M. Steven
Media, 19063,#2Consumer Suggestion
Tue, February 19, 2002
Dear readers,
I am sorry to hear that you were cheated by this fraudulent company. These fraudulent credit card companies keep appearing everyday, and it is very upsetting for me to see innocent consumers being scammed out of their hard earned money.
If you have been scammed by USA Gold or any other fraudulent credit card company, you may be able to get a refund without having to resort to legal action.
My contact information is at the bottom of this report, and I am willing to help any of you if I possibly can. However, if you contact me, try to give me as much info as possible. Some of the info that would be helpful includes, but is not limited to the following:
#1.) How did you pay? By check, automated debit, or credit card?
#2.) If you sent a check to this company, what bank cashed the check? You may need to have your bank to find out for you.
#3.) If they automatically debited your account, which 3rd party company processed the debit? Again, you will have to ask your bank for this info. Also, Try to find out what state the processing company is located in, or at least forward me their phone # if possible.
#4.) If they made an automatic debit, was it a check-by-phone, or ACH (automated clearing house) transaction?
#5.) How long ago did you sign up for this so called credit card? and when did you pay them?
If you get me the above information, you will be helping others to avoid this scam, and you will be helping me to assist you in getting a refund.
However, even if you get the above info, there is a chance that USA Gold will refuse to return your money. If that happens, you should immediately file a law suit in your local district court, and ask for the maximum PA small claims judgment of $8,000. The fees involved with filing a small claim in PA (or any state for that matter) are minimal, and there is a very good chance that you would be awarded much more than you were cheated out of. There is even a very good possibility that USA Gold would fail to appear in court, and that is why you should ask for the max of $8,000 (or whatever your home state's max is). This is because if they fail to appear, you will automatically be awarded a default judgment for the amount you file for.
I am a Pennsylvania resident, and I am studying law, so I am very familiar with Pennsylvania civil procedures. Therefore, if you need me to assist you in filing a claim, I am more than willing to help.
Finally, if you end up filing a small claim, you do need to know that USA Gold and USA Credit are both fictitious names according to the PA Dept of State. Therefore, if you want to file a lawsuit against USA Gold or USA Credit, you will need to name "Commonwealth Marketing Group, INC." as the Defendant, and you should have them served with the claim at the "1 Millennium Dr." address.
During my phone conversation with the PA Dept of State, I obtained the following info:
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-Pennsylvania Department of State-
"Corporate Status Report"
Original & Current Company Name:
Commonwealth Marketing Group, INC
Date name filed: 08/21/1991
Business entity type: INCORPORATED BUSINESS
Current Status: Active
ENTITY NO: 2045773 + Consent: N
Address for service of process:
1 Millennium Dr, Uniontown, PA. 15401
Address Status: Physical/Deliverable
Home Jurisdiction: Fayette County, PA, USA
Customer Service Phone: 1-800-262-4192
PURP/DESC/CMNT:BROAD + LTD AUTH:N
LTD/INC TERM: PERPETUAL
"Corporate officer detail"
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: FREDERICK ZEIGLER III
MAILING ADDRESS: ONE EXECUTIVE CENTER
US RT 40 EAST, HOPWOOD, PA. 15445
REPORT FILED AS OF: 6-13-2000
"Instrument History"
#1.) Type: ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION-BUSINESS
Roll:9152 + Start:1303 + End: 1304
Comments: N/A + Date: 8-21-1991
#2.) Type: ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT-BUSINESS
Roll:2001047 + Start:341 + End:343
Comments:RES + Date:6-15-2001
Fictitious Names
#1.) USA Gold Card
Date name filed: 02/09/2001 at 14:48:9:57
ENTITY NO: 2987810
PURP/DESC/CMNT: PRIVATE LABEL FINANCE COMPANY
Roll:2001014 + Start:122 + End:123
----
#2.) USA Credit
Date name filed: 03/05/2001 at 12:52:13:75
Entity #: 2992138
PURP/DESC/CMNT: MARKETING
Roll:2001019 + Start:930 + End:931
---------------
To verify that the above information is accurate, call the PA Department of Corporations at:
1-717-787-1057, "OR" go to: http://www.corps.state.pa.us/basicentity.php?entityno=2045773
I really hope that I have been of some help to all of you! If you have any questions, or if you have any additional information that you feel would be helpful, please feel free to contact me anytime via phone or email.
Thanks for reading & Good luck!!
Regards,
Doug Peterson
[email protected]
Consumer Advocate/Investigative Reporter, badbusinessbureau.com, LLC