Well, chalk me up as another sucker for a "freebie". I sure wish I was smart enough to record phone calls such as the one I received last week. I was gullible enough to fall for the sweet voice on the other end, and the "birthday party in the background" and accepted the offer from Maureen Moss Operator #126.

I just got my packet yesterday, 9/8/06 and it says my deadline to cancel is 9/12/06!!! I was told 14 days. Oh! I see, it says here that I should get it on 8/29/06; well, I didn't!!!

I was told that I would have $800 free air travel. Well, $400 is INTERNATIONAL, and $400 is DOMESTIC. AND you can only use $100 at a time and that $100 has to be used on a ticket for $200 or more! So, there's NO such thing as FREE air travel. And she begged me, no matter what I did to at least let myself take a free trip...well, isn't that so nice of her...ugh!

Oh! And I started receiving phone calls this week already from an 800 number on my cell phone. I don't answer, but allow them to leave a message since I'm at work, but no message.

So, I guess I'll end up calling the number to cancel on time, if they answer my call and they are "open". Then I'll probably wind up closing my bank account and get another one.

Sheesh! Why can't these people get an honest job like I do and leave innocent, hard-working, tax-paying citizens like me alone! Why is it we can't trust anyone anymore?!? Unfortunately, I guess, I'm still one of those trusting souls who apparently has to learn the hard way.

Good luck and God bless you honest ones out there!!

Oh! And while I have your attention...another rip off I've come across is that stinkin' freecreditreport.com scam. That is a load of BS right there!! I've used it, got my free report, and somewhere in the fine print, I'm sure, is something that allows that scum to charge me some $12.95 or something a month for there services! FREE my #%(!! Just don't do it, I say!

Have a good one!

They problably tell people something like; "Don't worry, we'll send you all the information about the program in the mail, and you will have 14 days to cancel for any reason at no charge."

Of course they are leading you to believe that you will have 14 days to review the information that they are sending you, and that you can cancel at any time within 14 days after you receive the information in the mail. They didn't say that, but that's what they want you to think.

They probably don't tell people something like; "Please understand that you will have 14 days from today to cancel for any reason at no charge, but it may take more than 14 days for you to get the information about the program in the mail."

You could call them on 9/11/06 and cancel. Then you could call your bank to close your current checking account and open a new one. That way if they don't honor your call to cancel it won't really matter because they can't get any money from you because your account is closed.

Florida Telco Credit Union has posted the following consumer alert on their website:

"It seems that every day someone thinks of a new way to steal your identity, or your money. The Credit Union works diligently to protect you by training our employees to recognize possible scams, and by keeping you, our member, informed with ways to avoid them.

Below are scams we are currently aware of, please read them carefully. If you believe you have been a victim, please contact our fraud department at 904.723.6300".

Updated 8/8/06

Telephone Scam
Target Company: Financial Institutions including Florida Telco


"If you receive a call from a marketing company called "Suntasia" who is involved with Travel Agents Direct, please be careful. They may offer you a free vacation. The person calling will tell you they know your account number with Florida Telco CU (or other financial institution). However, the number they quote is a routing number, not the actual account number. That's where the scam belongs -- they ask you to complete the rest of the account number for verification. Once you provide the last digits they then have your actual account number. If you have given your account number to a telemarketer who has called you, please contact a Member Service Representative immediately".

Here is the link to their website:

Florida Telco Credit Union Consumer Alert!

I think the above statement says it all.