CONTACT

Carol Odell, Executive Director/CEO Better Business Bureau of the Pikes Peak Region
Ofc 719/636-5076 ext. 111
Fax 719/636-5078
Email carolo@coloradosprings.bbb.org

A local consumer contacted the BBB after providing her credit card information and possibly other personal information over the phone to a company called “Consumer Protection Publications” located in Tempe, AZ. According to the consumer, the company offered to consolidate her credit cards at a lower interest rate for a one-time fee of $449.00. The consumer made several attempts to contact the company to cancel the contract but was transferred several times and told the “supervisor” was out of the office.*

Consumer Protection Publication has an unsatisfactory record with the Better Business Bureau of Central/Northern Arizona due to a pattern of unanswered complaints and failure to correct the underlying reasons for the complaints. Complaints allege misrepresentation of the product, difficulty canceling the contract or even contacting the company, rude treatment by company representatives, and confusion over the company’s refund policies and procedures.

According to the BBB in Central/Northern Arizona, the company is actually selling a packet of general credit information including the names of certain banks that supposedly will accept applications. The BBB of Central/Northern Arizona has been informed by several banks that the telemarketers are not authorized to make any offers in their names or use their names in phone solicitations or information packets.

The Better Business Bureau suggests the following:

Four telephone calls in one morning! The Better Business Bureau has been bombarded with telephone calls from seniors who are the target of telemarketers soliciting for credit card protection. In this case, the caller claims to be with “Visa” and states that there has been a mistake with their credit card records. The senior is asked to confirm his or her name and address and provide their checking account number. After “confirming” this information, the senior is contacted again and told that “Visa” needs to debit $289.00 out of their checking account to "secure” their credit card. If the senior hesitates, the caller becomes very angry and argumentative and employs high-pressure tactics. If the senior declines permission, the caller hangs-up.

The BBB contacted the company using a number provided by consumers. The phone is answered “Premiere Discount Club.” A company representative provided information that the company is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and has been in business two months. Reportedly, for the $289.00 fee the company offers lifetime credit card protection, an anti-telemarketing device, and identity theft survival information. The Oklahoma BBB does not have any file information on the company.

The Better Business Bureau offers the following information regarding credit card protection:

• Determine if the offer is from a bank or a credit card processing firm. Compare the offer with local banking or lending institutions.
• If the offer is from a credit card processing firm, carefully evaluate what is involved in the offer. Many third party credit card offers charge fees to obtain credit card applications. Additional fees may be required once the application is received.
• Do not supply any credit card, checking account or social security numbers to any unsolicited party. Do not volunteer even the smallest amount of information, like the expiration dates of credit cards or routing codes from personal checks. If you do, contact your credit card company or bank immediately. You may need to cancel your credit card or close your checking account.
• Contact the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Hotline at 877/438-4338 if you suspect you are a victim of identity theft.
• Do not feel pressured, frightened or intimidated by telemarketers, if you do – hang up the phone!
• To eliminate telemarketing calls, register at no cost with the Colorado No Call at 888/249-9097 or www.coloradonocall.com.
• Check out the company with the Better Business Bureau at 636-1155 or search the website at www.coloradosprings.bbb.org for local businesses, or the national website at www.bbb.org.

Better Business Bureau