On November 22, 1999 I signed a contract with the American Fair Credit Association, also known as AFCA. In this contract I was promised credit repair/re-establishment. AFCA was affiliated with the United National Credit Bank (UNCB) which provided and unsecured Visa credit card for credit re-establishment. I had to become an AFCA member in order to receive the unsecured credit card and pay them a $39.00/mo. membership fee & in addition I had to pay all kinds of fees with the bank as well. Also in my contract I was promised a credit line limit increase after 60 days as long as I made timely monthly payments and didn't go over the credit limit. Well, 60 days passed and I still didn't receive my credit increase, therefore I called the UNCB and was told that they are no longer affiliated with AFCA and was not giving out credit increases at this time. I then called AFCA which blamed the bank, both companies shifting the blame onto eachother, I then verbally told AFCA, I wanted my membership canceled, but was told I would have to send them the request in writing. On March 16, 2000, I sent a letter of cancelation to AFCA. I didn't hear anything back from AFCA and assumed my membership was canceled. On June 17, 2002, I received a collection letter from AFCA stating that I owed them $117.00 & it was affecting my credit rating with 2 major credit bureo's. I called AFCA on several occasions, trying to resolve the situation, and each time getting rude customer service that demanded the money and refused to put management on the phone. Two days after my last phone call attempt, I received a phone call from a sarcastic manager named Christine. I stated that I had sent a letter of cancelation over 2 years ago & also offered to re-send the letter. Christine stated that she didn't care about the letter and that I owed the money period! She also refused to put her manager on the phone. I then asked her several times what her manager's name and she finally said his name was Marty but refused to give me his last name, so I disconnected the call after several attempts. I had to call back, posing as any other ordinary person calling and speak with another representative, in which she stated that Marty Grajeda was his full name. Approximately 1 month later I received a message on my answering machine from AFCA stating "your account with the American Fair Credit Association remains unresolved, your debt will continue to be reported to the major credit reporting agencies until it is paid in full. If you call immediately, AFCA is willing to work with you to resolve your debt. The # is 1-800-972-0005", then goes on to give the hours of operation. Leaving such a message breaks collection laws. Companies aren't allowed to disclose your debt to any kind of 3rd party and even a spouse in some states unless their name is listed on the account as well. I want people to know that AFCA is a scamming and bogus company that apprently break the laws. I also want AFCA to know that I have put out complaints on every possible complaint website there is and that they have messed with the wrong person, seeing that I am and will take every possible measure to get some justice. Also, AFCA has over 300 complaints against them with the Better Business Bureo regarding the same and similar complaints, and has a class action lawsuit pending in the state of California!
Deanna
Peabody, Massachusetts