National Alliance Of Associations, Aka, Affinity Group Benefits Association, Inc. Withdrew $523 From my Account and Would not Honor Their Refund Policy Turnersville New Jersey

As everyone else, I received an unsolicited fax advertising low cost health insurance and stating it truly was insurance and not a supplement. I called to get more information and signed up. The initiual payment required was $324 which was deducted immediately from my account October 19, 2007, via my credit card through a thrid party (PBC). I was told I would received my cards and full description of my benefits by mail.

When I did receive the booklet, I read what the policy was all about and was not satisfied so I called to cancel. When someone finally answered the phone, I was told I had to fax my request, which I promptly did, 11/14/07. I requested in my fax that I be contacted by phone upon receipt of my fax. When I did not get a response, I sent the fax a 2nd time. I still did not get a response so I called the company again. They checked my records and told me they had received my fax and my refund was being processed.

On 11/20/07, I checked my bank account to discover that they had now taken out the first premium of $199. I called the company again. After another long wait on the phone, I was told that they oursourced their billing to a 3rd-party and they 3rd party had not been notified of the cancellation. They would take care of the notification and I would receive my refund of $523 in two to three weeks and I would receive a letter confirming same. (It was amazing that their 3rd party could withdraw my money in a nano second but would have to have two to three weeks to reverse the process!!)
About a week later, I recieved the letter stating that I would receive my refund into my account in 20 days.

Today, February 5, 2008, I checked my account again...guess what..you got it! I called the company again. This time I was told that they had unscrupulous sales people who had misrepresented the insurance. People had called and cancelled their policies as I did but the commisions had all been paid out. The company had to wait until the commission money was returned to them before they could refund the customers' monies. The situation had finally been resolved and I could look forward to getting my refund within the next...guess how long....two or three weeks! When I asked for their legal department, I was told they didn't have one. When I asked just who had "resolved" the situation, the rep could not tell me. When I asked, what the commission checks had to do with returning the customers' monies, I was told they needed to money to make the refunds. I said, "You mean an insurance company doesn't have enough money to honor their refund policy without the return of sales commissions", I was told that was the case!

Wow...some company! Good thing I didn't have a claim! Anyway, I have left word for a supervisor to call me tomorrow. Can't wait to see the results of that. I would like to start a class action suite...would anyone like to join me??

P.S. FYI, they informed me today that they have merged with Affinity Group and have a new web site, www.agbai.org.

Carol
Columbia Cross Roads, PA
U.S.A.

CJ
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.