$200 gas card
Complaint
cinnamongirl
Country: United States
I was calling my Insurance company, I was prompted to dial 1 to receive my free $200 gas card.
At this time, the place where I'm employed is trying a new program to save on insurance costs, and was offering each employee $200 to join, so I was thinking this is a legitimate deal and hey if they want to give it to me in form of a gas card that's fine..I'll use it.
I end up speaking to several people, having an extremely hard time understanding the heavy Indian accents, I finally got through it and was waiting to hear my confirmation number after already giving them my debit card info and all other info they needed to send me my gas card ( it was a 2.95 handling fee I was paying.
Listening to recording waiting for conf. number, it started saying I will be receiving $200 worth of vouchers that can be used for dining, gas, or whatever, seemed strange. It went on to say these vouchers could be used only by $25 a month and it had to be at least a $50 purchase. Right now, my car doesn't even hold $50 worth of gas to fill up (luckily!!) so when it said to say yes to accept, I said ("NO, cancel") They immediately got back on the phone with me and told me I cannot cancel, I went through a good hour of arguing with them, hanging up and being called back six times, and best ...being threatened that my card may be mis used!
The man's exact words to me after telling them this is a scam and I want to cancel "Well do not blame my company if your card ends up being misused" I said "what!"..and he repeated it ..I was in such disbelief that this was even happening, I immediately hung up on them called my bank and cancelled my card, while I waas on the phone with the bank, they could see the company trying to get the money out of my account,and stopped it before they got any.
I called the Ins, co. and asked if it was possible that this could have happened on the number I dialed, thinking I maybe dialed wrong? It was not the ins. co. fault, they knew nothing of it I checked number again and it was dialed right, I have no clue as to how I ended up on the phone with these people but LESSON LEARNED!
I did write down the phone number the recording gave me to cancel the membership they were trying to rope me into. I dont know if this will help anyone but the number I have is 1-877-652-2168
At this time, the place where I'm employed is trying a new program to save on insurance costs, and was offering each employee $200 to join, so I was thinking this is a legitimate deal and hey if they want to give it to me in form of a gas card that's fine..I'll use it.
I end up speaking to several people, having an extremely hard time understanding the heavy Indian accents, I finally got through it and was waiting to hear my confirmation number after already giving them my debit card info and all other info they needed to send me my gas card ( it was a 2.95 handling fee I was paying.
Listening to recording waiting for conf. number, it started saying I will be receiving $200 worth of vouchers that can be used for dining, gas, or whatever, seemed strange. It went on to say these vouchers could be used only by $25 a month and it had to be at least a $50 purchase. Right now, my car doesn't even hold $50 worth of gas to fill up (luckily!!) so when it said to say yes to accept, I said ("NO, cancel") They immediately got back on the phone with me and told me I cannot cancel, I went through a good hour of arguing with them, hanging up and being called back six times, and best ...being threatened that my card may be mis used!
The man's exact words to me after telling them this is a scam and I want to cancel "Well do not blame my company if your card ends up being misused" I said "what!"..and he repeated it ..I was in such disbelief that this was even happening, I immediately hung up on them called my bank and cancelled my card, while I waas on the phone with the bank, they could see the company trying to get the money out of my account,and stopped it before they got any.
I called the Ins, co. and asked if it was possible that this could have happened on the number I dialed, thinking I maybe dialed wrong? It was not the ins. co. fault, they knew nothing of it I checked number again and it was dialed right, I have no clue as to how I ended up on the phone with these people but LESSON LEARNED!
I did write down the phone number the recording gave me to cancel the membership they were trying to rope me into. I dont know if this will help anyone but the number I have is 1-877-652-2168
Comments
As you have done, contact your bank to dispute fraudulent charges and close the account or block the card number. Your bank can reverse disputed charges if you dispute within 60 days of the statement date of the statement showing the disputed charges.
There are other complaints reporting that they have reached this company when they thought they were contacting their insurance company. Due to the several similar complaints, it may be that they have several 800 numbers that are 1 digit different from large insurance companies, and that they use the accidental dialing errors to con people who think they are calling their insurance company. Alternatively, they may have set up fake websites or online listing entries to trap people into calling their numbers, thinking they were calling their insurance company.
Similar scams were run in connection with overpriced long distance services using numbers one digit different from ATT or Verizon calling card access numbers. FTC shut them down several years ago.
After disputing through your bank, report this to FTC.
http://www.ultimatesavingsplus.com/contact.html
Another fraud complaint against that number.
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-652-2168
BBB report, rated "F"
http://www.bbb.org/south-east-florida/busines ... nes-fl-90012137
"...
Additional Complaint Information
Our file contains a pattern of complaints from consumers who report being contacted by this company by phone or text message and being offered a store gift card or gas card for amounts ranging from $100 to $200. The consumer reports they are to be charged a minimal handling fee ranging from $1 to $5. Consumers then report they are charged additional charges on their account for magazine subscriptions that were not explained in the verification call.
Several complaints received by BBB allege they were on hold with major phone or insurance companies and a representative came on the line offering a $500 gas card for a $2.95 handling fee in recognition of their loyalty to the company. Consumers are asked to provide their credit card information. When the major companies are contacted they know nothing of the promotion mentioned.
The company responds to complaints with an explanation of their agreement referencing a verification recording of the consumer. In some cases the consumer is issued a refund.
..."
They might have a connection to some overseas call center handling both telemarketing and outsourced customer service.
Dispute any charges as fraudulent through your bank, and close your account or block your card number to prevent additional fraud.