Trust Benefits ripoff - never recieved promised credit card - asked for refund never heard from them. Fort Lee New Jersey *UPDATE .. Trust Benefits contacts Rip-off Report. REFUNDS will be given to unsatisfied customers *EDitor's UPDATE 2-20-04!

EDitor's UPDATED info 2-20-04: Rip-off Report is still receiving complaints that they are not receiving the refunds as promised. Rip-off Report has been in contact with the Company and has made them aware of these issues. They have assured us that refunds are being given to those who are providing them with all the correct contact information requested by them. They have also provided confirmation/proof of over 2,600 refunds to date, on a spreadsheet, and Rip-off Report staff called and verified more than a dozen consumers at random, all very angry & outraged, but, they all did get their refund. The company again apologized for the delay and reported that credit to your account could take as long as 4-5 days. As we understand it, this company only does the processing for all the other companies, so they are at the mercy of those companies funds, further delaying your refund.

Rip-off Report is hoping they will live up to what they have promised, we think they will, ..we'll see. Rip-off Report will continue to investigate more into this situation, and we will eventually post an UPDATE to the main Report at this web address: https://www.ripoffreport.com/view.asp?id=76605

Please be patient, we can only tell you what they are telling us.

ED Magedson
EDitor@RipoffReport.com
badbusinessbureau.com

CLICK HERE to see how World Benefits contacted Rip-off Report, stating they will give REFUNDS to unsatisfied customers.





I would first like to say that on January 26, 2004 I read some ripoff reports about this company. I then in turn read a response from Rip Off reports saying that this company does not want any unsatisfied customers and to e-mail them at benefitsbiz@hotmail.com. I did this and here is the e-mail that I sent...

To Whom It May Concern:

I was contacted by Jennifer Johnson #023 in I believe September. I was going to run with the program because I was very excited about the prospect of bettering my credit. I was astonished that she she said I could recieve a credit card with:

1. $2000 Limit
2. No Annual Fees
3. No Monthly Fees
4. 4.9% APR for the first 6 months and it would go up between 8 - 12% after that.

She then asked me if I wanted a Visa or a Mastercard. I told her Visa and she said no problem.

She then told me that I would be receiving a packet that offered:

1. Discounts on Medical
2. Discounts on Travel
3. $1100 in Grocery Coupons
4. Legal Assistance for a year
5. Information to Eliminate Debt and Build Credit.

She then told me that this was an A-1 Credit program. An FDIC Credit enhancement (you'll have to forgive me but I take notes and I have 3 pages of notes on what she said but I don't have them in order per se). Again, all of these things were very interesting to me and I was excited. I set the date for the money to be taken out of my account for September 20th. I was told I needed to call by the 16th if there was going to be a problem. There was a problem and needless to say I set the date for the money to be taken out on October 30th and it cleared my bank on November 3rd. I was also told by Jennifer that I could have this "packet" in 7 to 10 days. All of this information was verified by her Supervisor Shawn Davis

On or around November 24 I called because it had been 20 business days. I was told by the Rep that I would recieve my package no later than December 3rd. I was satisfied with this because that would be a little bit more than 15 to 20 business days but I am a patient person and I believe what people tell me.

I then called December 4th having not recieved my package and talked to Ted Allen ext 216. I was told by Ted that even though my bank said it came out on the November 3rd. I didn't show up until November 7th so I could expect it on December 10th. I could not believe it. He then told me that it was 15 to 20 business days well DUH!!. I told him well that would be around December 3rd. He said because of the holidays they would probably be behind and it would be there no later than the 10th of December. He then told me that 7 to 10 days after I receive this "package" I would recieve a sign sheet for a credit card that had to be signed and returned so that I would recieve my credit card.

I then asked to speak to a supervisor I was told their names Rachel O'Brien and Jessica Daniels. I was put in the Que and was on hold for a hour and a half. I couldn't hold any longer as it was my husbands birthday and we had plans to go out and we had a sitter. I was distraught. to say the least.

Let me stop and say that I worked for UPS in their technical support division and I had to deal with Que's and supervisor calls and customer issues and to this point I am extremely disapointed. Because with everything I hear, you are customer service oriented, but to this point, I feel like I'm getting the shaft.

I finally recieved my package on December 12th. I was now fairly happy, I at least had recieved something for my $299. The information provided was good, but my real interest lied in the credit card. BUT, everything was in my husbands name. I have been going through all of this and now it is all in my husbands name. Incredible!!! my Social security number and everything else in his name. No problem. It can be in my husbands name. I don't care I just want what we have been promised.

I called again around the 8th of January. I had not as of yet recieved my signer card for the Credit Card. I called and talked to a customer Service Rep and told him, I don't know how this has happened but I haven't recieved my signer card. He seemed surprised. I also told him that it wasn't supposed to be in my husbands name, it is supposed to be in my name. He said no problem and he said he changed it for me. Great!! He then said that he was going to put in a new request for a signer card and I should recieve it within 2 weeks. No problem!!!

I called today the first person I spoke to asked me for my Phone number and name. I gave it like I always do and she asked if she could put me on hold. My conversation with her was less than 25 seconds. I was then put on hold for 20 minutes and then hung up on. I called back, this time taking me 20 different times dialing the number because it was busy and then waited for 30 more minutes to get back to a customer service rep. I then talked to Jason McMiller ext 221. He told me that on looking at my account I was put in the wrong "catergory". I was put in the "catergory" of people with good credit and that was probably holding me up. He was going to put me in the right catergory and I should recieve a packet with different banks and I needed to sign it and send it back in. I should recieve this packet within 2 to 3 weeks.

I cannot express how deeply disturbed I am at how I have been treated. I feel like I have recieved nothing but the run around and am now out $299 for my trouble. Is it your companies practice to take 3 months to fulfill your "contract" with them. By the time I am done it will be probably 4 months. I did however feel better about your company after reading Rip Off Reports. But ultimately I am upset.

Thank you for taking the time to read my complaint and please help me with my cause.

Sincerely,

Jennifer

I received a phone call a few days later telling me they were sorry for the delay but if I could wait 2 to 3 more weeks they had put in a request for me and that is how long it should take to get to me. I said fine, and waited the until February 24, 2004. I then called the company and was placed on hold well, I will let you read my e-mail to the company...

To Whom it May Concern:

I just don't know how to begin this e-mail. I am at a loss for words at my utter dissatisfaction and waste of time your company has been for me. First off I would like to say that your "Customer Service" is the worst I have come in contact with. I have worked Customer service and when we answer the phone we have always had to give our name, and if we are going to place someone on hold, we ask and give them an estimated time that they will be on hold

This is my second e-mail to this company in regards to my unhappiness. My first e-mail was dated January 26th. I was called and told that I only needed to wait no more than 3 weeks and I would have my Pre-approved credit card sheet that I needed to sign, put some personal information on and send to the credit card company. I had received a credit card form that said it was for 5.9%APR not the 4.9% like I was originally told, and on the credit form, no where did it say I was Pre-approved. So I wanted to call your customer service to see if this was the paper I had been waiting for.

I started my call at 3:28 pm CST and was finally picked up by a human at 4:02pm CST. She asked me for my zip code and my name. I gave her both and a second later she said "I need to put you on h*o.." Didn't even get the word hold out and I was placed on hold. It was now 4:04pm CST. I am still on hold and the time is 5:30pm CST. No one has come back to the phone. I have been on hold with no hold music and no one getting on the line to tell me what is going on. I have been on the hold for 2 hours now. I have made dinner for my family and watched them eat it while I waited on hold. I know for a fact if I hang up and call back I will be on hold for a half hour before somebody answers so now I am in limbo. Understand that I knew this call would take a minimum of 40 minutes (half hour on hold in the beginning and maybe 10 minutes with a Customer Service Rep). I had no idea I was going to be on hold for 2 hours and counting. My husband has now told me to hang up the phone it is 5:38pm CST. We have plans because he is on vacation. My time with my family is precious to me and I feel like your company has no regard for me as a person. I am tired of dealing with your company and would like you to refund my money. I no longer want to deal with this situation.

The money for this venture was taken from my account on November 3rd and it is now February 24th. In 8 days it will have been 5 months since I started this 3 ring circus and I want no part of it anymore.

I expect a call on this no later than Thursday, February 26 to discuss having my money refunded to me.

Sincerely,

Jennifer

PS The web address that was sent to me with my packet of papers has never worked and I thought you should be aware of that. I have tried on several occasions to access it and it says that access is denied to that site.

I have recieved no word at all from this company. When I tried to call their number it said that it was disconnected. All I want is my money refunded. This has been probably one of the worst experiences I have ever had with a company. I think what bothers me the most is this company always says that they stress customer service yet that is what they are lacking the most.

Jennifer
Harrison, Arkansas
U.S.A.