Liberty Group Services LIES, LIES and MORE LIES trying to withdrawal unauthorized funds from my checking account I WILL STOP THEM DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS! Madera Beach Florida

A gentleman by the name of Tom Evans called me in the middle of June. He was offering me a credit card. At first I wasn't interested, until he told me there was no annual fee or activation fee.

Mr. Evans asked me for my checking account number to see if I was in good standing with my bank. I gave him my account number, but refused to give him my routing number because I didn't want any money taken from my account. I did, however, give him the name of the bank, as well as the branch that I deal with.

He told me that it would cost 10% of my approval amount to open the account, and he said my credit limit was $2500, making my cost $300,(what kind of math is this?). There was to be a fixed 6.9% apr and in 6 months my credit limit would jump to $7500!

I asked him, So, no money will be taken out of my account? to which he replied, that is correct, he continued on to say that on July 30, the $300 fee would be taken out if I wanted to activate my account. Mr. Evans told me that if I did not want the card, I could cancel at any time before July 30, and I would owe nothing. He even repeated this several times.

I explained to him how I had a free 30-day trial on something else and they ended up charging me. However, in that case, I brought it to their attention, and, realizing their mistake, they credited my money back. He said, they wouldn't do something like that!

Mr. Evans heard my kids' playing and he said, I have a child myself and I would not take money from your account unless you agreed. He had me go through an automated recording system stating that the $300 would be coming out of my account on July 30th, if I chose to activate the card. I would have to activate the card by signing the contract that he was sending to me, (which I have NOT signed and have NOT returned).

Again, I made sure to ask, so there will be no money taken from my account if I don't want this card? To which he said, that's right, just be sure you cancel before July 30.

The more I thought about the $300, the more leery I became. I suddenly wasn't interested anymore. I'm a single mother of 2 small children, ages 3 and 5, and I can't lose that kind of money.

I put my notes of the conversation in my dresser drawer and forgot about it until July 9th when I came across it again. Obviously I wasn't too interested, or I wouldn't have forgotten about it!

I contacted the company back and told another gentleman that I was no longer interested, telling him that my husband said I couldn't do it. (I'm not married, but I thought it would intimidate him more if I told him that. I know how women are taken for a ride by people assuming they are easy marks). My friend had a similar situation and kept telling those people that she couldn't afford it. They kept pushing her, stating they would break down the payment for her. When she said about her husband, they dropped it and quite calling her. That's where I got the idea!

This gentleman then informed me that I would be charged a $60 early termination fee. I asked, FOR WHAT? I cancelled before the deadline! He stated they kept my account open for 3 weeks, whatever that meant! I told him that I was NOT paying and I would sue them if they took any money from my account since it was UNAUTHORIZED. I then hung up on him.

I have ever received a card!

I contacted Tom Evans and got his secretary. She said that she and Tom didn't know anything about an early termination fee. Now, if they didn't know about it, how was I supposed to know, since they didn't tell me during his contact with me in the beginning?

I contacted my bank and explained the circumstances to them. I was going to close my account. I also contacted Domestic Relations and asked them not to deposit my payments into that account.

On July 13, I called back and talked to Gregory Simmons at this credit card place. I explained to him the situation and he said, even if Tom misinformed you about a termination fee, I have a written contract that states one; and I am being held liable and WILL PAY IT!

I explained to him that I was a single mother and I couldn't afford it; he didn't seem to give a d**n. I told him that I would contact the PA State Attorney General; Consumer Protection Service; Better Business Bureau, trying to get him to drop this. I even went further telling him that I would contact an attorney to obtain a copy of the tape of my conversation with Mr. Evans and he said, Fine, and I will send this written agreement along, which states an early termination fee.

Like I said, I hadn't signed anything!!

He then went on to say that his company's attorney would take my attorney, me and whoever else was on my side to court.

The funny thing is that yesterday, Monday, July 12, 2004; I received a Verification & Acceptance Certificate from them (which is enclosed for your reference). I still haven't signed anything!!! And I don't intend to. Also enclosed is the Terms of Credit Agreement, which does NOT state anything about an early termination fee.

My mom read this agreement paper and noticed that the only time I could use this card was to make purchases from their own catalog. They didn't even tell me that part!

Becky
Imler, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.