U.S.A. Credit PREFERRED CHOICE TRUST GOLD SHOPPING CONNED BY USA CREDIT UNIONTOWN, Pennsylvania

I attempted to obtain a loan via an internet web site (which itself has dubious business practices). I entered my my personal and banking information. But, it referred me to USA Credit web site.  They again asked for my personal and banking information. But, before I could complete the process it kept attempting to enroll me with other products which they conveniently pre-checked for me. I unchecked all of the boxes because I wanted a loan; not purchase other products or services.

Then, they tried to enroll me in a product called Preferred Trust Choice Gold Shopping Card which I did not want. According to the box on the web site it said that they would deduct from my checking account a $149.95 membership fee and they would also charge me $19.95 a month for the service. I had $1.46 in my checking account. So, it would be obvious that I would not want a product/service for which I could not pay. But, in this case I had to check the box to approve USA Credit to electronic deduct this fee from my checking account. I made sure that I did not check this box.

But, when I tried to change pages, I immediately was directed to a page that said "Congratulations on Your Approval" for the Preferred Trust Choic Gold Shopping Card. Needless to say, I was floored because I had been had. I immediately attemted to contact this company to advise them that I did not want this product/service. But, because they were already closed, I had to wait until the following day. 

One thing that was in my favor was that I had printed the page were the box for agreement with terms and conditions for deducting my checking account was located. And indeed, it was not checked.

I called customer servcie the following day and advised them that I did not want this product and to cancel my membership immedieately. I advised them that I did not agree to the terms and conditions for having these funds deducted from my account. They told me that it was too late because the process for deducting funds were not in their office. I was then referred to Jacqueline Joseph who identified herself as the compliance officer. She stated that she could not stop the charges (perhaps because they were electonically deducted). However, she did not assure me that the funds would be credited back to my account. She advised me that we could have a three-way phone conversation with my bank if the charges had been deducted from my account.

I immediately contacted my bank. They were most helpful. They acknowledged that they were inundated with complaints from these types of internet business practices. They proceeded to process my compaint, asked for the amount of the charge and the name of the business and they said that they would stop the charge at my request and they would monitor my account for a period of time to see if there were more attempts to process the charge.

The next business day, my bank called to tell me that the charge was presented to my account. However, they stopped it. I then telephoned the compliance officer today. I advised her that the charge had been stopped. She would not say that the charge would not be represented to my bank. But, she stated that my account had been closed as I requested. She did not say that USA Credit would not try a collection attempt for the charge that did not clear, nor did she say that they would not charge a collection fee. That's the unanswered question.

In summary these are my complaints:

The intial web site (I don't have that name) which initially took my personal and banking information was not a lender, but a referral to the lender.

I deem the practices of USA Credit unethical if not illegal (I'm not an attorney) by making extemely manipulative attempts to get users of their web site to unknowingly subscribe and purchase unwanted products/servcices (especially by having them uncheck pre-checked boxes.

I am also dumfounded how an approval for a subscription and the deduction of funds were processed when I had not checked the box to agree to the terms and conditions associated with this product/service.

This web site and many like them realize that they have a hedge on consumers because these funds are electonically deducted and will be processed unless the consumer has the foresight to contact their bank immediately to prevent it.

USA Credit and many businesses like them also stipulate clauses in their contract that says their are insufficient funds charges and that the funds cannot be refunded.

Will they attempt to collect and charge collection fees if the charges are not approved for deduction becasue the consumer had imposed a stop payment for non-approval of funds to be deducted? (I had requested USA Credit to close my account.)

USA Credit surely realizes that they have consumers at a disadvantage because once charges are deducted from the consumers' bank accounts it is more difficult to get it back.

USA Credit surely realizes and it appear to be so by design that the cosumer is at a disadvantage in this particular situation because if they can get a consumer who is badly needing a loan to inadverdently (due to the design of the web site) cause them to overdraw their bank account, they can subject them to addtional charges.

I want to know if and if not; why, aren't there laws to prohibit these business practices? Beware of doing business practices with USA Credit and it's affiliates. There business practices are at least unethical if not illegal. And if they aren't illegal, what can be done about them. It certainly is a discredit to legitimate business that utilize the internet.

I recommend that if one is attempting to obtain a loan on the interntet, do not go through a marketing company that does referrals to lenders. And be vigilant to deceptive practices that attempt to get you to approve the subscription/purchase of unwanted product/service offers.

A legitimate loan web site is more like to keep the business process directed toward getting the loan and not unwanted products and services.

Good luck and beware of USA Credit and it's affiliates.