Handi Hope/ Handi Tech/Handi Team prey on the elderly! Glendale Or Phoenix Arizona

Handi Hope (Handi Team, American Disabilities-the same company has used many different names) preys on the elderly by getting them to buy their very expensive products [light bulbs-ex-one box of 16 bulbs could cost as much as $750.00), trash bags, cleaning supplies] and convince the buyer they are helping the handicapped by buying these products. Once they have the individuals credit card number, they begin to charge them every month (sometimes multiple times a month).

And if they learn that the individual they are "billing " is impaired (as in this case, my mother-in-law has Alzheimers") then they really ratchet up their phone calls and billings. My mother-in-law was billed for over $11,000 over a period of 7 months for bogus products, and when I called to ask what products had been sent for those billings (I had the credit card information for 16 transactions in hand) they were not able to explain ANY of the purchases, what was sent, or where the products were sent to! I told them not to call her again, informed them she is on the "Do not Contact" registry and made the mistake of explaining she had Alzheimers and that I had had power of attorney to make this request.

Since then, she has been billed another 8 times (another $4,000), they have coerced her to give them her checking account number over the phone (under the threat of getting a bad credit rating if the bill they were calling about wasn't immediately paid), and she has been sent registered letters indicating past due bill in red!

When I call the company to question them and why they continue to contact my mother-in law, they have no idea how the "order" was placed, what the order was (it never went to my mother-in-law), what address it was sent to, why they continue to contact her! We have had to cancel her checking account, all of her credit cards, and start over in an effort to isolate this company from my often confused mother-in-law. We have fought the charges by disputing with credit card companies, but credit card companies will not refuse a payment until after it has been posted (even though we are requesting a refusal of all charges from Handi Hope, Handi Tech, HD Industries, and HD workshops-the many names that have appeared on credit card statements) and then we have to formally dispute it after it is posted! She is 74, on a fixed income and cannot afford this type of abuse!

I contacted the Arizona States Attorney in October 07, filing an on-line complaint form, as well as a follow up phone call to them about this company and have yet to receive a reply from them either!

Anonymous
Bloomington, Illinois
U.S.A.