Consumer complaint received 2017-10-18
Company: Meridian Financial Services, Inc.
State: PA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: I do not know
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
In XXXX of XXXX I stayed in XXXX where I was confronted by a nice young woman to be invited to attend a airing TV show and a seminar on Time sharing, at no obligation and no cost to me. The woman explained to myself and my friend that in order to be eligible for the promotion that we would have to be married. We explained to the woman that this was not the case and we did not wish to move forward with the process, being a little pushy and also very kind at the time we decided to stay and watch the show and listen to the seminar. After we were then approached by a gentleman asking us to fill out a form with only our last XXXX digits of our Social Security number, reluctant because of the hard pull we were reassured that this would not effect our credit in any way, so we agreed. We were also promised by joining this program that we would be eligible for a free 3 day trip to a resort of our choice once we payed a {$100.00} upfront fee I then gave them my personal account information to make the payment. Upon arriving back home from my trip I immediately called to inquire about this and get more information to book for my free trip. I was transferred to over XXXX different numbers ending up at the same place I started at XXXX. This is when I realized I had become a victim of their fraudulent acts. XXXX XXXX XXXX they started to withdraw {$100.00} a month from my checking account, This went on for 4 months until I told my financial institution to stop the payment and was reimbursed {$400.00} that they took from me. In XXXX they " verified " the account as being correct and the bank refunded them back the {$400.00}. In XXXX of XXXX a report ended up on my credit report and also my friend XXXX XXXX as delinquent for the amount of {$1200.00}. My first complaint is that I was told that this would not effect my credit and was 100 % risk free and I would be able to cancel at any time. Secondly, If the company already received {$400.00} from us, how are we still entitled to pay them the full balance of {$1200.00} which is the price quoted for the entire package. Lastly as of XXXX when this remark showed up on my report it had not even been a full year as stated in the contract that the time was up, this action alone should prove that they were even more fraudulent by this action. This company is not only defrauding us a consumer 's but you as well and there should be a full investigation opened up against them because I 'm positive that I am not the only person this has happened to. This is horrible that these people are legally aloud to get away with such fraudulent acts. I am requesting that it is removed from all of my credit reports and XXXX XXXX 's for it states that is a joint contract, also a full refund of the monies that was taken from my checking account

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation