My name is Courtney and I recieved a letter in the mail after contacting SMC, assuming it was a good idea. I spoke to an SMC "representative" and we discussed different payment plans and memberships. I chose the silver membership which was 39.95 a month. I agreed. She then tried to sell me on everything else I could buy and I told her no. I was already late for work and was told that it wouldn't take long. I asked how long it would take and she told me it wouldn't take long. She took down my personal information and continued trying to get me to buy all these other additional things along with my membership. I again told her now and how I couldn't afford anything else. 10-15 minutes later she was still trying to sell me on buying more and noticing how late I was I decided last minute not to go through with it. I then told her that I wanted to think about it and give her a call with my decision later on. She then became impatient and even rude and told me this was the only time that I could pursue "so great an opprotunity". She even asked me if I wanted them to take the money out of my account automatically every month and I told her NO! I wish to control where my money is going before I give anyone authorization over my account. She continued to try to sell me and I for the final time said NO and that I didn't want to go through with the transaction. She continued to talk until I was cross-eyed and I said I didn't want to do it and hung up. Unfortunately, I'd already given them my account information, but like most honest people I assumed they were honest people as well. Dead wrong. Getting a bad feeling while at work, I called my bank and realized even AFTER I said NO, the woman has STILL taken the money out of my account! I then called my bank the next day and told them how SMC had stolen money from me. He then advised me to close my account and get a new account number and debit card. I took his advice and he arranged for me to recieve a new account. Well, I guess when they discovered they couldn't steal the money, they "canceled" my membership. I thought, fine. I shouldn't have to pay for a membership that I no longer have or even wanted in the first place, right? Well over the months they continued to send me statements about the "payments" I owe, but I refused to pay for something that had supposedly been canceled. I called them and was always put on hold for the longest time and the person I was able to speak to always transferred me to a ringing phone. No one ever answered. Several months down the road, I receieve a letter in the mail being told that SMC would perform legal action (lawsuit) if I didn't comply with my obligations to pay for my membership. I was also told in the letter to call the number immediately at the bottom of the page. I called and spoke to a man who told me to give him the number at the bottom of the letter. This man seemed very curt and downright rude as the connversation progressed. Possibly a high pressure sales person. After I gave him the county code number he then told me I owedSMC the $409.42 but they would settle for $299.00. He then asked me if I was willing to pay and I said no because I'm in between jobs at the moment and I can't afford the full price or the settlement. He then told me that since I couldn't settle it by the end of the week SMC was going to proceed with the lawsuit. I began to ask him another question and he hung up in my face. That was 3 weeks ago and I'm sure my "debt" has been handed over to a collection agency. I don't trust SMC and I will not hand over money and once again give them personal information so they can attack me with another bogus charge. I sent a letter back to the collection agency explained everything and how I'm being held responsible for charges I refused because the criminal act of theft had been performed. I want this matter investigated.