| Swords & Family |
| Swords & Family Crest, Inc. Fraudulent contract, unauthorized transfer of funds Fort Sam Houston, Texas |
| 8th of Nov, 2010 by User909353 |
Targeted Towards US Military Personnel.
After requesting cessation of billing and a cancellation of an order made at Fort Sam Houston, I was informed by Swords & Family Crest, Inc (Company), that a 'cancellation was not possible after 24 hours', and that they would continue to bill as they pleased. My debit card was cancelled due to this, and they ceased charging, and made no attempts to contact me (apart from a very poorly worded letter threatening legal action through my Chain of Command (Which no longer applied as I was discharged from the military) for approximately six months.
Now, they have started attempting to bill again, after no ATC (Attempts To Contact), which is in clear violation of accepted business practices, which state that for a claim to be honored, the company must continually attempt to contact the consumer. Unfortunately, they have not. Instead, they have opted to do unauthorized ROF (Removal of Funds) from the account used, even though we stated in no unclear terms that we wanted this stopped. Again, as per accepted business practices, if an order is no longer desired, the consumer is allowed to cancel at any time.
They stated that their 'maximum cancel window' was 24 hours, which is not only preposterous to the consumer, it is also an unfriendly business practice. Furthermore, this business has no definite means of contact, thus prompting me to conclude that they are fraudulent in activity. They state that a product will ship once 'sufficient pay has been sent', without giving a CPV (Clear Price Value) on the product, leading consumers into a pitfall of constant billing which they state is 'impossible to cancel'. Problem Date: Ongoing Purchase Date (Start of Fraudulent Contract): December 2009 January 2010 Payment Method: Withheld by Company Payment Amount: Withheld by Company. |
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I had went to my drill weekend schedule in the Navy Reserve on the 14- 16 May, 2010. On one of these days I went to the Navy Exchange and made a purchase from a Swords and Family Crest. I believe I had to make a down payment of approximately $500. The lady that was showing me the Swords and Family Crest was a red haired woman by the name of Crystal Gonzales. I was looking forward to having a coat of arms, and to my belief it was to be sent to me and I would continue to make payments (like buying a car; you drive and use it make payments). I had signed some paperwork for the paperwork for this purchase, but unfortunately I was in a car wreck on July, 2 2010 and haven't been able to find the paperwork since.
I contacted the Navy Exchange and asked to have her name and phone number. I made a phone call and to my surprise a woman named Heather answered the phone. I had wanted to know my balance, when it was being shipped to me, and if I could get a copy of the paperwork. I was told my balance, and they told me I wouldn't get the item until it was paid off. They would refer to paperwork that I signed and say it was in the writing, but never gave me a replacement copy of it. I asked if I could get a copy of it faxed or e-mailed. She has e-mailed me a balance but never the paperwork. Heather has blackmailed me by saying "If you don't pay it we will tell your Commanding Officer." I asked if I could get a refund back and she said no. So I kept making payments.
A few months later I ran into an identity theft problem (that Armed Forces Bank helped me out of). Then two weeks later, I had just gotten a new debit card and had to re-establish the automatic payments and Family Swords and Crest was trying to charge me a late fee and told me that the only way to get rid of the late fee was to make another payment so I wouldn't have to pay more. So I had gotten two money orders for a combined amount of $700 (of which I can't find. One had $500.00 on one had $200). I wrote myself a check from Armed Forces Bank check # 1071 for the amount and cashed it on October 12, 2010. (was stamped at Prosperity Bank) The money orders were purchased on October 12, 2010 from a Valero Stripes located at 2501 North Ben Jordan Street, Victoria, TX 77901-5610. Stripes phone number is (361) 576-1021. Later that day I mailed the money orders to Crystal Gonzales at the address: 148 Scenic Hills Dr La Vernia Tx 78121 as explained to by Heather. Heather sent me a response back from the e-mail: [email protected].
Shortly after I had received my new debit card I had misplaced it again. So I wanted to get a new debit card, however there were some things that made this difficult. Swords and Family Crest always made two payments a month between $90 and $100 (for one payment) on the debit card. I sent them an e-mail and asking instead of two payments if they could one payment for the same price and I told them the reason. They replied back with wanting me to pay in full. I could not afford to pay in full and I told them to call or e-mail me back and they haven't. They neglected making payments for December 2010, and January 2011. I didn't get an acknowledgement of trying to work with me and so I didn't replace the card because I didn't know if they were going to make payments or not. Their lack of customer service left me confused about them.
What kind of company has the headquarters located at Virginia and uses a Texas cell phone number? On March 30, 2011 I have found 3 more people that have been victims of this company. Unlike me some of them have paid completely in full and received no product.
Here are the websites I found victiums.
http://www.scaminformer.com/scam-report/swords-family-crest-inc-fraudulent-contract-c931.html
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110312084925AAp9AV5
The Company's Information:
Swords and Family Crest
Head Quarters:
20 Curtis Ln.
Hampton, VA 23669
Crystal Gonzales
148 Scenic Hills Dr
La Vernia Tx 78121
Heather/ Elizabth:
361-582-6252
[email protected]
Swords and Family Crest seems like a company that only likes to profit from military service members, and doesn't want to work with the service members. Instead the company fells like black mailing service members . They neglected to send me a copy of lost paperwork, never told me about any late fees when I was purchasing the product, and I get the run around from talking to Crystal directly. I fell that this company is just a bunch a people that don't care about nothing more than money. They won't return money and won't send out the product. So I ask three questions: Where is the Customer service? Is this a legit company? Why doesn't the Navy Exchange in Corpus Christi, Tx. screen vendors and know about their policies?
I would like all the money that I have paid into the Family Swords and Crest including the money order to be return to me from the Swords and Family Crest.
I am writing this letter as a follow up to indicate that it did happen and to hold legal ground.
Sincerely,
Matthew Grunder |
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i bought from crystal gonzales at fort sam houston px back in dec 2009 i ordered two swords and shields with my crest on them i paid them 2, 000. the only thing i have to date is what i got back in jan which were not the german swords i ordered but instead two movie replica swords one from the movie Narnia which both valued at $40.00 a piece brand new. to this day i have not recieved my shields and they dont answer emails or phone calls. aafes is no help apparently the offer soldiers no protection from the people they allow to come onto a military post and sell to us or scam.
sincerely SPC Armbrust, Jon US ARMY INFANTRY |
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My son has also had a problem with this company at Ft Sam Houston.. I am in the process of contacting a family member of high ranking in the Navy to help the military men and woman that were effected cause of it and contacting a lawyer in San Antonio to see what can be done about this. Most likely going to try to get a class action suit files against them for fraud. Feel free to contact me so i Can forward all the information. It may take me a bit to respond with any information i receive as to what can be done.
thank you
Jennifer Lane
[email protected] |
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