Advantage, First Choice, ephone, credit power, credit helper, United FC, Beneficial, US Credit ripoff to the max

Dear Editor;

I received you reply to my e-mail dated 09/10 02, in regards to the potential class action lawsuit against FNBM. As a customer of FNBM, my concern was to the affect that I might have been Ripped Off. I have always been current with this Credit Card institution, but have had instances where I felt they were using practices they were not ethical or within banking guidelines.

My original e-mail was a request for general information regarding this suit and not that I had any major problems with FNBM. You response was to send it to the RIPoffReport site so that others could view my story. I had responded to the RIPoffReport with one of my horror stories, reference Beneficial Client Care, however, I found that filling out the data in your report does not always fit or I did not have the necessary information so that I could continue. I would imagine that others have had this problem.

Sometimes you may not know where companies are located and yet to completely file a report your program will not let me continue unless I have that information, such as what city? What state?

Now comes the rest of the story. I do not want to go to the website and send you my story and go through a hassle of trying to submit it and maybe not having the information you require to continue just because I did not have an address.

My story will be somewhat lengthy, so I feel that I must send it via this format. I am probably one of the most nave, dumbest or desperate individuals that has ever written you. Desperate only to the fact that receiving 1 or 2 credit cards would have helped me greatly in my situation. I had a job that required me to pay my expenses and then be reimbursed at the end of the month. Expenses that would range from $2500.00 to $ 4000.00 monthly. I traveled out of state constantly and carrying cash or the hassle of whether my personal check(s) would be honored was either unsafe or demanding. Using money that was needed for expenses at home was probably the biggest draw back. The cards would have eased all of the scenarios.

I will outline My Story in as brief of a form as possible. I have been Ripped Off to the tune of approximately $2800.00 by (10) of the companies that I saw on your website. My story is the same or similar to others that have submitted to your site.

My situation(s) started at the end of 2001 and follows through to the present.

I will receive at least 1 call a day from new offers or offers I have already paid for.

The results will be the same.No credit cards..money gone!

1). NACS 7349 NW 34th St., Miami, Fl. 33122, (305) 558.0580).They contacted me mid December, 2001 with a credit card offer with their merchandise catalog, free vacations, free phone and other services. If I ordered through their catalog, paid the 35% down and made (3) monthly payments on time, they would report that I was a member in good standing and would receive a major credit card with a limit of $2500.00. The cost of this was $200.00. Taken out of my bank account electronically (12/15/01).

I ordered merchandise, paid the (3) payments (checks) and never was able to contact anyone. I pursued this but found the address where I had sent my payments to, was not NACS. Information (1-305-5551212) could not even help and could not find them.

Several months later, I paid another $200.00 to a company not knowing they were one in the same, NSC called me with for similar benefits. I have yet to receive any material from them.

2). USCREDIT.COM 3844 Meadows Lane, Las Vegas, Nv. 89107 (877) 873-7334. They called me on December 19, 2001 and I was told that I would receive a packet from them within 2-3 weeks. In the packet would be a free vacation, telephone services and additional money saving information. My bank account had the $149.00 deducted on Jan 03, 2002 and again the same amount, $149.00 on Jan 08, 2002. You may ask why I did not catch this on my bank statement. I was out of state for 4 months and had no access to my statements. They did however have my address in the state where I was residing in order to send me their packet. The packet never arrived.

As I was later to find out, within the packet was a program offered by Ephone, which automatically deducted $54.90 ($164.70) from my bank account. Never having received the packet I was unaware that this was taking place. I eventually caught this, was able to finally get in touch with Ephone (866) 873-7500 and have it stopped. They told me to get with my bank and have the charges reversed. According to my bank it had been to long for them to correct the matter. As of this letter, I have been in contact with Ephone and they said they would credit (1) of the charges and would have to look into the others.

A second problem arouse when, 2 months later a company called House Protect withdrew from my account $99.00 once on 03/13/02 and again the same amount $99.00 on 03/22/02. After researching through my bank I found out that a company by the name United Capturedyne Technologies (800) 476-4828 was responsible for the withdrawals. I contacted them and was told that they did not have a number for House Protect, that it was done through some other source. I have found recently that United Capturedyne Technologies has been bought out by a company called VoiceFlash, a subsidiary of a U.K. company called, Hoover. I still have not gotten the phone number for House Protect.

I have called USCREDIT.COM and they told me to send a letter and I would be reimbursed $124.00, not the $149.00. I sent the letter 08/23/02, along with a copy of the bank statement showing (2) withdrawals and requested they pay me back for both. As of today I have received nothing from them, no check, no letter or communication. From reading the horror stories at your website, I probably won't. I did not know that Ephone and House Protect were associated with them until 4 days ago.

United Capturedyne Technologies has been the recipient of (4) different companies that have debited my bank account.

3). FIRST CHOICE/SOURCE ONE CREDIT SERVICES (888) 648-8386. A person by the name Robert Wilson contacted the middle of January and I was told that I would be receiving a Visa or MasterCard with a credit limit of up to $2500.00. I would be receiving it within 7-21 business days. I received it the end of February and faxed

on 03/02 02 the information requested. I have called numerous times and only get a busy signal. $249.00 was debited from my account on 02/04/02. On 09/09/02 I was able to get through and was told they would fax the request again and fax it back at:(866) 510-6560. As of today, I have not received it.

4). PRIME NATIONAL GOLD PO BOX 11598, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32239. (843) 797-1551 (disconnected). I was contacted the last of January and told I would be receiving a Visa or MasterCard with a credit limit up to $2500.00.What showed up was an identical (almost) packet similar to NACS. $218.00 debited from by bank account on 02/15/02. I cannot locate them.

5). CREDIT POWER (800-895-6234). This offer was made by a person by the name Cindy Rose. I was told that I would be receiving a Visa or MasterCard with a limit of $2500.00. She was very convincing and said that I should receive it within 2 weeks. $185.00 debited from my bank account on 02/20/02. this company is affiliated with CCS. I spoke to two different people, a Jeanie and a Debbie, both who assured me the packet (which I finally received 08/25/02) would be sent right out. When I received the packet it was for a pay as you go card and three (3) card companies to contact by email. I contacted the first, Centennial and was denied a card. The two others were; (1) not available and the (2) required a $500.00 deposit, but not referred as such. I attempted to call CCS (828) 268-0861, but have a recorded message to contact them only through the Internet at crs@centralcredit.tv. I have (09/10/02) and no response from them. Both companies seem to accept no fault.

6). BENEFICIAL CLIENT CARE (866) 999-0330. Peter Campbell was the first person the contact me, same story, $2500.00 major credit card and it would only cost me $246.00, debited on02/27/02 from my bank. Repeated calls, excuses, no answer, message full box recording or some transfer to a person speaking in French recording. Contacted, finally, 08/14/02 and told that my packet would come Fedex, didn't and phone is now always busy or same results as mentioned above.

7). CREDIT HELPER 1133 S. Dobson, Mesa, Arizona 85202, (480)636-3325. The same story, I receive a packet and inside will be numbers to call to activate my credit card for $2500.00, but packet never showed up. $219.00 debited from my account. I finally reached them mid August and was told to send a letter with rebate code and I would receive the $219.00 back. It has not happened yet and your guess is better than mine.

8). UNITED FINANCIAL CORP. (866) 898-8999. Contacted originally by Andre Miller, then by Jonathan Blaze and twice more after I had purchased their card offer. Have been told repeatedly that the packet will arrive shortly. When they have called trying to sell me the first packet when I confront them they hang up. Customer service gives you the run around. If you explain what has happened they become dumb. United Capturedyne Technologies is their banking source. Talk to a Lee Brown and they were suppose to redeposit to my account.Talk to a Diane and reassured I would receive it. $299.00 debited from my account on04/02/02.

9). ADVANTAGE CAPITAL 502 N. Division, Carson City, Nv., 89703 (866) 416-0668. $174.90 debited from my account on 01/15/02. I have talked to someone and they told me to send a letter referencing code and requesting to be reimbursed. I would be sent a check. The letter was sent 08/23/02 and as of yet no response, by phone, letter or reimbursement.

10). FIRST CAPITAL Toronto, Canada. I have many phone numbers, but first I will tell this story. On 06/03/02 I was contacted by a Michelle from First, agreed to the offer, because I was told they were the processing center and would be sending me out (2) cards, (1) a $2500.00 Visa and (2) a $3000.00 MasterCard and I would be receiving them within 7-10 business days. Never saw the cards and on August 14, 2002, a person by the name A.J. called to tell me that they would be sending out (2) cards (as mentioned above) and that he was waiving the $199.00 fee. I told him that on June 14, 2002, First Cap had debited my account for the $199.00 and he promptly told me the confirmation department would call me back within a few minutes. This did not happen so I called back, busy. I called the next day, got A.J. (416) 921-5037, he told me to call (416) 921-5045. I did, always busy and now A.J. That evening I called, got a hold of A.J. and he gives me another number (416) 921-7440..as you guessed always busy.

The next day I call A.J. and he gives me another number (416) 921-7372, finally a person (Sharon) and by the way the most helpful person I have talk to in the past 9 months. She faxed to whomever and explained there was an upset customer and then a person by the Charles calls. He ask me to fax the bank information and a copy of the bank debited to him, I did. He calls me back and says the he has given it to management and it was up to them.

11). EMID (866) 329-8422. This contact was from a Mandy(?) with Emergency Medical Identification D(?). Explain that this was a part of my company's added benefits and she would be sending the information through the mail. I had just been laid-off and benefits were available to former employees. She took my information (SSN# banking, etc.) and said that once I received the packet and reviewed it all I needed to do was return the form and I was covered and the money would be deducted after 30 days from my account ($199.95). It NEVER showed, when I contacted United Capturedyne Technologies about a phone number, after seeing it on my bank statement. I called EMID, spoke to a Tony Prijioniero and was told too bad, I was stuck. As of today I have never seen the information


So ends my story. A story that I am not proud to tell, but at least maybe someone will read it and I got the chance to vent the fustrations I've had. I know my money is gone, but what I can't understand is how they get by with all of this? Where are the federal and state governments, AG's, FTC, and the BBB. I guess even you, a watchdog, can do only so much.

Dan
Irving, Texas

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