This report is to basically warn people about this company! Please understand that right now the wound that this company has left upon me is fresh and very painful, so a lot of this is because I am hurt, but it is also because I do not want anyone else to be as unprepared as us.
It started off that we got behind in our bills, and wanted to get a consolidation loan to pay off most of our bills to get caught up. None of the local banks, or credit unions would not touch us for a loan because our credit is so bad. So we went on the internet to seek other means of help. This is when we came across "First Choice Lending".
They sent my husband an email stating that he was pre-approved for a $15,000.00 loan. When you are up to your eyeballs in bills along with maintaining a healthy atmosphere for 2 small children, you will try anything. When we heard pre-approved for a $15,000.00 loan, we thought that our prayers have been answered. Finally, things are going to go our way!!!
We were very wrong!!! It started off with them telling us that they need a security deposit because of our bad credit. We were known as "high risk". Silly us we bought it, and Western Unioned them the $1,000.00 security deposit. But they assured us that once we paid them this money we would have the loan money direct deposited into our bank account.
So, we did it, and we waited for the deposit to our account. When it never showed up in a 24 hour period, we called them. When we were finally able to get in touch with them, they told us that we need to pay them another $1,000.00 for another security deposit. They called this security deposit a "high risk" security deposit. We were not happy about it, but we are in big trouble financially, so we did not think we had any other choice. So we paid it again.
So we called them and told them the control number and waited the "10 minutes" they told us it would take for the deposit to show up. 10 minutes came and went, and nothing. No deposit, no nothing!!! So we called them again!! When we got them on the phone again, we come to find out that they are based in Canada.
Apparently Canada has a tax on loans from Canada. We did not know this. It also costs $690.00. Yep, that's right $690.00, and we paid it. Now you may be wondering how we are coming up with all this money because we are applying for a loan to pay bills. We did a lot of borrowing.
Here again we paid it and waited again. Yet again, no deposit!! So I called them again, giving them the benefit of the doubt. Since they assured me that after the $690.00 tax money, there will be NO other money needed to be sent to them. So I called them thinking that maybe I did something wrong.
When they answered the phone they proceeded to tell me that I need to pay them $450.00 more, and then the deposit will go through no problem. I told them that I have no money left to give!! So I told them that I want my money back. I was put on hold and they never came back.
Now when I call the 800 number it no longer works. So now we have no way of getting our almost $3,000.00 back. We need that money!! I am to the point now, I do not want the loan anymore, all I want is my $3,000.00 money back that I paid them. Nothing more!!
Please take my warnings very seriously!!! This is a company that takes and takes and NEVER gives!!! Please stay away for "First Choice Lending". Please listen to my warnings, I am a real person, who was very scammed by them!!
Anonymous
Jacksonville, Florida
U.S.A.