Action: Better Business Bureau reminds us to react critically

I am enclosing a copy of my Nov. 2 order for the "Secret Banking System" from Michael J. Palmer Inc. in Dallas, my letter of Nov. 20 requesting a refund and my letter of Jan. 18 requesting a refund. Please try to get my refund from this person. Although it is a small amount, I want it back on principle. It's mine. Thank you for anything you can do. James Meehan

Response: Michael J. Palmer said that he not only needed to verify with his bank that your check had cleared, but he is short of staff and the refund was delayed because of an oversight on his part. He said that it was on its way to you, and you have let us know that you received it.

We also did our customary check of the company on the Better Business Bureau Web site (www.bbb.org). According to the Better Business Bureau serving metropolitan Dallas, Michael J. Palmer Inc., a work-at-home company, is too new in bureau files to report on customer experience.

The site also says that "callers to the bureau report being asked for $20 to learn about a secret banking system that will earn them $5,000 per bank account. The bureau is not aware of any system that will easily or automatically earn such sums of money. The bureau has not been able to obtain a telephone number for the company. (Palmer's letter to Action also did not contain a phone number.) Before paying any money, have the plan reviewed by your own attorney. There are no secret banking systems. Do not count on get-rich-quick schemes."

The site warns against paying upfront fees for work-at-home opportunities, which are often described as voice mail retrieval, reading e-mail, stuffing or mailing envelopes, processing mail, being a mailer, updating mailing lists, typing labels, secretarial work, e-commerce or computer work.

In the bureau's experience, these often end up being a variation on a chain letter: You end up doing to others what you have had done to you. In other words, you end up selling the information you purchased to others, with the idea being that the more you sell, the more you make.

The site says that these schemes are regularly shut down by U.S. Postal Inspectors and that "if you are calling to complain about a problem with this company, and the complaint involves one of the opportunities just described, please file your complaint instead with the postal inspectors by calling toll-free 1-800-372-8347."

The Better Business Bureau site also says that these aren't the only work-at-home opportunities. Others may be described as medical billing opportunities, reviewing movies, reading books or assembly of various products. You likely won't find a job that pays good money for easy work done at home. Requesting money upfront is another warning sign.

Finally, although the bureau urges consumers (as do we) to check out unfamiliar companies with it before doing business, be aware that because these kinds of companies come and go quickly, the absence of complaints does not necessarily mean that a company is legitimate. Furthermore, victims may be too embarrassed to complain or the scheme may be structured in such a way that any problems appear to be the victim's fault.

Capital One credit card company is giving my husband and me nightmares. On Nov. 14, someone called my husband around 8 p.m. and stated that we owed $791.11. My husband tried to say that we were not the right people. We have never had a Capital One credit card. However,the person on the phone insisted and stated that if we did not pay immediately, we would be fined heavily. So we sent in a check for that amount.

My husband also requested a bill. When two weeks passed without receiving it, he called. At that time he was told that it was a mistake and we'd be sent a check. We are still waiting for it, even though he has called several times since. We would appreciate any help you can give us. Margaret and Howard Williams

Response: We never got a response from Capital One or Allied Interstate, the collection agency to which "your" account was turned over, so thanks for letting us know that you finally got the check, nearly four months after this saga began.

Damage during tenting

On Dec. 5, I had my house tented for termites. I had talked beforehand with the foreman about avoiding my plants, and the workers were careful with my azaleas. However, they killed a number of other new plants that were more than 5 feet from the house. They also broke a glass dome to my outside light. I sent the company pictures of the damage and stated what it would cost to replace these items. The cost was $29. It's not the cost; it's the principle

The company did get rid of the termites, but it makes me angry to think that I must pay these careless people $90 a year to keep the warranty in effect for the tenting. If you can get these people to reimburse my $29, it would be appreciated. Janet Mann

Response: Most contracts for termite extermination by tenting have a clause that exempts the company from responsibility for damage to your home or landscaping during the process. You did not send us a copy of your contract, so we cannot be sure it contained this clause. We suggest that you read your contract carefully. If it does not exempt the company from liability, send us a copy and we will take another look at your complaint.

Action solves problems and gets answers for you. If you have a question, or your own attempts to resolve a consumer complaint have failed, write Times Action, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or call your Action number, (727) 893-8171, or, outside of Pinellas, toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 8171, to leave a recorded request.

Requests will be accepted only by mail or voice mail; calls cannot be returned. We will not be responsible for personal documents, so please send only photocopies. If your complaint concerns merchandise ordered by mail, we need copies of both sides of your canceled check.

We may require additional information or prefer to reply by mail; therefore, readers must provide a full mailing address, including ZIP code. Names of letter writers will not be omitted except in unusual circumstances. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright