Yes... I have been victimized too! I have landed here on this website also because I am pissed off to no end and also I want these scumbuckets closed down if it's the last thing that I do.
In early July 2002, I received a call on my cellphone during work from a lady at what she described as US Guardian informing me of an offer that would give me a Visa and a Mastercard totalling a $2000 credit limit. She informed me that if I answered several questions, I would be receiving the cards in the mail. How long have I lived at my present residence, how long at job, home phone, bankruptcy in last 6 months, and finally, checking account number so they could take out the $199 needed for processing the cards.
At first, I declined the offer because she was rude and arrogant and I was driving in traffic at the time of the call. Then about 1 1/2 weeks later, I received a call from a gentleman by the name of Steven Goodwin, making the same pitch. I listened and gave him the info that he requested, thinking to myself that this is a great deal, realizing that I have had my credit damaged by a divorce and a bankruptcy. After relaying the info, Steve informed me that I would get a follow-up call after a security check verifying my info that I gave him. Instead, he calls my wife at home and gets her all flustered because she doesn't have an idea yet as to what is going on.
She calls me at work and tells me what happened. She is rather angry but says that the offer is given approval. She also wondered if it was a good idea to conduct business like this over the phone. I then started to ask myself if this was good and I started to get an awful weird feeling. I had never conducted business like this ever... it was always in the mail. Even though I thought I was dealing with a reputable outfit, had a PIN number to reference and a phone number to call in the event of any problems (416) 289-3634, I felt a somewhat degree of comfort and assurance that this was legit.
Steve informed me that I was going to have an electronic withdrawal from our checking account on July 26. Just several days prior, my wife and I stuck our necks out and bought a new car for which we had to write a check for a larger down payment than we would have liked to. We had planned on these cards coming like we were promised.
On Saturday July 27, I called the automated bank system to see if the funds were withdrawn yet. NO. I then became a little angry because I had scraped the bucket to deposit these funds for the withdrawal. After discussing this matter over the weekend, my wife and I agreed that this matter smelled like a dead rat! Monday July 29, I called the bank to put a stop-payment on this withdrawal. When asked what the name of the organization was, I replied that it was US Guardian. I spent $15 and it will last a year. I also called the number that I was given and explained to a rep that I wanted to cancel the deal and he informed me that it would be cancelled.
The rep at my bank informed me at the time that the stop-payment wouldn't take effect for 24 hours, so if the debit came through Monday night... I would be out of luck. I called Tuesday morning and it did not come through. I gave a sigh of relief thinking this was over. Then Wed. morning I called the bank. A $199 debit had posted Tues. night. Knowing what had happened, I talked to a bank rep over the phone and he explained that a debit had come in under the name of First Capital, not US Guardian!
Infuriated, I then called the US Guardian phone number, demanding an explanation to several things. Why First Capital? A rep informed me that US Guardian bought out First Capital and that is why the debit was successful. No one ever informed me of First Capital. I thought I was dealing with US Guardian. And the phone service is incredible... not like other lines where you wait for the next available person. No... here you get a constant busy signal or get relayed to a message machine which never returns a call.
When finally getting through, I was informed that I would receive the cards in no later than 17 business days which would be about the week of August 19. On August 19, my wife spoke with a rep who didn't seem to have any information at all. She then demanded to speak to a supervisor. Charles, a supervisor the explained that the cards were shipped in the mail on August 2. She asked from where... Hong Kong? I knew then that I was screwed. She was told we could expect a "packet" shortly and when told that we no longer wanted the cards, he said to return the "packet" and a refund would be applied sometime in October.
Today, I get a "packet" alright! Upon opening it, I discover no credit cards, but instead a bunch of benefits entitling me to cheap legal help, cheap prescription plans, cheap vacations and a coupon book for various national chains. I didn't ask for this shit nor was I told that I going to get this. Oh yes, don't let me forget... there were several Visa and Mastercard applications with other firms enclosed... which require additional fees on top of the $199 I already paid!
I am F&& LIVID! I am determined and hellbent to shut these SOB's down. And I need whatever help you can offer. But furthermore, I see the only way to put a stop to these people is with sheer numbers. I don't really care about the $199 anymore. I learned a lesson and I learned it the hard way, but I do feel really sorry for the more unfortunate folks ready to get suckered like the rest of us did and it is continuing at this very moment.
I've already been at this computer writing this letter and doing other pertinent research for about 6 hours and I plan to spend many, many more hours doing so. I am a government employee and I have to say that these slimeballs have finally met their match. I will put them away and get restitution if I have to do it myself. I've already accumulated a whole consortium of data... consumer agencies in Canada, etc. and I will get results. I am confident. I ask anyone now who was victimized by these slimers to drop me a line at: Steve Copenheaver, P.O. Box 30024, Las Vegas, Nevada 89173-0024. Please include your name, address and phone number if you feel in doing so. I will correspond and if response is phenomenal like I expect, we will launch an attack these people will never forget. We've got to get up off our asses and quit feeling sorry about this mistake we made and fight. Thank you and I hope we all stick together.
Steve
Las Vegas, Nevada
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