Complaint Review: Beneficial Client Care - Lake Park Florida

I received a phone call one day last week from a male (I never asked his name) offering an unsecured Visa or Mastercard with no fees for the life of the card. Of course this sounds too good to be true, so I asked what the catch was.

He stated it was a one time fee of $246.00, and that this fee was all inclusive of the application fees, sign up fees, and membership fees, paid up front instead of yearly. The only money I would ever have to pay would be whatever I charged on the card after I got it. I have had credit problems in the past and am trying to get it all cleared up, so I thought this would be a great way to add "new" credit to my credit report. But, I was not born yesterday, so I asked the guy on the phone the name of the company he represented and he said "Beneficial Client Care".

I asked if there would be anyway for him to call me back after I could get an opportunity to speak to my husband about it and he said he would arrange for a call back on Monday 8/26/02. He was very friendly during the comversation and never became outraged or forceful, like what I've read in some of the other complaints.

I did speak to my husband, and his only concern was that the interest rate may be 30%, and advised m4e to check inot it, so I did. Monday 8/26/02, before the company was to call back, I punched in Beneficial Client Care into the search bar, and the first site I came across was this one.

I read all the reports on this company, and quite frankly was saddened and disgusted that it has come to this...that companies will not only pressure you to do what THEY want you to do, but then when consumers are persistent in their answers, the companies will go so far as to STEAL the money from your bank account, and the banks are obviously allowing it to happen.

I also went to the Better Business Bureau site on the internet, and pulled this company up. There were 2 listings, one for the Beneficial Client Care out of Florida, and another for a Benficial California, Inc. out of California. The Ca based company has a satisfactory record with the BBB and has been a member of the BBB since 1956. The other company has an unsatisfactory record, specifically with a pattern of no response to consumer complaints. The information the BBB has on file for these two companies (owner names and addresses) are different, but the 866-999-0330 is listed on both company profiles.

This is the part that really threw me. I contacted the more reputable Ca based company, hoping it was them that I had communications with last week and informed them of the info that I had obtained about the phone number being the same. Of course, the people that I spoke to were not sure if this FL company was a subsidiary of theirs or not, but were definitely appalled when I informed them of the reports that I had read. One of the girls that I spoke to, Marci, was very helpful in giving me a list of info to ask for if the other company did call back and instructions on what to do with it. She reassured me that they would follow up on it.

I guess the reason that I am writing this report is to find out if anyone else has done what I have done, and has the discrepancy with the 866 number been noticed before? Does any one else out there have any info? How do I find out if these companies are related, and if not, which one is the one that contacted me? According to the reps that I've talked to, both companies do the same thing (offering credit cards), but one is honest, and more professional than the other. I am waiting on the BBB in both areas to open this morning so I can put a bug in their ear.

I will be waiting and reading, so let me know.

Deidra

Lynn, Alabama

Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Beneficial Client Care

STOP! ..before you think about using the Better Business Bureau (BBB)... CLICK HERE to see how other consumers were victimized by the BBB's false or misleading information. Don't be fooled! It has been reported, when there are thousands of complaints and other investigations underway by authorities, the BBB has no choice but to finally give an UNsatisfactory rating to a BBB member business that is paying the BBB big membership fees every year. When a business is reported that is NOT a BBB member, BBB files WILL more likely show an UNsatisfactory rating, then reportedly shake down that company to become a member of the BBB. One positive thing about the BBB is, either way, if a business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB, you can be sure, the business is bad. But what about all those BBB member businesses that had complaints filed against them? Consumers never get to hear about them. What about the BBB advertising to the public? Is this a false and misleading perception they are giving about consumer confidence when dealing with a business? Click here to understand more of what consumers and business alike are saying about the BBB. You decide. ..Remember. The BBB membership is not earned, it's paid for!