After having to threaten legal action in order to get our Catholic Liturgical Library data released to us last month after they shut down the site without warning, Catholic Online (Catholic.org) has figured out a way to outdo themselves in the poor customer service realm.
Catholic Online created a company called Catholic Financial Services which is basically a Paypal knock-off. A couple of years ago we were in talks with them to use Catholic Financial Services as a payment option on our website. Fortunately, they broke all our agreements and we never implemented the integration. However, we did keep our account open for possible future testing.
When people give money to Catholic Online, they are given an option of giving money through Catholic Financial Services to a member business / charity. We have had a few people give us money in this manner. On the 17th of March we requested a withdrawal of funds from Catholic Financial Services. This last Wednesday our accountant said that the money never came through so I went on-line and found that the funds were “processing” – twelve days later.
I called CFS and left a voice message on Wednesday. I called and left a voice message on Thursday with both Catholic Financial Services and Catholic Online and sent CFS an email asking why the funds hadn’t been transferred. I also spoke to a rep at Catholic Online who said she would pass along the message. Today, still having not received a reply, I called CFS and actually got a live person. This is the first time in over a year that I have ever gotten a live person on the line there. I asked for a status on my funds and was put on hold. For HALF AN HOUR. I hung up and called Catholic Online again and was told to leave a message on the CFS voicemail. I asked to speak to Art Marquez, their director of IT and was put on hold for fifteen minutes before being dumped to voicemail.
Now all calls I make go directly to voicemail.
If anyone out there is considering doing business with either Catholic Online (catholic.org) or Catholic Financial Services (catholicfs.org), think twice. These people have no qualms in breaking their word and have a total disregard for customer service. They make honest Catholics look bad.
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I am interested in the comments about the Catholic Online/Catholic Financial Services consumer problems.
That organization, which operates out of Bakersfield, California, appears to be holding funds belonging to many Catholic related entities and institutions. I would be interested in knowing whether the Website operators who run this site (Musings From A Catholic Bookstore) are aware of the fact that a consumer fraud complaint has been filed against COL/CFS and its operator/owner. The District Attorney’s office in Kern County (Bakersfield) is interested in knowing about all CFS “customers” who have been stiffed. Does your website provide information to its users in the nature of public service?
Please contact me so that I can advise affected persons or parishes on how to convey information to the DA who is handling the case. The complaint and summons was served on the COL/CFS owner last week. It is important that the DA be made aware of as many injured (financial loss) parties as possible.
Thank you.
MH
For Christmas, I purchased at $40.00 gift subscription to their Catholic Singles site for a friend. That friend immediately began receiving over 40 emails/day from all kinds of singles’ sites. When I contacted Catholic Singles.com (through Catholic Online) they said they don’t sell email addresses. Don’t believe it!!!