The above mentioned company has managed to put me in a terrible financial situation along with an extreme amount of stress and on the verge of a complete nervous breakdown. Anyway, I did not sign up for any services with this internet company nor did I use any of their services or accept anything from them but they did not seem to have any difficulties withdrawing money electronically without my permission from my checking account.
On 12/13/09, they took $49.95 and on 12/29, they took $14.95 and a few other small amounts. Since I had no clue that this fraud was going on with my checking account I ended up being overdrawn, which by the way had never happened to me in my entire life. My bank, Members Choice Federal Credit Union continued to pay my bills and although in their own way, they state that they were assisting me. This help ended up in the accumulation of approx. $480.00 in courtesy pay fee charges before I realized what was happening. Then between PVC and the bank helping me, I was then close to $500 in the hole and I am still there.
At present, my bills are late now which will result in more charges because payments will be late and those that are late to the credit card companies will result in additional charges such as late payment fees, over the limit fees and excessive interest charges and all of this falls back onto PVC getting into my checking account without my knowledge or permission.
After hours and being hung up on and threats, I did end up getting someone with their company to agree to give me a refund but get this scam. However, they would not put the money back into the account the way they took it, if they would have done it, I could have proved to the bank that their charges were not approved and would have been able to get some of the courtesy pay fees rescinded. But PVC told me that it was their policy any refund had to be mailed. Also, I was told that I would only be issued a pro-rated refund, like they did me a favor in issuing a partial refund for a service I did not know existed.
When check arrived it was only for $42.53 yet, the original charge they relieved me of was $49.95 on 12/14 and it seems the one after that taken on 12/29 for $14.95 and the other small amounts were not even taken into consideration. Well right there, shows everyone it's a rip-off because if they issued a partial refund of the earlier charge a full refund of the later charge should have been issued. Another point is if a company can get into your account electronically to remove funds, why does their refund policy not allow them to return it the same way?
Included with my partial refund, there was a letter stating that per my request they have enclosed a refund for membership fees. As per policy and membership is cancelled and that should I implement a reversal of charges from my banking institution after receipt of this check that I will open myself to a legal action and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Love that one.
As for my bank, I do understand that they continued to pay additional checks I had written and debits I had allowed so I would not have any bounced payments due to insufficient funds. I wish they had notified me sooner in regards to the large amount of courtesy fees being charged to me and that my account was in the hole. I have had this checking account for many years and never once went in the red nor bounced a check.
I was aware of the courtesy pay service but it had never been explained to me how the process worked and I assumed if the time came that I ever did need this service that I would be notified and that it would be considered more on the order of a loan not the individual %30 a whack charges. When I did become aware I spoke to the local branch and although they seemed sympathetic, they more or less told me that there was nothing they could do regarding the unapproved charges by any company nor could they remove any of the courtesy fees so I was left on my own.
So far, I have had to sell many cherished possessions such as my wedding rings, family heirlooms etc. in the attempt to cover the unapproved fees and courtesy charges. I hope that there is someone to assist with the protection of Americans from net scammers and theft. My husband served this country in the Navy for 23 years and my son is serving now. Meanwhile, I and countless others are being scammed and destroyed here at home. Will someone in power please step in and take this company down?
Thank you all for reading and take care. This entire incident has put me through an almost intolerable amount of anxiety and stress so my hope is that others will read this information and not be destined to share in the same nightmare. Something needs to be done regarding internet electronic withdrawal scams and excessive bank courtesy fee charges. In this day and time, when people are losing their jobs right and left, not getting cost of living increases on social security, rising gas prices and rising costs of all living expenses, the last thing we need is more scams which could lead to more bankruptcy and loss of our homes.
I myself am dealing with this after losing my job of 19 years and don't know where to turn now. Due to the PVC Company doing what they have done the money situation for my family has snowballed into financial ruin and almost the end of my 34 year marriage. In conclusion, it did not help that the bank added all the fees although they were in their own way I suppose trying to help.
