Readers Across America - RAA Ripoff Instead of cancelling my check as requested cashed it Denver Colorado

12/20/04
I was walking to my car from class at Sacramento City College when what looked like another student gave me the same ploy about wanting to take a trip to Paris and needing to earn points. I told him I didn't have money to spend on magazines, nor did I want them. He told me I could write a check, then mail in the cancellation slip within 3 days and not pay more than the postage fee of a stamp, and still be earning him points.

Skeptical about writing out a blank check, I asked "how do I know I'll get my money back?" His reply was "Because if you don't I'll get prosecuted." Thinking it was a sincere enough statement i wrote out the check, and mailed my cancellation slip the same day. Sure enough, I'm short $62 plus $20 extra for overdrafts from my bank. I am a full-on community college student, only 18 yrs. old, working part time - trying to save $ transfer to a 4 year in NY. I am not rich.

When I thought I was helping someone in the same shoes as me, someone else who wanted to get out of this cow town of a city, just trying to be nice, I instead was stolen from. Needless to say I'm pissed. I'm going to the sac city campus police about this, as well as the better business bureau, and the media. I suggest that anyone else out there do the same.

Jennifer
Elk Grove, California
U.S.A.