BBB HOT TOPICS - FEBRUARY 2009
Below is information on companies marketing to local Pennsylvanians received at your BBB. Information is based on our research as of March 1, 2009. Click on their company name for an updated BBB report. Please take into consideration the importance of the practice and the total performance of the company. To access over four million companies nationwide, visit www.bbb.org.
1. Gasoline Redemption Center marketed a gas voucher redemption program nationwide and locally through auto dealers and retail stores. There have been 2,106 complaints handled by the BBB in the last year. In a pending case filed by the Florida Attorney General on 02/12/09 it is alleged the company engaged in unfair and deceptive marketing of gasoline redemption certificates. BBB files indicate that as of 02/17/09 the company is out of business.
2. Jeff Paul’s Shortcut to Internet Millions – aka Mustang Marketing as seen on TV infomercials, advertises a variety of business opportunity offers. The offers range in price from $39.95, up to thousands of dollars. In complaints filed with the BBB, consumers express dissatisfaction with materials received, allege the company fails to acknowledge cancellation requests, continues deducting monthly charges from their credit or debit account, misrepresents profit potential, gives poor customer service, fails to honor the three day rescission rights, and fails to make refunds. The company responds to some complaints by issuing full or partial refunds, however 52 complaints remain unanswered.
3. UBI Payment Services is sending consumers a solicitation by mail instructing them to answer a simple puzzle and mail their response to Robina Town Centre, Australia in exchange for $5000. With the possibility of exposing yourself to identity theft or illegal foreign lotteries, you are strongly advised to proceed cautiously before responding to this sort of mailing.
3. Custom Silk Creations has established a pattern of complaints from consumers nationwide. Consumer complaints allege that products ordered and paid for were never received, poor customer service, and lack of communication from the business. The company failed to respond to or resolve 16 out of 24 complaints processed by the BBB since the firm’s BBB file was opened in November or 2007.
4. Heat Surge advertises in local newspapers for various household products including an electric fireplace imported from China with Amish crafted mantel made in the USA. BBB processed a total of 244 complaint(s) about this business since 6/7/2007.
5. Commonwealth Marketing Group promotes the use of a credit card through USA Credit and other offers via the internet. The credit card is good only for merchandise purchased from the company’s web site and is not affiliated with the nationally recognized credit cards. Customer complaints allege USA Credit uses a check draft to withdraw funds from the credit applicants’ checking account without the consumer’s knowledge. The company has an unsatisfactory record with the BBB due to a failure to eliminate the basic cause of customer complaints.
6. Grant Companies Exploit Confusion over Stimulus Bill to Rip Off Consumers - Better Business Bureau is warning the public to be extremely wary of companies that offer “free” advice on how to get government grants. Dozens of Web sites claim that, because of the recently passed stimulus package and other actions taken by President Obama, consumers can easily get government grants to pay bills or get out of debt. The way the scam usually works is that consumers are told grant information is available for a small payment by credit card. But buried deep inside the small print of agreements on the sites is enrollment in multiple paid programs. You can count on all sorts of unexpected credit card charges.
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