smc

@dfollin (25351)
United States
December 28, 2007 8:50am CST
This company has been around for years,therefore I thought that I could trust them.Also the fact I had joined them before,but due to some personal problems I had to quit the program.In October I called them and joined into their money making program.At that time the clerk said that on November 16th I could save money on the anual membership fee by paying for the whole year then,it would be $250.I explained to her that I was on socail security and did not have that money to invest and that I would have to stick to the monthly plan of $39.95 per month.She then told me that I would receive my membership kit in plenty of time to earn that much money or even more,but if that were not the case I could call and cancel as late as the day before on November 15th.I haad delbt with them before,therefore I figure that there was going to be no problem and I agreed.I did not receive my kit till the first week of November.I opened the kit to find that before I could get started earning money I had to speak to my business coach there.I called to talk to him and it turns out that you have to make an appointment with him to call you back.He was not available to speak with me till the next evening.I waited for him to call,made sure I was home,nobody else was and that the phone line was clear.I also made sure that the tv and stereo were off so that there were no distracting noises.I also posponed the dinner time to later.He never called!The next day I called back and they said that he called me at a phone number they had given me,which was not the phone number I had signed up under or had given the appointment clerk the days before.It was my old phone number that we had changed from 3 months previous.How they got it I don't know.Finally the next evening he called me on my correct phone number.He then suggested that I hold off on starting to make money because I did not have money to invest in additional catalogues and other advertising materials.I called on the 13th of November and told them that I could not pay the $250 and would continue with the $39.95 per month plan and I asked which day of the month were they going to take that money from my account.They said that it was the day before my socail security check came and they could not change it.But,they did say that they could stop it and on the next day when my funds did come in I could send them a check or money order and not to forget to do it because my account would close if I did.Then on the 18th of November I was imformed by my credit union (where I have my account) that SMC attempted to remove $250 from my account and because it was not there that I got an inceficient funds fee.They were kind enough to refund me that fee and informed me that they would not be able to do it again that I should call SMC.I did call them and was imformed that I had never cancelled it and that they do not know what Iam talking about that my membership account is paid in full for one year.The next day I get a letter in the mail from Sernegy Collections Bureau stating that I owe them $250 plus a $35 bounce check fee.I did not know who these people were and what they were talking about.I called them and they said that they are affiliated with SMC and that when I had agreed to pay the $250 SMC called them and they agreed to pay them and take the money from my account themselves.I told them that I had cancelled that transaction and I had never approved for them to go into my account anyway.They told me that I had to cancel my account and return to them the membership kit.As well I needed to tell SMC to give them back the $250 and I also had to send the $35 for the bounce fee.I called SMC and was told that because the account is paid in full I cannot cancel it and that the 30 days are up for me to be entitled to a refund anyway.Heck,I did not even receive the kit till almost 30 days was up anyway! I spoke to my business coach again and he said that he does not see where I had approved that transaction and where I had called on the 13th to cancel, but I needed to speak to the membership office to get it cleared.I spoke with them and they said that it would take up to 5 days to pull my file and recordings to process it.That was late November,I still have not heard from them.I have tried to call them and keep getting a recording saying their refund policy.The day after I talked to Sernegy they attempted to remove the money from my account again,even after I told them that the money was not there.They attempted again a few days lated.So,when my socail security money was direct deposited in I lost over $84 and I had to close that account and reopen a new one.Sernegy called me yesterday and while I was explaining to the man that I was waiting for them to process it and that the 5 days was long up he hung up on me.Now they are saying that I owe them $310.My advise is don't go with them for a money making opportunity.I have lost $84 plus the other $60 the Sernegy is saying that I owe them.I told them that I would send them the $39.95 each month and they said that it would not be accepted.
4 people like this
11 responses
@StereoDiva (2143)
• Canada
28 Dec 07
That is awful. Simply awful!! I am so sorry to hear the troubles you have had with this awful company!!! It is disgusting the way they abuse people. Is there anyone else you could contact? Is it possible that your coach is a bad apple and that an honest person could help you? Again, I'm so sorry to hear what they have put you through. You may be better off to get a loan and pay off the money the collection's agency wants just to keep your name clear.
2 people like this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
28 Dec 07
With my credit rating I cannot get a loan and even if I won the lottery I would not pay them because I do not owe them.I think what I will do is contact the Better Business Bureau and Atorney Generals office,as I was advised by another member here. The business coach was actually taking my side.I talked to the one person there who said it would take 5 days to process.Since then I have called back there and got nasty people telling me that it is too late to return my kit to get a refund and I cannot cancel because it is paid in full.Or I get people who are supposed to be connecting me to that office and instead I get that stupid recording. The clerk at my credit union said that it is the law now that if they get my banking information,they may share it with anyone they are affiliated with.
1 person likes this
• Canada
28 Dec 07
I understand what you are saying. And contacting the BBB would be my #1 move. But the thing with credit agencies, once you are on their list, you have to get your name removed. The company that sent your name will not take your name off even if they get the funds. They sold your outstanding balance to the credit agency and now it is their problem. The reason I suggest paying them off is that your credit rating is going to get even worse and this item won't be removed until you pay it. I know this isn't good news, but I worked at a call centre for a cell phone company and once something went to credit, it was out of our hands. They had to deal with the credit agency and no longer us. I really feel terrible for you..... :( :( :( Let's hope things start looking up for you.
2 people like this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
28 Dec 07
I know what you mean.But,Iam too hardheaded to let them have the upperhand.If I don't owe them then they are not getting my money.When I got the letter from them.I was shocked when they told me it was from SMC.And I told them that I had never even got a call or notice from them and they sent it to collections already.The man told me,no that SMC never tried to get the money from my account,they turn it over to them and they pay them and then try to get it from my account.I had never heard of that.The clerk at my credit union told me that it is done all the time.
@youless (112496)
• Guangzhou, China
28 Dec 07
I joined www.smc.ac long time ago. I am not sure whether you meant this website. But I joined to www.smc.ac is not for money. I joined there so that I could send SMS for free. But it didn't work some time ago, so I haven't logined in there any more.
2 people like this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
28 Dec 07
Exactly,they have great merchandise.They have extended their merchandise alot since the little figurines.They have you agree to one thing and process another and give no resolution.They make it sound like it's your fault.
1 person likes this
@citygirl (1080)
• Canada
29 Dec 07
What a bunch of scammers for sure. That sounds like fraud to me Perhaps you should be making a call to the police and making a report about them perhaps they can do something. I am not sure but it sounds crooked to me. Make sure you report it to the Better business bureau as well. In a sense it is fraudulently getting into your bank account unauthorized which is agains the law. Worth checking out anyway. Good luck to you in the new year.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
29 Dec 07
The clerk at the bank told me that it is not against the law anymore for them to have an affiliate go into a bank account of one of their clients.I thought that it was illegal too.So I guess,you and I could both get business liscense and then get people's bank information and trade it with each other.We could get rich,but then we would just as bad as those scammers.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
28 Dec 07
It sounds what they did was illegal. When you told them that you could only pay $39.95 a month they should not have pressured you to pay the whole amount and that the agent should have at least known your new phone number. I think that they were taking advantage of you and they should refund you the money and your banking fees. But it looks like they got you over a barrel. Have you considered asking a lawyer about it or the Better Business Bureau. I have no idea how things work, but that is what might work.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
29 Dec 07
Iam filing a complaint with the better business bureau.I cannot afford a lawyer.
• United States
28 Dec 07
I have never done anything with SMC, though my mom has brought me the paperwork for it a few times. She keeps wanting me to try it. I just can't bring myself to pay for anything that will make me money. After all, aren't you making them money as well? Anyway, I have heard a lot of bad things about SMC...
1 person likes this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
29 Dec 07
I had never heard anything bad about them and yes you would be making them money.Tell you mom about me and other that were scammed by them.It has come to my attention that the only way to really make money would be to buy wholesale and sell at flea markets and such.
@Frewin (42)
• United States
28 Dec 07
Really sorry to hear about your experience. Good luck in getting it settled.
2 people like this
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
28 Dec 07
Wow, I am so sorry this happened to you. It sounds horrible. I was thinking about joining SMC, I am so glad I didn't. The thing that stopped me was they wanted all that money up front before I could see any literature on their merchandise. They wanted me to decide right away, I told them sorry I didn't do business that way. Did they ever get things squared away for you? Did you get to make any money over the Christmas holiday? Are you going to get any of your money back? I hope so, this really stinks the way they treated you.
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
29 Dec 07
that's really awful... i am so sorry to hear that you have to undergo all these traumatic experiences... can you sue them??? if they can't prove it that you have agreed for them to take money from your account, then i think you can sue them... they are just being very nasty to you... good luck and hope you can get it settled as soon as possible... take care...
1 person likes this
@Carrie26 (1587)
• United States
28 Dec 07
I am sorry his happend to you.We joined SMC about 2 years ago and had to drop out due to financial situations as well.We the joined about 7 months ago and they took the 39.95 fee out every month thank goodness they never took the full amount.My husband had to call his coach which again sked for more money just to start up with all the catalogs etc.SMC makes this money making thing out to be your going to make alot of money which isnt true.You either have to have a webite through them or you can make one yoursef which still costs money ,or you have to sell to family and friends or go around asking businesses if they would be interested in your suff etc.They have nice stuff in the catalogs and for good deals at wholesale but if you have alot of time it couldwork or if you have alot of money which we dont at the time.So we really havent mde hat much money off of it other thatn friends and family we never even made back the whole membership fee yet to pay it all of.I am sorry this happened and hopefully you can find something that wont do that to you.
@leeesa (884)
• United States
29 Dec 07
I'm sorry you had to go through all of that. I joined SMC over 10 years ago, but quit because the merchandise I received was cheap looking and I was too embarrassed to sell it. You can't compete anyway because they are all over the internet. SMC has a bad reputation and many people, myself included, can spot an SMC site a mile away!
1 person likes this
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
2 Jan 08
I sent for the free info for SMC and decided it looks like to much of a scam and an easy way for them to make money but they won't quit calling me in fact they just called me 6 times in a row I finally told them I was filing a complaint with BBB online so far they have not called back. Stay away from SMC!
1 person likes this