AIG Promotions/Bankcardempire misled, lied to, totally scammed Phoenix Arizona

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*UPDATE: Rip-off Report INVESTIGATION UPDATE: US Postal Inspectors close down Bankcard Empire. Bankcard Empire Suspended From Ripoff Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction Program Tempe, Arizona

Like many others, I apparently allowed my hopes to overshadow my good judgement. I have spent more hours than than can be imagined searching through websites for a legitimate work at home job. I thought I was being smart. I don't believe anything that 'promises' six figure salaries in mere months. And I had no desire to have a business. All I wanted was a job where I worked for someone else and received a realistic paycheck, but being disabled, it had to be a job I could do at home.

While looking at all these sites, I requested information from a few believing that it cost nothing to look. A few forms I filled out turned into dozens of phone calls, some from companies that I had never requested information from. Because they all require an investment, and I was looking for a job and not a business, I kept turning them down. Even a few that sounded like they could possibly be legitimate. As soon as someone says, "We have a special price, but it's only good for one day" I get suspicious. To me that translates to, "Pay us now before you find out anything bad about us." It's especially fishy because one company called me on three seperate occasions with a one time only special discount.

On to bankcard empire. I feel that I have no excuse for stupidity, but when you are struggling financially and you are having a moment of weakness sometimes you grasp at straws. I was contacted by an outgoing, friendly agent named Cerrone. Throughout his pitch, the business sounded legitimate and although I didn't believe I would get rich, I thought it may be the answer to a little extra income. I was told about the 12 month money back guarantee, which I understood as meaning that if at any time within 12 months I was dissatisfied I could get my money back. I wanted to check them out before I got off the phone but was having internet issues. So I went ahead with a check by phone for $250 and gave the o.k. for them to set up payments through my charge card for $19.95 a month for a web hosting fee.

The next day I was able to check them out through the BBB and was very upset with what I saw. I called my bank and the money had not been deducted from my account at that point. I called bankcard empire and told them what I had found out. I told them that the money had not been charged yet and I did not have a website yet so I wanted to cancel the whole transaction. The unfriendly lady who answered my call said I had to try the business for 12 months before I could ask for a refund and that I would also have to pay the web hosting fee for the next 12 months even though at that point I had no website. It had been less than 24 hours since the initial phone call. The rest of the day I sat around kicking myself.

Today, still less than 48 hours, I contacted my bank again. The money still had not been charged to my account. I called the BBB and when she asked for the contact phone number for the company I was told that it was for AIG promotions, not bankcard empire but that both companies had complaints. She said I could put a stop pay on my check and contact my charge card to either dispute any future charges or ask for a new card. Then I called bankcard empire to speak with Cerrone who had told me he could always be reached at that number. Guess what? No Cerrone.

If I was not lied to about the 12 month money back guarantee, I was definitely misled. I was never told that the person I was speaking with was actually from AIG and not from bankcard empire. And I was given a number where I could personally speak to Cerrone which he does not answer.

The girl I spoke with today was named Angela. She was very friendly and helpful. In a friendly and helpful manner she basically told me I was screwed. She said that I could pay a stop check fee but that I would still be legally indebted to pay the $250 because I had made a verbal contract. She said the web hosting was actually a very small fee because it cost them thousands to set up a website (also referred to as a back door office) for me. Mind you, at this point my website had not been set up yet. She said if I cancelled my charge card or stopped payment, I would not be eligible for the money back guarantee even after 12 months because I had to actually try the company out for 12 months. Cerrone had told me that a website was not actually required to work for the company, but without one I would have no way to keep track of my finances.

After reading the complaints on this site I am dreading the day they start calling and harrassing me for more money. Do any of you guys have any advice? Should I cancel my charge card and kiss the $250 goodbye? Should I give it a couple months and see if I can at least recoup my losses? If I actually do make any money, will they ever really pay me? One last question-are there any legitimate work from home jobs? Not a business, not a career, not anything promising to make me rich in just a few hours a day. All I want is a good old fashioned job where I get paid a reasonable and believable amount of money to perform a required task. It really sucks that these people exist because I was not looking for a 'too good to be true' promise. I was just looking for a legitimate way to earn a little extra money to help out my family.

Brenda Erie, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.