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Better Business Bureau’s Consumer Alerts for July

26 July 2007 — Credit Piggybacking is being offered by InstantCreditBuilders.com (Clearwater, FL). Here’s how it works: the company adds a consumer as an unauthorized user on one or more credit cards belonging to individuals with excellent credit. This gives the consumer an inflated credit score, allowing them to obtain mortgages and loans for which they would not normally qualify. The folks with good credit are paid for allowing this piggybacking. A consumer can pay thousands of dollars to piggyback onto another’s credit. Mortgage companies are calling this fraud. Typically when consumers sign a loan document, they are required to sign a statement that says the consumer is not omitting pertinent facts that could impact his or her ability to repay the loan. The company management says they are giving consumers a second chance. From the Better Business Bureau’s perspective, it is an unethical practice.

Senior Alert – A grandmother was called by a young man posing as her grandson. He told her that he caught the wrong kind of fish in Canada and was in jail. He pleaded with her to wire $1,000 to make bail. Grandmother wired the money. He called again and said he now needed $2,000 to pay attorney fees. Grandmother wired the money. When he called again she asked questions she knew he should be able to answer. When he couldn’t, she knew it wasn’t really her grandson and called the police and the BBB. If you receive a call like this, ask for their phone number and tell them you will call back. In the mean time call family members to check out the story and report the call to the BBB.

Blue Hippo Funding helps to finance computers for consumers with poor or no credit. Complainants allege slow delivery, unauthorized withdrawals and contracts not received. One consumer states the company has withdrawn $632 over a period of several months. When he finally received the computer, he stated it wasn’t worth what he paid. Over 1,400 complaints have been filed against this Maryland company, and they have an unsatisfactory record.

Nationwide Consulting came to the BBB’s attention in February 2007. The company’s website tells consumers they can get a grant from the government or a foundation. Consumers are led to believe they can get a grant for personal needs, business, healthcare, education, etc. And it sounds so easy! The company claims, “You decide how much you need,” and “it never needs to be repaid.”    However, consumers who find this company online learn there is a $299 upfront fee. The grant never comes and when a refund is requested, the company employees turn into “ghosts,” as one consumer put it. This Delaware company has an unsatisfactory rating.

Cyberhome Entertainment sells DVD players and LCD TV products. Over 200 complaints have been filed against this California company. On June 8, 2006, a search warrant was executed on the company as a part of an ongoing investigation into the illegal manufacture and sale of products bearing counterfeit trademarks. Agents seized 8 tractor-trailer loads of infringing DVD recorders. The estimated retail value of the 20,000 plus units exceeded $2 million. Cyberhome’s online store states that they are closed and unable to accept orders. The company has an unsatisfactory record.

Receivables Performance Management/RPM Collections is a collection agency located in the state of Washington. Over 325 consumers have filed complaints against the company. One consumer reported that he received a communication from this company telling him he owed a bill from three years ago, but he claims he owes nothing. The company has an unsatisfactory rating due to unanswered and unresolved complaints.

Solutions Gaming Commission located in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands sent a letter to a Jacksonville consumer informing him that he had won $50,000. The letter came with a very authentic-looking check for $3,650 drawn on a Texas company called Advance Lightning Technology account to cover “applicable taxes.” Of course, the company had its name hijacked, and the check is counterfeit. The consumer did the right thing and sent the whole letter, including the fake check, to the BBB. He recognized this as a scam.

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