and she told me it was not that the visa was through United Benefits and was completely unsecured with a $2,000.00 limit. The representative said that United Benefits would report my payments more quickly to the credit bureau than the typical crdit card company. I kept asking are you sure this is an unsecure visa, she assured me that it was. She gave me Global Benefits phone number along with a contract number.

On December 11, 2003, my checking account was debited $299.00 and I was told that my credit card would be arriving in 14 days. When 14 days expired and I had not heard anything, I called Global Benefits and I was treated rudely. I was told that it would take 21 working days for processing and that my package would arrive shortly. I asked what package, I was supposed to get a credit card. She again assured me that the credit card would be in the mail soon. I got suspicious and contacted my bank.

A few days later a representative from my bank said that another company by the name of Special Benefits was trying to debit my account again for $299.00. I immediately withdrew all of my money from the bank and stopped payment on any amount for $299.00. When I contacted Global Benefits this time they hung up on me and told me that United benefits was out of business and not to call back again.

I did receive a credit repair kit from United Benefits which I sent back and demanded a refund. However, I still have not received a refund and the package was sent back in January. I tried to reverse charges to United Benefits, but because I was strung along by Global Benefits for so long the 45 days had expired to reverse charges. Every phone number for United benefits is no good. Global Benefits will not accept my calls. I have even contacted the Attorney General's Office and F.B.I. The agent with the F.B.I. that I talked to said that they recieve numerous complaints and that things are under investigation, but that since it is criminal in nature that I cannot get my money back through them.

I finally talked to Strickland with Channel 2 News WSB in Atlanta, Georgia and he wants to do a story on this company. He can be contacted at: 404-897-7000. People need to be warned. If this company has contacted you and withdrawn money from your checking account you need to close your account and make sure that you never give such personal information like that to any one that calls you on the phone.

Global Benefits completely misrepresented themselves on the phone to me. Don't be fooled. Please contact any authorities that will listen, these people need to be brought to justice for what they are doing to people. They have not stood by what they promised even on this website by refunding all the people that have been taken by such deceit.

Lisa

Douglasville, Georgia
U.S.A.

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