Gas Voucher/Magazine Scam
Complaint
linda
Country: United States
I wrote a complaint a few months ago about a company in out of Florida called "Central Rewards" which promises gas vouchers and magazines for a trial fee of $2.95 but instead the took a total of $125.00 dollars from my account within a one week period. I called them and was told that I agreed to the charges and that I would only get a refund on just one payment of $49.99. I pleaded for them to return all my money and they refused. GOOD NEWS !!!! After I contacted the BBB in Florida, they refunded another $49.99 and my last refund of 25.00 will be to my bank acct in 7 days. I just wanted to let you guys know that I got the results I wanted and was all my money back and I learned somethings out of this,and that there are crooks out there that don't care about us as consumers, but thanks to the BBB they responed fast. If I hadn't ran across this website/Complaint Wire, I wouldnt have know about other people that were duped by this same company. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE on getting your issues resolved, and WAKE UP!!!
Comments
These cramming scams know that, so they are built on hiding the "terms" that they later claim authorize their fraudulent charges. Then they make promises or excuses or just stonewall consumers calling to get their money back. If they can delay the consumer's bank dispute past the 60 day dispute window, they are usually home free, since it is not likely to be worth suing over these small charges scams.
Most fraudulent telemarketing, and most of the "health product" scams reported on this site under "health & Beauty", follow this pattern, using any excuse ("free trial", "shopping spree", "gas voucher", etc.) to get your account number.
FIRST 2.95,25.00 THEN 49.95 ,THREE DAYS APART.I WENT TO THE BANK TO
FILE A UNAUTHORIZE CHARGE ON MY ACCOUNT.
I LATER GOT WITH WITH SOMEONE THAT THE BANK HAD GIVEN NE A NUMBER FOR .
THE PERSON THAT I SPOKE TO GOT VERY DEFENSIVE THE MOMENT THAT I ASK FOR HER NAME SHE EVEN TOLD ME THAT I COULD USE MY LAST NAME.
THE ONLY INFORMATION THAT SHE GAVE ME WAS CENTRAL REWARDS. SHE WAS SO RUDE, IKNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT ,THAT WAS NOT A REAL COMPANY
I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET MY MONEY BACK
Earlier, they used the "gas voucher" ruse to steal $58 per month charges for some fraudulent "discount membership" scam.
The only way to stop their fraudulent charges is to dispute them through your bank and block the card number or close the account.
Looks like they have now jumped on the fraudulent magazine subscription bandwagon, trying to con people out of phony "$1400 5 year subscriptions".
These are usually aimed at extorting payment for "cancellation", typically demanding around $300-$400, which is consistent with sending you magazines you don't even want. The magazines are only sent to create the perception in your mind that you "owe" them for something, that you somehow "accidentally" ordered them, so you are responsible for the whole trumpted up "order", and could "get in trouble" if you don't pay up. It's just a "con", a "shakedown" racket.
Interesting that they send unordered magazines without return addresses. Probably trying to hide from the U.S. Postal Inspector. By law, unordered merchandise is a "gift", and it is illegal to send invoices for unordered merchandise through the U.S. Mail. It is mail fraud, and you should report it to the U.S. Postal Inspector.
File fraud complaints with FTC, your state Attorney General, and the U.S. Postal Inspector. If you get some "collection agency" contacting you, most likely it's just them again, calling and pretending, but if it is one sleazy enough to aid and abet a fraud, file FTC, AG, and Postal Inspector complaints against them as well.
If you sent disputes to the 3 CRAs, are they actually reporting anything?
I wouldn't expect that, but if so, get a consumer attorney and sue their [***] off. They just painted a big target on themselves (and on any CRA stupid enough to help them). You can find a consumer attorney in your state at www.naca.net