The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota is alerting consumers about a Las Vegas company called Funds Direct, who, according to a pattern of complaints noted by the BBB of Southern Nevada, debits consumer’s accounts for $30 without their authorization. Some consumers have reported that due to the debits, they were charged account overdraft fees and in some cases, were forced to close their accounts.
"Two Minnesota consumers have discovered this company has charged their bank accounts, and our concern is that there are other consumers in our area who might be getting hit with the same charge unawares," said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of the BBB.
Some consumers report they had no contact with Funds Direct and had never heard of them until they noticed a $30 charge on their bank statements. Others have stated the company promised refunds within 7-10 days, but then failed to follow through, despite their terms, which state, “If you feel that for any reason you are not completely satisfied with our services we offer a no question 30-day money back guarantee.”
On their website, Funds Direct promises to secure funding for customers within 90 days, regardless of credit score, job status or income level - or they will allegedly provide a refund. Their website also guarantees “instant" cash; however, the information cannot be accessed until a password and an email address are given through an unsecure site.
The BBB of Southern Nevada recently called the company representing a consumer who was charged the $30 membership fee. Their call was directed to a call center. The company representative they spoke to refused to provide the company’s actual physical location, refused to transfer the call to a supervisor, and also refused to answer questions as to where they acquired the consumer’s debit account information. However, the telemarketer they spoke with confirmed he was not located in Las Vegas and that he answered phone calls for a variety of companies. After being asked the same questions repeatedly, the telemarketer finally agreed to transfer the call to a supervisor, at which point he hung up.
Consumers who have unauthorized debit charges should speak with their banks immediately and consider closing their account. The BBB is still trying to determine where the company is getting the information to debit consumers' accounts.
Since the end of August, the BBB has received 87 complaints against the company, which holds an F rating for complaint volume and seriousness of complaints. The company has responded to some BBB complaints with a form letter stating refunds have been given for the withdrawals as well as the overdraft fees. Some consumers report never receiving the promised refunds.
