- Discussion board

Hi colin.
I have always been carrying balances from one credit card to another. Despite of this, I always pay more than the minimum and on time. Around summer of 2000, I received a postcard in my mail. It was sent from "Capitol choice consumer credit." The postcard says I have been preapproved for a credit limit of $4000.00 with a 0% interest for 6 months and then only 6% thereafter. Not only that, I can even get a 5 days and 4 nights in florida and 1 free admission to disney theme park all for free as an added bonus. This all sounds good to be true. I did call them and apply for the card. At the time when I applied, I was asked to give them my checking account# because they needed to withdraw a $200.00 as part of the processing fee but would return that amount with a coupon voucher. Two weeks later, I did receive a package from them. In the package, there is a card, four coupon vouchers, each worth $50.00 good toward the purchase of their product. There are even a catalogs featuring all kinds of household products. The price listed in the catalogs are twice as much as I will get in a local shopping mall. More amazing is, I card I got is not a credit card, it is a merchandise card. It can only be used to buy products from their catalogs. I then called them up. For four straight days, I couldn't reach them because there is no one there to pick up the phone. Until the fifth day, I finally was able to talk to the operator. I told them everything as opposed to what was said in the postcard. They kept denying and said I should've known this is a merchandise card. They even told me that this card is designed to help people with bad credit to build their credits. They wouldn't return my money. I had no choice but to spend all my $200.00 on their products. Something which I don't really need. Worst of all is, the price they charge for the product is much more expensive than I can imagine. I was really ripped off. I think this is a scam. What I worry is they have all my personal information in their file. I wonder if they are legitimate. Will my credit be affected? Should I check with the better business bureau? I would be aprreciated if you can help me.

This is the second negative posting about Capital Choice. This is a serious case of false advertising, I think you should definitely contact the Better Business Bureau. As far as your question, "will my credit be affected?" I can't see how.. However, your name and address will most likely be sold by this shady company, so get ready for some junk mail.

Good Luck.

P.S. Does the card have a Visa or MC logo on it?

Do you have the phone number for Capital Choice? Somebody else is asking about this issuer. You do not appear to be alone on this.

Go to http://www.bbb.org
and type in Capital Choice Consumer Credit under "check out a company". The company's phone numbers are available here. That company has a dismal record. If this is the company that solicited you, I suggest you contact the attorney general in the state Capital Choice Consumer Credit is located.
1-800-435-7352 or 1-800-HELPFLA, consumers outside of Florida may call (850) 488-2221.

Hi Colin.
Thank you so much for your response. I just recently used a search engine under yahoo to check for "Capital choice consumer credit". What really shocks me is I'm not just the only one being victimized in this case. Lots of people have received mails from this company offering them with great interest rate regardless of their past credit history. This company will charge you a fee of $39-199 in order to process the application. I wondered why I was so stupid to let them withdraw $200.00 out of my checking account. By the way, I said that I did receive the card they sent me, but it is not a credit card as they initially said in the postcard. It is a merchandise card. This card has no visa or mastercard logo on it. This card can only be used to buy merchandise from their company. I did check with the website BBB.com for better business bureau. The better business bureau has warned people not to send any money to this company. I was so naive to fall in such a scam. I should have had checked with the better business bureau before I called this company. Thank you very much for your response.
PS: I do have a phone # for this company.
1800-722-9685. I think this company has many different phone number, but I one I listed is just one of the possibility.

I got screwed by this company too. However, it shouldn't affect your credit. I am considering filing a class action lawsuit against these guys. They don't answer phones and then when you finally get ahold of someone, they are rude as can be and basically tell you tuff sh*t! I would advice you...anytime you receive any type of offer, make SURE that somewhere on the offer - you see a Visa or Mastercard logo. If you don't see the logos then you know it's a merchandise card. The merchandise stinks. It is all priced at 3 to 4 times what you would normally pay.