EZ-1-Rate.com took $69.60 from my account for a service I did not ask for or receive!

On Christmas Eve I looked into my account online and saw a charge for from ez1rate.com for $69.60. I might not have noticed but in the check number posted to my account were completely out of sequence from my normal checks.

The check number was something like 095524. This raised a flag for me since none of my checks go that high. My online banking allows me to see and actually digital image of the check, a great security feature. This check had all pertinent information with my wife’s name on it and was “for 3003 EZ1Rate.com 1-800-923-8939” paid to the order of “Subscription Services”.

Since they had so much information, I almost immediately associated this with the American Advantage Benefits scam, since they had successfully social engineered information from my household about 30 days ago while I was on a business trip.

I went online to check on EZ1Rate.com and it resolved to http://www.ez-1-rate.com/ which (at the time) was a long distance phone service.

Ez-1-rate.com claims to be “Affordable Unlimited Long Distance Carrier, Toll Free Long Distance Company”

This is NOT a service I need since our cell phone providers gives me practically unlimited calls throughout the continental U.S.

I asked my wife about this charge and she mentioned that American Advantage Benefits did offer some sort of long distance service as well as some sort of medical plan (which is strange for an organization that claims to give out U.S. Government grants).

I called the number on the check got an answering machine that sounded exactly like the one for American Advantage Benefits.

Next I called my bank. To my surprise, two separate telephone tellers from my bank told me the only thing I could do was to cancel my account (to stop all future checks from this organization) and call EZ1rate to get my money back. Needless to say, I was upset. That did not sound right. I protested and ask them if there was anything at all I could do to protect my self from this or ANY fraud organization.

Neither of the telephone tellers suggested that I “dispute” the check. I had to go online to learned about Federal Regulation E.

What is Federal Regulation E?
“ This law protects consumers from unauthorized automatic debits from their checking accounts. The consumer has 60 days to dispute any debit taken from their account. To dispute, simply go to your local branch and request a dispute. The funds will then be returned directly to your bank account within 24-48 hours. Please note that if the dispute was authorized you may be liable to pay back three times the amount debited plus any legal and bank fees associated. This law was designed to protect consumers from automatic debits that they did not contract for.”

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff140168.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff167674.htm

HOW TO GET YOUR YOUR MONEY BACK

It is useless to talk to telephone teller. If you call them via a 1800 number they are likely to be in another state and seem to be junior tellers who have perhaps not dealt with any type of fraud or Identity Theft and so don’t really know what to do.

I suggest going into the bank and stating this, “I am a victim of fraud and would like to dispute a charge on my account for a [service/product] that I did not ask for.” Frankly, it is none of their business how this organization got your information. Anyway, how are you supposed to know? For all you know they got it out of your garbage can. Electronic checks do not need your signature the bank knows that and deal with fraud every now and then. All criminals need is your checking account number, routing number (public), Address (public), phone number (public), name (public) and they make up the check number. And even if you did give them your information freely, if you did not agree to the service than they have no right to charge you.

If your bank says that you can not dispute the charge, do not get upset! Ask to talk to the bank manager and drop some knowledge on their ass!

Mention this “According to Federal Regulation E, which is a law that protects consumers from unauthorized automatic debits from their checking accounts, I have 60 days to dispute any debit taken from their account.”

If they still say “no”, DO NOT GET MAD. Simply tell the bank representative (ensure you write down this persons name), that you will have to resolve it with the Banking Commission. Each state has its own banking commission. For example, Colorado’s banking commission is:

http://www.dora.state.co.us/banking/index.htm

The banking commission is dedicated to “A statewide safe and sound banking system” and protecting public interest. If your bank isn’t protecting its members interests, then others should know about it.

Luckily my bank reimbursed my money.

MORE ON EZ-1-RATE

This organization seems to be loosely affiliated with a ring of fraudulent organizations:

American Advantage Benefits: an organization that impersonates a U.S. Government agency (or representative) that has been tasked with giving out government grants. They also offer medical health care coverage and Long distance services. Apparently, they are very diverse!

First National Government Grants: Puppet organization that may actually be American Advantage Benefits.

Both of these organizations are linked to this number: 1-800-923-8939 Finding this out is as easy as searching 800-923-8939 on Google.

What these people will do is record your voice and edit it to accept other services that they are affiliated with. Once they have your digital signature (name, account, routing info, phone number) and your “verbal approval” they can then use your recorded voice for other services.

How can you fight back against these bastards?!

1. Do NOT let these people get away with taking your money back! Remember if you don’t do anything about they will screw someone else.

2. Tell as many people as possible: Submit a ripoff report, send me and email about it (elamb[dot]security[at]gmail[dot]com.) Or put a report on RipoffRepot.com..

3. Report this organization to the webhost they use: abuse@server4you.net