I received an unsolicited phone call, at home. The man on the phone with a NY accent informed me that the State of Ohio Treasury had my name listed as a person with unclaimed funds waiting for me. Thinking that this was nearly impossible, I wasn't convinced that they meant me. I identified myself with my birth date only and the amount I was told due me was said to be over $1500. " Not likely, " I responded. The money in Unclaimed Funds is due to inheritance issues or improperly filed taxes, I was told repeatedly. I knew of two possible problem areas that were possibly not resolved and this gave credence to their proposal that I pay them $99.95 a one-time fee to send me a benefits package where I would identify myself and complete the correct paperwork to get the money, which was in Unclaimed Funds to me.
I was told by an experienced banker once that I didn't want to get in that situation as it would be a process that would need undoing and keep money due to me from me. For all I know that is what had happened and I should clear up the matter. I was told that in 10 to 15 business days I would receive a letter in the mail to begin the process of recovering the ”Lost Money”. A post-dated check would be acceptable, I was told. That was to make certain that the check would clear. It did on Feb 13 th, three days after the date of Feb. 10th which shows on the check posted on my online banking page along with the account number of this business at Huntington National Bank Central Returns located in Columbus, Ohio. A representative there advised me to contact the Better Business Bureau of Ohio and file a complaint. There were at least two parties involved. The address of the business coincidentally is 1176 Main Street Champlain NY, 12919 I Googled the address and that is how I found your web site, Complaint Wire.

What caused the problem to be accelerated to a suspicion of fraud was the response I received from the Customer Service representative whose number was given on the day I gave the American Savings Group a personal check over the phone. I called immediately and spoke to a man in Texas. He seemed confused as to why I called. He asked if I had joined them. They have a website that explains their services for a membership fee and benefits but I had not sought them out and had no interest in joining them to become a member of any group. A one time payment for something that I assumed amounted to paralegal work a finder's fee for "lost money" which I think would be a legitimate way to earn a buck. It's a free country. That first day, my initial phone call was cut short and I wasn't sure that the communication was clear and called to confirm details. He seemed upbeat and friendly but not professional. I was not condemning him for his defects.
When the date of the letter being delivered had arrived I doubted my calculations. No letter arrived. I assumed that the date was fluctuating because of a legal holiday. I thought that the post-dated check was the date to begin the counting of the 10 to 15 business days. Initially, I had asked if I needed to sign for anything to receive the letter. I was told simply not to go out of the country or that I would miss the delivery. This seemed a queer thing to say like a joke by a crook who absconds with the funds or a terrorist threat that we'd miss the dirty bomb that this stealing was funding. Ideas that this comment was from a criminal rose up in my mind, but I quieted myself and my negative thoughts. The issue of Unclaimed Funds was a possibility. I remembered my personal situation and years of legal process that I had endured with no resolution yet and the attorney addressing the matter had fallen ill. It was possible that I had unclaimed funds in The Ohio State Treasury, no less. I hoped.

When I called the Customer Service number to check the status of the letter I requested, " to whom am I speaking?" and the irate Indian Woman was put off. She asked." who do you want to speak to?", with an attitude of deception. I called several times, thinking I may have misdialed the phone or misread the number. She reported that she was definitely NOT the Customer Service of American Savings Group.
I reverted to contacting the number printed on the face of cancelled check. “Third Party” is an answering service who is told to give out the same customer service number, only. He, having the New York accent claimed to currently be in Canada. He asked if I wanted to have him request a refund. I was calling to check the status, as I was not certain of the date the letter was to be arriving, I explained. Perhaps there was no problem. I'd let my bank intervene. He felt that I had no courage and insulted my judgment. "You're going to let your bank make decisions for you?” he poked at me.
They had only the same information that I had. What showed on my cancelled check on my online banking.
My bank's phone bankers had only the same information that I had. I began the investigation and was given a claim number, as I was suspicious of fraud. What showed on my cancelled check on my online banking was the account number of the business and the "Third Party" answering service phone number. I checked back with the answering service a second time. They had an update as of the Third of March. "An advisory" had been issued about this business that Affidavits should be filed at the local level of my bank branch office reporting that the benefits of the service had not been received. And that if the business practices were not good and perhaps, illegitimate, Federal Law protects me and the Bank has to get the money back for me. The bank begs to differ.
The individual on the phone was consistently the same at "Third Party”. He argued with me then, about the Bank's statements and hung up in a huff because I didn't take his word as law. He wouldn't request a refund for me as he had suggested before.
I contacted my bank via the central office. They explained that specific rules applied to a check over the phone differing from a credit card or debit card payment. The local branch may approach the issue differently. That is where I have to go next. The letter from my bank about the claim number assigned to this check cashed for $99.95 from American Savings Group explained that I had received the benefits of the service and for that reason they denied my claim. Since I have not received the benefit of the service I paid for yet, I can try to have my bank intervene for me.
Not being lax in judgment, I contacted Huntington National Bank. They can address the issue through the Better Business Bureau once a complaint has been filed with the Ohio Better Business Bureau I was informed. I sent an online complaint yesterday as a result. This complaint sharing process will help me with my efforts to get to the truth.
My sister who is a senior Technical write for a software company looked at the American Savings Group web site. She commented:"
If possible, I would check with your lawyer before sending them money. It might be a scam. I found this Web site, but no other information about them on the Internet (which is very strange!):