Arrow Financial Services Yet ANOTHER scam!! Niles Illinois

I received a letter Dec 2003 from Arrow Financial claiming that they had taken over a fraudulent account opened under my social from Capital One (which is another shady company...I think the 2 work together). This was the 1st that I heard of this account. The original card was for $300 opened in 1999, mind you I was 16, and the total owed was $900.

I called the company and gave them the account number. They greeted me as someone else at a different address, but with my social. I told the lady my name and she apperently saved that information in the computer because evertime after that when I called I was greeted as me. I'm assuming they got my current address from my new and 1st job, good old W2 form.

So they scarred the crap out of me saying I couldn't dipute the account because it was under ALL of my info. I told the girl that when I 1st called she greeted me as someone else. She denied that and said it was ALWAYS under my info. Of course, in a completely unprofession tone. I also mentioned that it was impossible for that account to be opened under my address, because I had only lived there for 8 months, and the account was opened in 99'...she didn't grasp that...

So I set up a payment method and gave them the 1st payment. I asked if I was able to prove this was not my account, could I get a refund. I'm sure they hear that all day long, so the lady told me if I had a police report and a notorized letter from Capital One, then they would refund me.

I then got legal advise and was told I could dispute the account. So I stopped payment, filed a police report and did all the fraud alert stuff, Found out who opened it, and I got a affidavit from Capital One that the person signed claiming all reaponsibilty. The account was transferred into their name, my credit was cleared and all was good.

However, Arrow somehow got another payment from me, AFTER I stopped it. I called in about my refund, having already faxed and mailed multiple copies of my police reports and letters from Capital showing the resolution. Arrow now claims that they did receive anything, and that they never said that I would get a refund because that's not their policy. The lady handling my account said "Well if it's not on your credit report, then why do you care. You don't need your money back." That right there is enough to fight!

Then I speak to her "supervisor" after being on hold for 30mins. and he says "Well, we would have given you a refund but it's been 30 days since we sent the 1st letter." and "Why did you claim responsibilty in the 1st?" Good question...uhhh I DIDN'T! The chick changed the info, and the main reason I was able to clear all this up, other than I was 16 at the time the account was opened, was because even Capital didn't have my current info, only my social. Arrow seemed to have all my new stuff.

So now I have to fight tooth and nail with these people to get my $$$ back.. And it's not even about getting the money, I just want this company burned! They are wrong! Even shady Capital finally fixed their half. My advice for anyone who comes in contact with Arrow...Run, and don't look back!

Elise
beverly hills, California
U.S.A.