Consumer complaint received 2020-01-20
Company: DISCOVER BANK
State: TX
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Problem with a purchase shown on your statement
Sub-issue: Credit card company isn't resolving a dispute about a purchase on your statement

Complaint:
Here is the basic statement I made to the Attorney General of Texas & the FTC : In response to a mailer announcing a local XXXX XXXX seminar at XXXX XXXX to learn how to sell on XXXX ; I participated in a 3 day " XXXX XXXX '' training event that went from Friday XX/XX/XXXX through Sunday XX/XX/XXXX. We watched presentations by XXXX & XXXX XXXX ( brothers ) who were introduced to us as Founder ( XXXX ) .and Co-founder ( XXXX ). 

We were given a very high pressure sales pitch, but they sounded so legitimate and honest that I felt comfortable investing in their training program. I opted for the " Diamond '' Package, which cost {$34000.00}. 

I had to fill out a personal contact sheet with all off my pertinent identifying information, which I discovered later was used by a lady named XXXX XXXX of XXXX XXXX, XXXX, to electronically apply for 8 different credit cards without my knowledge or express permission. The very first of which was DISCOVER. 

I received an email from her on the XX/XX/XXXX,XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX and again on the XX/XX/XXXX advising me that they had HALF of the $ XXXX already covered by my 'newly approved ' business lines of credit stretched across 4 cards. I didn't apply for these cards, nor was I even aware that someone was applying for them on my behalf. 

This was a bit worrisome, but XXXX assured me this was all normal procedure and notified me that I was only responsible to come up with the remaining XXXX ... .which I unfortunately charged to several of my existing credit cards, including one that was provided to me by my company, XXXX XXXX ; as well as my XXXX XXXX, XXXX and XXXX XXXX lines of existing credit ( with whom I had perfect payment history going back more than 7 years! 

We were PROMISED that at any time within the first 6 months after starting the program that if we weren't seeing the massive income they assured us we would expect and that if for any other reason whatsoever we felt it just was NOT for us that we could return the CERTIFICATE OF PROMISED REFUND and they would promptly refund all of the fees that were assessed to become members of their training program. 

By the end of XXXX and throughout XX/XX/XXXX, I had contacted them numerous times regarding my intent to leave the program as I began noticing that they were advising me to conduct my business on XXXX in ways that were strictly PROHIBITED BY XXXX. 

I made contact with XXXX XXXX XXXX in all the ways I could find, such as via Chat messaging session, by phone calls and emails in the weeks leading up to my final demand which went out to every email address I had, including those of XXXX and XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX, but I received an extremely hostile & even somewhat threatening sounding email that clearly indicated to me that they had no intention of refunding my money. in fact, multiple responses to my inquiries just demonstrated that they were not going to refund my monies ... .thus I began corresponding with & calling the Fraud Services Departments of each of my creditors to notify them of what I had endured and to request that they reverse the charges made by XXXX XXXX as I wasn't provided a fraction of what was promised for my $ XXXX! 

I began with the DISCOVER IT line of credit totalling {$7000.00} of which {$6000.00} was charged by XXXX XXXX, then I went on to XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX ) with a line of credit totalling {$5000.00} of which {$4000.00} was charged by XXXX XXXX. I went down the list just as it appears in the email I received from XXXX XX/XX/XXXX. Next was XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX {$4000.00} charged by XXXX XXXX ;  followed by XXXX XXXX with {$3900.00} charged by XXXX XXXX, and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX with a {$5000.00} credit line ... .and so on, and so on. 

I finished with my pre existing lines of credit with XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX ... .across which the remaining {$17000.00} had been spread to cover all $ XXXX of the XXXX XXXX XXXX Program. Additionally, I had to spend a few XXXX on mandatory purchases from XXXX XXXX XXXX to stock up my XXXX store initially, thus those charges were also placed on several credit cards. 

Though I did have luck initially with a couple of the creditors reversing the charges ... .they each did so only TEMPORARILY pending the outcome of their ' investigations. ' At which time they promptly put back the charges and denied my request to appeal their decision. In more than one case, I was refused ANY information regarding what, if anything, the creditor had attempted to do with the documentation I provided ; such that they could succeed in their efforts at investigating my claims. 

I have filed with the Texas Attorney General and the FTC and I -- along with potentially thousands to even tens of thousands of defrauded consumers are awaiting the FTC 's dispersion of funds leftover from the nearly {$11.00} XXXX in assets that were seized from the XXXX brothers. The law firm handling the receivership finally wrapped up their portion of the legal work on the case in XX/XX/XXXX and once all the lawyers and pertinent parties were paid, that left roughly {$8.00} XXXX to be released to the FTC. 

We are still awaiting further information and/or follow-up by them as to whether or not any of us consumers will see a single cent in return for the fraud perpetrated upon us. 

At this time, I am trying to defend myself against the creditors who are now suing me for breach of contract, despite the fact that I didn't even apply for the credit cards, nor make the charges to them. I notified each of the creditors involved and asked them to investigate the fraud that clearly has befallen me but all denied my request for refunding the fraudulent charges ; instead choosing to keep me on the hook for all $ XXXX in damages. My credit rating was tanked from over a 720 in XX/XX/XXXX to just over 400 by XX/XX/XXXX. 

I don't know what to do and I can't afford a lawyer to help me fight back against this known scam. XXXX even sued the XXXX brothers and it's clear that I'm not the only Texan to be victim to this mess. Please help if there is any way possible. 

Currently, the most pressing matter is a lawsuit pending before the XXXX County Civil Court # 2 which names me as Defendant and lists DISCOVER BANK as Plaintiff for breach of contract and total owed of : {$6100.00}. 

DISCOVER knows about this lawsuit brought on behalf of consumers by XXXX and the Federal Trade Commission. They have been made fully aware of our position and made further aware that all XXXX XXXX XXXX charges to any of Discover Bank 's customers are FRAUDULENT and CRIMINAL IN ALL ASPECTS, yet they persist in attempt to recover a debt they notified us in XX/XX/XXXX has been charged off and was subsequently turned over to third party collectors.

This just isn't right. The defendant can not afford an attorney, which these creditors are well aware. It seems they'll do anything ... .even that which is unscrupulous ... .for almighty dollars.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief