I work part time as a mystery shopper and applied to a job offer online. Everything seemed fine up until the "company" (claimed they were Fesco) sent me a check via regular post. The amount of the check was 4700 Pounds but this was explained to me that the big amount was needed since the assignment was to evaluate Fexco´s sistercompanies Wester Union etc. and in order to fully evaluate the service and reliability of it I had to transfer larger amounts of money.

I thought it sounded suspect so I immediately called Fexco´s headquarters but the only information that I was given was that from their department they couldnt find any pending check for that amount or to my name - but that they could not controll check from other countries´departments. I asked if there was any other information that they could provide me as to ensure whether the check was false or real and I was told I would be called later during the day if they indeed were able to find out that the check was false.

I never received another phonecall and went to ask my bank to see what they thought. They said that if it was a false check it would automatically be denied by Fexco´s bank and no money would be transfered at all. So we decided to clear the check and request for the money to be transfered into my account.

No word from Fesco or anything else.

Then I hear again from the "Fexco company" (the ones who sent me the check) and the manner in which they communicated I started getting worried and decided that this indeed was suspicious. I therefore called Fexco again and I also went to my bank trying to get help from both sides to cancel te transfer so that no money would reach my account. From both Fexco and my bank I was told there was nothing they could do. The money went in to my account and only 3 days later Fexco demanded the money to be sent back (and this being more than 1 month since the check was first cleared, which meant a small shift in exchange rate).

In the first place the money should never have gone in to my account if it was a false check. Fexco and their bank should have denied the request rather than demanding the money back 3 weeks after the transfer had been requested.

Secondly, they should have tried to help me when I called to stop the transfer rather than ignoring my request.

Thirdly, when Fexco did request the money back they requested a higher amount than was transfered in the first place. I have been in contact with them regarding this but they are blaming the change in exchange rate but the difference in exchange rate between the dates only amounts to about 20% of the overcharge to my account. They took 300 euro more than they should have, with or without any difference in exchange rate. I have waited for an answer regarding why they took an additional 300 euro out of my account but they are still only blaming the exchange rate.

Fexco basically stole 300 euro from me and now they are totally and completely ignoring me - the worst example of how to engage in customer service, consumer relations, public relation and communications.

I understand that it is not the company Fexco per se, but the way that they have approached me and this situation is just completely unprofessional and I cannot understand how they are operating.

Fexco is a big company and for them 300 euro is nothing special, but for a student 300 euro can make the dirrenece of a month rent or to be able to eat anything else than rice and pasta. Still they are "hiding" behind the "exchange rate" saying that they haven´t done anything wrong (even though my bank and I have calculated the difference that should have resulted from the exchange rate and it does not amount to more than 60 euro!!! I would have accepted that but to have Fexco stealing 300 euro from me is just compeltely ridiculous!).

Do not trust this company to be nice or helpful to you unless they think they will get money from you. As soon as they have gotten money from you they will ignore you until they turn blue!

They even ignored the fact that the check that was sent to me was a stolen check from Fexco that either a current or former employee had stolen for his/her own purposes. The whole thing to me is compeltely unbelievable.