I have no idea who it was.

I eventually got the money back. Had the most success working with the "processor" - the company that processed the transaction between First Alert and the bank.

The website is gone!! So I'm going to claim victory on this one.

They took $289.97  out; of  my account.

i dont want your services and iwant my money sent back to my account bank. thank you.

This was my mothers account-same amount but we're with Suntrust

My mothers account was debited for the same amount, we had already changed accounts two days prior to the debit.  what do you do????

My mother's checking account has issued a check for $289.97 "telephone initiated payment at FIRSTALERT BENEFI" 888-363-8701.  May 5th.  I checked our call record on the phone, they did not call us using that phone number within two months. ( We have been getting lots of bogus phone calls.) They could have used a different phone number.  But she would not give out the bank info over the phone.  They must be getting copies of bank account numbers.  My mother has made small charitable donations by check.  Some so-called charities may sell that information.  Some so-called charities may be scams and not legitimate charities at all.  Maybe they receive the checks and then scam the check writer.

I've tracked down the company that hosts their webpage and let them know they are hosting a scammer. (abuse@softlayer.com)

host firstalertbenefits.com
firstalertbenefits.com has address 67.228.181.154
NetRange:   67.228.0.0 - 67.228.255.255
CIDR:       67.228.0.0/16
OriginAS:   AS36351
NetName:    SOFTLAYER-4-5
NetHandle:  NET-67-228-0-0-1
Parent:     NET-67-0-0-0-0
NetType:    Direct Allocation
NameServer: NS1.ARPA.GLOBAL-DATACENTER.COM
NameServer: NS2.ARPA.GLOBAL-DATACENTER.COM
Comment:    abuse@softlayer.com

The exact same amount - $289.97 - and ACH charge thru my mother's account.  Thank goodness we have her account on an alert status and the bank calls any time a charge tries to go thru.  They refuse these.
It is a shame tho that this continues to happen.  4/27/2010

These people took $289.97 out of my account. I want to know why did they take my money out of my account?

Filed a fraud claim with US Bank - They say no fraud.
Filed a complaint with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (Treasury Dept overseer of banks) - They told US Bank to do a fraud investigation - US Bank says no fraud
Filed a complaint with the Do Not Call Registry - They don't do anything except keep a list of complaints and do not take any action - waste of taxpayer dollars apparently.
Filed a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General - got a nice reply that says essentially, too bad. They don't do anything. (Plus they keep their own Do Not Call Registry and don't use the Fed one - another waste of taxpayer dollars.
Have spoke with Jennifer twice and been promised a refund, but no refund.

I've not given up. Any company that preys on the elderly must be dogged out of business.  Local Congressional reps and the chairman of the banking oversight committee are next step. Plus, I'm calling Jennifer every day. If nothing else, I'll help run up her telephone bill.

This is personal now.

I too have been scammed by firstalertbenefits and they have taken out 289.97 from my checking account I have contacted the attorney general of Colorado about this medical scam along with the better business bureau of both colorado and MIAMI florida where they are based out of. I am in the process of contacting the FCC about them in the hopes of getting my money back. I am going to close my present checking account and reopen another which is the suggestion of my banks manager. I suggest that everyone else to the same since they can change their name so putting a stop payment on them will not help.

Had the same thing happen.  Do you have Fifth Third as a bank?

This phone number was given to us by the bank where my mother has an account that was debited 3 times already by this same company.  When we called this number it is busy or you get voicemail eventually.  Our bank is not cooperative and gave us a number that they claimed was for FirstAlertBenefits.  The number actually turns out to belong to Secure Payment Systems (888-313-7842, wgho then sent us to Omni Resources (734-364-3026). Both claim that they are only processors and that the other is responsible. They also say that they both have no information about FirstAlertBenefits.  According to Anna at Omni Resources Anthony Skinner in Monroe Michigan is the  person to contact.  She said that if we sent the bank account number and amount to Mr. Skinner they would return our money.  I don't think so!!   Definitely a scam. We are sending letters to the FTC and to the Office of the Comptroller of Currency Assistance Group (www.helpwithmybank.gov) also. Check this web site to see if your bank is a federal bank, if so you can file a complaint with them also. Good Luck.

Fictitious Name
FIRST ALERT BENEFITS.

Filing Information
Registration Number G09000136683
Status ACTIVE
Filed Date 07/20/2009
Expiration Date 12/31/2014
Current Owners 1
County MULTIPLE
Total Pages 1
Events Filed NONE
FEI/EIN Number NONE
Mailing Address
200 SW FIRST AVENUE
SUITE 820
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33301  
Owner Information
PAY MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES INC
200 SW FIRST AVENUE
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33301
FEI/EIN Number: 98-1283702
Document Number: F06000004325

I have had two debits from this First Alert Benefits for $289.97 The first one was in September I didn't question it because I was paying medical bills around that time so I thought it was one of those and I just forgot to write it down. The second one happened on the 3rd of this month for the exact same amount. I've tried calling the number always sends me to voice mail. I never get an answer. I've left messages never get a call. I luckily have a very good bank that is helping me and reporting them. Unfortunately the one from september I can't get back. The one from this month I could though. What scares me is they have my full name, address, bank account information, and even my cell phone number.

need to talk to someone the 2256354944

I also have had an E-check debited to my bank account. The check number was 1001. It was dated Sept 2, 2009 and it cleared my bank on Sept 4, 2009. I called their number and talked with "Crystal". I have also talked with "Jennifer". I have done this twice a week for 5 weeks. Each time I was told that a refund would arrive by mail on Friday, Needless to say, "it ain't so". I asked for and got the name of their supervisor. "John Michael". I asked to talk to him and was told that I would be transferred to his phone. I was on hold for an hour and 7 minutes. Had to hang up because my wife had a doctor appointment to go to. That was today. I'm contacting the FCC. There was also a web site on the check. WWW.draftrefunds.com. It was a site that helps you obtain IRS tax refunds.

Dear Angel I  two has had money takien from account by First Alert Sen and have no Knowledge of this company. I spoke with an agent name Jennifer Jones and was told funds would be refunded in 3-4 days but has not been refunded as of today and that was on oct.20th 2009. I am reporting to the federal trade commission and the better business buer.Maybe we can get our money back.

Dear Tameca, my mother's account was also tapped by the company who owns  this phone number. It is First Alert Benefits, website: firstalertbenefits.com.  They purport to be a healthcare management service.  There's no real information on the website..just a few claims regarding some discount medical services.  The last time they tapped her account, they were under a different name.  Not sure how they got your banking info but my mother's account has been tapped by the same network of scammers several times.  If your bank is anything like hers, their "Fraud Dept" will tell you there's nothing they can do. Report them to the Federal Trade Commission.  Best of luck to you.

this phone number is attached to a false debited amt from my checking acct i have been trying to reach them with no success i did talk to someone that gave me a fake auth no. to return the money to my acct