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USA Benefits put a charge on my checking account. What to do?

Date: Fri, 08/26/2005 - 09:46

Submitted by twokidtwocat
on Fri, 08/26/2005 - 09:46

Posts: 602 Credits: [Donate]

Total Replies: 420


I received a charge on my checking account from usa benefits for 9.95 .I did not authorize this.I received an email from them about 3 weeks ago about receiving a free credit report from them and I emailed them back and told them I was not interested.
I think they got my checking account information from a payday loan company that I had used.How can I get my money back.My paycheck had not been deposited yet so I also got a 30 dollar fee from them charging my checking account.I emailed them again but have not received any response.I have never even logged into this site to register with them.
Thanks for your help ,It seems like every step I take forward,I take two backwards.


You can reach them at 800-809-5986. They charged my account for 9.95 as well. I called them, they cancelled my account and said they would refund my money. That was a couple of days ago and I haven't received a refund though. But they say they are. Call them and see what they say, but be prepared to hold for a little while.


lrhall41

Submitted by Michele on Fri, 08/26/2005 - 09:54

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Thanks for the number.I have tried to email them many times but the email keeps coming back as unable to deliver.Hopefully we will get a refund,I dont want to pay the bank more money to stop this.I talked to the payday loan company and they said they did not give my checking account information to anyone.Does anyone know how they could have gotten it.Like I said before I never registered for a free credit report or anything from this or any other company.It worries me that people can just take money out of your checking account without your consent.Now I have a 30 dollar overdraft fee to pay that Im sure I wont be able to get them to pay.


lrhall41

Submitted by twokidtwocat on Sun, 08/28/2005 - 23:20

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It was when you registered for one of those payday loans. If you registered for 500fastcash United loans ameriloan or Oneclick Cash to do a payday loan that is how your info was obtained. In the fine print of the loan agreement it states that you are enrolling in USA Benefits. I didnt know this until my account had been charged numerous times for this and I couldnt figure out what it was for. Because I said yes to receiving a free credit report that enrolled me to receiving USA Benefits. I would keep calling them until someone answers.


lrhall41

Submitted by Rhonda28 on Mon, 08/29/2005 - 17:57

( Posts: 411 | Credits: )


I called them and they said that I would not recevie a refund.I went back and found the first email they sent me in old spam mail.It said once you complete registration you will enjoy the benefits and an link to complete.I never clicked on this link nor did I ever complete the registration.Shouldnt they have to notify you a few days before they charge your checking account for anything.What can I do to get my money back?Who can I report them to?I would like to report them to ever place I can.I cant believe that Im trying so hard to get my head above water and I get scamed again.I dont need a copy of my credit report I can get one for free.


lrhall41

Submitted by twokidtwocat on Tue, 08/30/2005 - 10:37

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All the records of the companies are maintained by the FTC, BBB. You should firstly file formal complaints with them and request urgent action.


lrhall41

Submitted by roxette on Tue, 08/30/2005 - 12:31

( Posts: 4009 | Credits: )


It will be always beneficial if you pull your credit report from the following three credit reporting agencies.

Equifax

Equifax Credit Information Services, Inc
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
To order report: 1-800-685-1111
To report fraud: 1-800-525-6285

Experian (formerly TRW)

National Consumer Assistance Center
PO Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013
To order report: 1-888-397-3742
To report fraud: 1-888-397-3742

TransUnion LLC

Consumer Disclosure Center
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
To order report: 1-800-888-4213
To report fraud: 1-800-916-8800


lrhall41

Submitted by roxette on Tue, 08/30/2005 - 14:30

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I too have been a vitim of this $9.95 fee. I have tried calling to no avail. They are ONLY open m-th until 9 pm EST. I am on the west coast. What can I do? Are they going to take this money eevery month????
How can I stop them?


lrhall41

Submitted by on Wed, 08/31/2005 - 19:50

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Yes they will take the money from your account every month until you call to cancel. My husband had to call and cancel our membership and we didnt even notice until we were going through our bank statements to reconcile them. We were provided with a number from the bank. Are you able to call them during your lunch break or anything? If all else fails, send them something in writing certified return receipt.


lrhall41

Submitted by Rhonda28 on Wed, 08/31/2005 - 20:00

( Posts: 411 | Credits: )


Perchance do you have their address? I plan to call them tomorrow morning EARLY. I also plan to dispute the debit through my bank and they will refund my money but this is such a rip off.


lrhall41

Submitted by on Wed, 08/31/2005 - 20:07

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Silly me I got a Payday loan BUT none of my paperwork has the fine print listed...HMMMMMMM How can this be legal???


lrhall41

Submitted by on Wed, 08/31/2005 - 20:13

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Thats what I did. I got a payday loan as well. Do you remember who the payday loan was through?


lrhall41

Submitted by Rhonda28 on Wed, 08/31/2005 - 20:21

( Posts: 411 | Credits: )


They have a general questionairre and they ask if you want to obtain a free credit report. The default is yes. There are several different companies that are associated with one another. I found this out when I received a letter from a couple of them and it had the exact same wording just a different telephone number to call!


lrhall41

Submitted by Rhonda28 on Wed, 08/31/2005 - 20:30

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One click loan do they charge you everytime you visit the site? Even if you do not accept the loan?


lrhall41

Submitted by on Wed, 08/31/2005 - 20:39

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GIRLLLLLLLLLLL do I hear you on that. I have cut up all but ONE of my charge cards. I get paid once a month (like welfare) and NO child support so..... you can figure out my situation. I am looking forward to making positive changes to regain my $$$$ control.


lrhall41

Submitted by on Wed, 08/31/2005 - 21:05

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This site has really helped me have a more positive outlook. You should register, so that a debt counselor can contact you and give you advice too!!! I felt like I was going to fall apart. I thought I was the only one who got into this type of situation. I have about 9 payday loans out there and defaulted on all of them.


lrhall41

Submitted by Rhonda28 on Wed, 08/31/2005 - 21:08

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I just spoke with this company today, and what's been said before is absolutely correct, they say the 9.95 charge is non-refundable, I even spoke with a supervisor. I asked if there was a way to see if their services actually were used ---like if there is a login or password assigned etc... they said they don't keep track of that information. They wouldn't give me any information from like tech support for the website either. If you go to the website usamemberbenefits.com there's nothing to it, it takes you directly to equifax's website. I've gone through my bank to dispute, and now I have to cancel my card and get a new card just to get my money back. Small sacrifice I guess. New card, new changes, new habits....that's what we're trying to do anyway. Lesson well learned. It's good this forum's here to help others not make the same mistakes.

Good idea of reporting them to BBB I think if we all do that it will help greatly...


lrhall41

Submitted by on Thu, 09/01/2005 - 07:51

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I called these heathens this morning and was quite curt with them. They alleged that i ordered the service on 7/27 when I applied for a payday loan. I was paying one OFF!!!!! Renee (the CS person) cancelled my account. I told her I wanted a refund. She claims that i used the acct. I asked her to send me proof. She could not. I told her i was reporting the site to the fcc and bbb. OHHHHH then her tune changed. She claims she spoke to a supervisor and that I would be reimbursed the 9.95. I asked for a confirmation #. Which she gave me and I warned her if I do not receive a credit in 10 days and further debits were taken from my account I would report the site again and shut them down.
After speaking to her I quickly called my bank. They will dispute the transaction and the CS rep has placed a 6 month stop payment on the account for that amount and from that company.
Get angry and go for the gusto SECURLYHIS!


lrhall41

Submitted by on Thu, 09/01/2005 - 21:03

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Supposedly they also sent out an e-mail confirming my enrollment. I will be contacting the BBB about this one.


lrhall41

Submitted by on Wed, 09/07/2005 - 09:31

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i just found a deduction from my online checking in the amount of 9.95. called # and was told they would refund monies within 3 days? would lik to know their mailing address?


lrhall41

Submitted by on Wed, 09/07/2005 - 17:29

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For the past few months this company has been charging my checking account as well.

I gave them the benefit of the doubt and told the rep when I called that I would log into their website and see if they offered anything that was worth $9.95 per month.

They had to send me " link to access the site."

I cannot follow the link, so I have been paying this company that I did not authorize for a service I did not order and cannot use.

What scammers!

I sent a copy of my complaint to the NYS Attorney General. If they do not refund our money and countless others they have scammed, they will answer to a HUGE fine that Elliott Spitzer will force them to pay.

Disgusting!


lrhall41

Submitted by on Wed, 09/07/2005 - 18:51

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Company
USA Benefits
Address:
1 Millenium Dr
Uniontown Pennsylvania 15401
U.S.A.
Phone:
800-809-5986
Go to google.com and type in the phone number without the 1- and you will see a few sites about this "so called company" I am on the phone with them now and they are stating that I authorized this payment and I also recieved a confirmation. When telling them that I know this is a huge scam and I want the money back, the lady started belittling me. I am going to report them to the BBB and file a discrepancy on my with my bank. I suggest anyone that has been scammed by these so called Benefit place to report them to BBB. The only benefit is to them... they get all of your personal information and can do whatever they want with your account. Good luck....


lrhall41

Submitted by on Thu, 09/08/2005 - 06:21

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Hey everyone I was just hit this morning with this transaction of $9.95. I talk with a rep from my bank and she told me to come in and speak with member services and fill out and affidavent to stop this transaction from happen again. I would have to pay $15.00, but I feel that it is worth it, so they will not continue to debit my account, she also said that on the form it ask the amout, she said to put any, because if we leave it at $9.95 they can take it up a cent or even more. I hope this help someone, because I sure did get suckered. I truly be glad when I can get out of debt from these payday loans, and they will never heard from me again.


lrhall41

Submitted by on Thu, 09/08/2005 - 06:47

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I applied for a loan on line with "Sonic"...this company jumped in the middle of my application took my information on my checking and debited my account within just a few minutes and charged me $9.95! How do I get it back????


lrhall41

Submitted by on Thu, 09/08/2005 - 10:28

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Well folks after over a week and two threatening phone calls from ME, I finally got a refund. Please be careful the next time you take out a loan. Those dang pop ups are a pain!!!!AND COSTLY!!!!!! My best to all of you. Rhonda, again thank you so much!


lrhall41

Submitted by on Fri, 09/09/2005 - 07:38

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I view my bank account every day on line and noticed the $9.95 taken out of my account this mourning. I called my bank and they gave me the 800 to call them to dispute it. I also called the company I got my payday loan threw OneClick Cash and they informed me that they have had lots of call regarding this that thay are not affiliated with this company and do not share my personnel information that it had to come from a pop up when I was applying. I called USA Benifits and they said I didn't decline this offer when I was applying even thow I didn't accept it either so I was to receive 30 days access to my credit report and then be billed the $9.95 and I wouldn't be getting a credit. I told them to cancel my account with tem and give me a supervisior. After yelling at the supervisior I was informed I would get my credit but not till the 19th a total week. He also tryed to tell me that there information is on my loan application not from a pop up. I have looked threw all my paperwork and there is no mention of this service. HOW do they get away with this and HOW do we stop it? I am going to report them to the better business burieu I am so MAD.


lrhall41

Submitted by on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 06:58

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So far this usa benefits has tried to charge my account for $9.95 and i called my bank and what they did was block them from trying to take money out and it was $15 fee to stop them. I called them as well to tell them to cancel the membership that i never applied for. I did let them know that i was contacting the attorney gerneral office and the better business Bureau


lrhall41

Submitted by on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 10:25

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I too was a victim of these fools. I noticed $9.95 had been taken out of my account and went to work with my bank to find out why. I was told that the usa benefits purchased my banking account information from the place I did a pay day loan with. I told the bank that I didn't authorize any charges and to make sure it never happens again, my wife and I closed our checking account today and opened a new one and I can guarentee it won't happen again.

I used to work for the BBB of Central Florida and took action as well but my bank advised me to file criminal fraud charges against the usa benefits and I did. What a mess....


lrhall41

Submitted by on Tue, 09/13/2005 - 22:30

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Has anyone been able to get their money back?? And How do you sotp them from getting into your account every month? I just got a charge last night and it caused an overdraft of $35.00!!!


lrhall41

Submitted by on Wed, 09/14/2005 - 04:46

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i want a representative to call me at 832-630-2586 because i have a charge from usa benefits that was not authorized from my checking and it has made me very furious because it has made me delinquent in other checks that were insufficient funds due to this charge that was notr authorized from your company..

call asap 832-630-2586 or 832-249-9639 erika martinez


lrhall41

Submitted by on Wed, 09/14/2005 - 16:59

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i just checked my acount to see if my money was in and i saw an overdraft fee attached was the name usa benifits. this really ticks me off cause i need the money. they probably wait till theres no money in the account to send it. to say that am am upset though is an understatment but i wanna keep this rated PG :evil:


lrhall41

Submitted by on Wed, 09/14/2005 - 21:58

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This is a fraud... They charged my account 9.95 without authorization. I spoke with the first rep and then asked for a supervisor. I told the supervisor that what they were doing was illegal and that I would contact the Attorney General in PA, which is where they are located. After saying that they got on the horn rather quickly and agreed to refund me and also promise that if they sent me back the money that I would not report them to my bank or to the AG's office. So, they are aware of the scam. After I receive my refund I will be calling. This is very bad!!


lrhall41

Submitted by on Thu, 09/15/2005 - 08:12

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I noticed yesterday that they took money out of my account as well. I too have applied with payday loan websites. I called my bank and they are sending me papers in the mail to complete saying that I did not authorize this charge. If that does not work I will seek legal action, and get more than 9.95 out of the deal. I also am going to report them to a government official so they cant do this to other people.


lrhall41

Submitted by on Thu, 09/15/2005 - 09:26

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ok i just called them and they cancelled my account but the guy said they would not refund my money. i told him that my lawyer would be in touch


lrhall41

Submitted by on Thu, 09/15/2005 - 09:30

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I ran across this message board while doing a Google Search because I accidently deleted the original message sent from USA Benefits outlining how this crap works. I did apply with a Payday loan place, but I also never clicked on anything. I saw the offer and I closed it out all together and now here I am having to call and cancel. I called the number from one of the previous guest you listed it on the site(BEN)..Thank you so much. The rep said I was set up for a 9.95 withdrawal to take place 10/15/05 and now this won't happen. She gave me a Auth number for the cancellation, I also requested an email or fax stating that my membership has been cancelled. She said that another department will send it to me in 24hours. And BELIEVE ME!!! If I don't get that email I too will be calling back and I will clown until I get it. I don't have NO extra or I wouldn't be seeking out a dog on payday loan...This is really crazy. I told her that I have heard nothing positive about them PERIOD...so hopefully being proactive I won't incurr any unecessary charges..This was really great to be able to hear and use the info on this site to get this resolved...Thanks everyone!!!!!!!


lrhall41

Submitted by on Thu, 09/15/2005 - 11:29

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They got me too. I just called and all of the other calls and threats must have helped. They said they will credit my bank account within 3 days and they cancelled my account with them. Thanks to all of you for the info.


lrhall41

Submitted by on Fri, 09/16/2005 - 06:57

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I too was charged 9.95 for theridiculous USA Benefits website. They take advantage of people that are already short on cash. Anyways I just called the 800 number listed in the messages above and cancelled and I am receiving a refund. I let them know I worked for an internet company for four years as a supervisor and know how it works. If I didn't get my money back I would report this to every company possible to bring them down. I also said I was on-line and there is seventeen pages of complaints. Hope everyone gets a refund!


lrhall41

Submitted by on Fri, 09/16/2005 - 08:10

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