Comments for Investigative Guy | John Mattes - Investigations, Reports, and Consumer Protection

Comment on FREE GAS CARDS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED – GOVERNMENT HELP PROGRAM UNCOVERED BY INVESTIGATIVE GUY JOHN MATTES by jmattes

jmattes — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:37:46 +0000

check with your job force office

Comment on FREE GAS CARDS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED – GOVERNMENT HELP PROGRAM UNCOVERED BY INVESTIGATIVE GUY JOHN MATTES by darlene

darlene — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:25:27 +0000

I just lost my job, after I had put 15 years of service in there I really need that gas card. it would help out a lot. I have no money. man being without a job is awful.

Comment on CONSUMERS ALLEGE HIDDEN OVERCHARGES by DOLLAR / RENT A CAR by darin

darin — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:48:40 +0000

While picking up a rental car at the Ft. Meyers airport I was asked if i wanted insurance coverage…I told them I had Chubb insurance and didn’t need it and thanked her. She then tried to sell me a toll pass for $39.00. I paid a total of 2.50 or something like that for 5 days in the area. It wasn’t until i received my credit card bill that i noticed they had in fact charged me for insurance not declined me for insurance.
Location of Dollar Rent A Car transaction: – ft. meyers florida airport
Amount of financial loss incurred: – 162.00
Describe your attempts, if any, to resolve your conflict with Dollar: – fought it with American Express.

Comment on Scentura Job Scam Just Won’t Stop by jmattes

jmattes — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:24:21 +0000

spread the word

Comment on FREE GAS CARDS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED – GOVERNMENT HELP PROGRAM UNCOVERED BY INVESTIGATIVE GUY JOHN MATTES by jmattes

jmattes — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:47:22 +0000

Sadly there are far too few programs for vets.

Comment on Scentura Job Scam Just Won’t Stop by elizabeth

elizabeth — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:50:25 +0000

I almost fell for this scam until a friend showed me this info. They are in HOUSTON, TX under the name ALS. I went for an interview, then I was chosen for a 2nd interview with a large amount of people in a board room which they ranted on about the so called company that sells “name brand perfume” but in a different box. They promised if you were hired you would received at least $40K, own office, & people to work under you. . Please stop these heartless people! Here is the address

3845 fm 1960
Houston, tx 77068

Comment on CONSUMERS ALLEGE HIDDEN OVERCHARGES by DOLLAR / RENT A CAR by chris

chris — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:05:43 +0000

I rented a car from Thrifty Car Rental. When renting the car, I told the counter attendant I was not interested in any insurance or extra waiver protection. I was then asked to electronically sign the key pad at the counter. When I returned the car on , I was charged an extra $149.94 for 6 days of “LOSS DAMAGE WAIVER.” And this was after I explicitly instructed the counter attendant on 7/25 that I wanted “no extra coverage.” Hugo was the attendant on when I returned the vehicle, and he said he could not help me because I had already electronically authorized the charge. The manager, Monique, came and told me she could not help me for the same reason. The said I could call the customer support line at 800-847-4389. A day later, I called the customer support line–they told me they could not refund my money. I was livid, but felt I had no recourse. The n, I saw an article in the New York Times about over customers who had the same issues with Dollar Rent A Car and found your website. I still have the overcharge receipt in hand.
Location of Dollar Rent A Car transaction: – Tucson, AZ
Amount of financial loss incurred: – $149.94
Describe your attempts, if any, to resolve your conflict with Dollar: – I called the customer support line and got nowhere with my protests that I was improperly overcharged.

Comment on FREE GAS CARDS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED – GOVERNMENT HELP PROGRAM UNCOVERED BY INVESTIGATIVE GUY JOHN MATTES by John Arredondo

John Arredondo — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:12:18 +0000

My name is John Arredondo, i’am a unemployed, homeless veteran, receiving no income just food stamps from social services in Banning CA for the last 6 months, I’ve submitted Applications to the VA,social services, gain,community Action partnership, Goverment gas grants and the missions, I informed and requested to all agencies that I have a good running car and a iPad to continue to look for employment, but I have no way to put enuf gas in the car incase I would get hired? even part time? at 58years old I find myself picking up cans and plastic just to put a gallon in for gas, I go to the loma Linda hospital in Riverside California for care being I have a medical problem, I even offered to pay Back If I was to receive gas,”Being I don’t have family or make any income I was turned down to this day, I’ve send email after email with no positive response or even Guidence for the last 6 months, if you can help me with information or guid me?,or to at least keep me going? please” email me at bigjohn954@yahoo.com

Thank you, John Arredondo
66681 San Diego dr Desert Hot Springs CA 92240

Comment on CONSUMERS ALLEGE HIDDEN OVERCHARGES by DOLLAR / RENT A CAR by Michael

Michael — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:55:24 +0000

There was only one customer service rep working, and a long line of people late at night. The rep asked me if I wanted to purchase an optional insurance package for the car I was renting. I responded with a clear and decisive “No.” He had me go through and sign multiple agreements, explaining them with various reasonable-sounding descriptions. I was then charged $205. When I asked why the price was so high (I was supposedly receiving a free rental car as part of the vacation package I was getting through my hotel), and the rep told me it was mostly a refundable security deposit for the rental, along with some taxes. He lied. Turns out I somehow purchased that insurance package I said no to. So I verbally declined to buy the insurance, and I was presented with multiple complicated agreements to sign (with a long line of impatient customers behind me, late at night) and at least one of those agreements was me agreeing to buy the insurance package. I had no reason to suspect I was signing an agreement to purchase this expensive, unnecessary service because I had already refused to purchase it and I was being lied to. Another shady tactic Dollar Rent A Car seems to use is having their cars not fill all the way up at the gas pump. I filled up my car on the way to the airport for my flight home. The pump shut off, indicating as gas pumps usually do that the gas tank was full. Except, I got back in the car to drive away only to realize that the tank was not actually all the way full. It was only about 3/4s of the way full. Dollar Rent A Car of course, charges you an extra exorbitant fee for returning the car with less than a full tank of gas.
Location of Dollar Rent A Car transaction: – Orlando Airport, Florida
Amount of financial loss incurred: – $205
Describe your attempts, if any, to resolve your conflict with Dollar: – Upon returning from my trip, and not getting my “security deposit” refunded, I called up Dollar Rent A Car to inquire about the charge. When told what the charge was really for, I explained how I had declined paying for any such thing when I was picking up my rental car. The slick-talking phone customer service rep was very pushy and seemed to just want to get me off the phone as quickly as possible. He explained how they have screenshots of all the agreements I signed and I had indeed agreed to purchase this service. He told me my claim would be investigated by the company’s “Prepaid Department,” and that I should hear back in 1-3 days. I asked how they could even investigate my claim if they don’t even have a statement or anything from me. He assured me they would simply look at the screenshots of the agreements I signed, told me goodbye and hung up the phone. I then proceeded to dis pute the charge with my credit card company (American Express). Those results are still pending at this time. 10 days later I received an email from Josh Wells at Dollar Rent A Car saying that the investigation into my claim was completed, and the charge for my insurance package (or “Loss Damage Waiver” as he called it) was upheld.

Comment on CONSUMERS ALLEGE HIDDEN OVERCHARGES by DOLLAR / RENT A CAR by nancy

nancy — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:32:16 +0000

On 3/26/13 we rented a car in Fort Lauderdale FL at Dollar Rent a car which I had already pre-arranged on the web using mileage award points, therefore, essentially getting the rental for free. The only additonal expense we agreed to was the prepaid fuel charge, however, upon returning the car we saw there was an additional charge of $202.93 for “loss damage waiver” which we never agreed to purchase as we are covered through our credit card for insurance on the rental. I contacted Dollar upon our return and they would not help me, the rep just repeated over and over that we signed for the additional coverage. I also contacted my credit card CHASE and they also were not helpful stating we signed for this and sending us a copy of the contract. We have never had an issue with any car rental company and we have rented numerous times here and abroad. This was the first time a fraudulent charge h as been incurred. We always deny all insurance coverage as our credit card provides insurance should we need to submit any claims.