Recently been hired as a Customer Service Rep. Is this fraud?

Question

I've recently been hired as a Credit Card Customer Service rep for people trying to reestablish their credit. Basically, we convince people to sign up for our credit card for a one-time processing fee which is $95. The credit card is only good for our products online/catolog. We tell customers this information but we've been told to speak very quickly during disclosure. Ok, once we've gotten them to agree, we get their bank info or have them send a money order. Once the customer finds out that they only use the credit card for our company, they want to cx their card.Sometimes we've been told to put the clients on "extended hold" which is like forever. Then we disconnect the call. If the customer is persistant about cancellation, we charge a 299 cancellation fee and it could take up to 10 business days for that to take place. I asked my manager wasn't this fraud. She told me no, as long as we have their permission, this is all legal. What do you think? I really need to work.

Answer 1

Yes, I think you're right. This does seem unethical. Fortunately, there is an established course of action for situations such as this. You could be the next “whistle blower” with the right fraud attorney. Go to to the following sites to find out if the things you'd mentioned are really legal. Also check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been complaints made against this company. You can report any questionable fraudulent activities anonymously. While you're doing this, please search for a better job. By asking this question, it shows you have more integrity than the dubious characters running this company.

Answer 2

I've worked a couple of call center's for customer service, and I'll tell you it's not an easy job. It's not that the tasks are hard, you get used to the speed and system pretty soon, withing a week usually, but you have to remember that most people who call the customer service center don't call just to say that everything is fine and that they're really happy with their service. No, they usually call when they're mad or upset. You have to be ready for that, for the rude customers, for the incompetent ones, for the ones that don't understand what you're saying, and for the ones that just want to get away with something. Most are handle-able, you just have to stay calm and try to figure out what it is that they want and what you can offer them in return. But there are some customers that you won't be able to appease, you still have to stay calm and know when it's time to ask for help or to transfer to a higher up. Most of the issues you should be able to do yourself, the biggest thing is just being calm and patient, that above all will get you through the day.

Answer 3

I think i've gotting a call from that company, I could NOT understand what the person was saying, so they told me I was declined flat out. When I found there phone #(online), and called them talked to a supervisor, I was told that if I CALLED back they would report ME.
I finally got there address and called the police told them what happened, the police called me back(20 mins later) and told me that the address I gave them was a emtey lot.

SO, YES IT IS FRAUD !!!!!!
USA CREDIT

Answer 4

Major fraud!! If you have any scruples, quit and report the company to the better business bureau. This kind of scam has been going on for at least the last 15 to 20 years. It has been outlawed in some states.

Contact your state's workforce commission to see if you can quit and still collect unemployment. You should not have to work for a company whose business is based on a scam and goes against your moral convictions.

Answer 5

Yes it is fraud, but all credit card companies work this way. The only difference is the fact that other cards can work anywhere. Credit card companies pull this crap all the time. They charge for everything, early termination, late fees, and credit cards are the main cause of debt in the united states.

Answer 6

yes, oh yes this is fraud , but if your work ethics or moral standards arent compromised then I wouldnt worry about it, but I could not sleep at night thinking that Im doing this to no. of people everyday. I think working for collections and telemarketers are the worst jobs eevveer. yuck. I could never work in collections or skip tracing, whatever they call it, because I hate it when they call me, I hang up on them, all the time.

Answer 7

It might be on the edge of legal, as long as all of the terms are disclosed in writing, but it's certainly unethical. I'd look hard for another job. I understand that you have to eat and pay your bills, but this job is scamming people and if a few of your customers complain to the right place, the company will likely be shut down and you'll be out of a job anyway..

Answer 8

I wouldn't call it fraud, but I would call it bad business. Putting people and hold and then hanging up on them? What kind of customer service is that? I would hope the people compained to the BBB.

Answer 9

Yeesh...that's a horrible job and a horrible company. I'm sorry, but I wouldn't be able to sleep at night doing what you're doing.

On another note, what you are doing sounds a lot like sales. Why not try to get a real sales job with those skills you've learned and help people rather than hurt?

Sorry to sound judgemental, but what you've described...ouch...just ouch....

Answer 10

Sounds fishy... If you question their ethics maybe you shouldn't be working there. I know I don't like treating people like that and I don't want to be treated that way.

Fraud or not... it's nor right.

Just because someone has bad credit or none at all, doesn't mean that should be taken advantage of.