Under our corporate farm operation, Darrell took out three credit cards with Brownfield Farmers Co-op ( a co-op that sells fuel and other supplies) several years back. These cards were for the use of Darrell and two employees. Gas prices at the Co-op are not any better than anywhere else has, so I am curious how the Co-op manages to get people to apply for them. I wish that we hadn't, because a former employee stole one of the cards, then sold it to a fellow druggie. Within six weeks of that sale, the thieves charged over $15,000 in gas to that account. Brownfield Farmers Co-op noticed that extremely large amounts of gas were flowing through those pumps in Plains, but instead of shutting off the account or inquiring, they started making calls to our neighbors to ask what Darrell was doing with all that fuel and showing that they thought he was up to some kind of shenanigans. The first we knew about it, we had a call from a lawyer! Darrell met with Co-op officials and told them to immediately cut off the pumps, that we were not using that gas and that a fraud was occuring. In a climate of escalating gas prices, you would think they would recognize this was a theft because there were up to 30!!! "fill-ups" a day on that card that was stolen. We have never had anywhere near that level of activity in the over ten years we traded with the Co-op, and it would make absolutely no sense for us to pump this gas $40 at a time that many times a day.
Long story short, after a torturously slow legal process, three people were convicted of the theft of both the card and the gas, which was sold or traded for their profit. All three convicted felons confessed. All three got light sentences and were sentenced to restitution of $100 a month. So far, we've received very little in the way of restitution (none in recent months). The workings of the legal system didn't impress us very much in this case.
Brownfield Farmers Co-op then sued us (we're MEMBERS of this coop). They took us to court, and convinced a judge that because of the contract we signed, they have absolutely no responsibility in monitoring gas use or warning us if unusual activity is going on. They argued in court that their customers assume all the risk associated with the credit cards, and that the Co-op has no risk! Can you imagine American Express doing that? If they did, everyone who holds an American Express card would be cutting it up with no delay. At least with AMEX or VISA, you can contest unauthorized charges, and they recognize that it is fair to do so. The judge is making us pay for all the gas the thiefs stole, plus 18% interest, plus the attorney fees for the Co-op to which we belong, some of its members being "friends" on the board.
WARNING!!!!!! Do not ever get a credit card or any other credit transaction from this Co-op because they
1. Do not have modern programs associated with the gas program that will automatically alert to unusual activity. I am an accountant and I know full well that such programs exist and that the employees just don't want to be bothered, and the Board doesn't care.
2. They word the contract that card holders sign in such a way that the Co-op has NO risk if theft occurs and will charge 18% on balances people steal and you don't pay so they actually profit from your misfortune. Talk about a disincentive to prevent thefts! In the two years since this theft occured, the management of this Co-op has done nothing to try to change how they do things in order to prevent future such occurences. I think that says a lot.
3. They do not treat Co-op members as honest members but as criminals (when criminals prey on the members). I am outraged with the way the Co-op conducted itself against us. I would expect better behavior out of a bunch of pigs.
4. The management of the Co-op is incompetent, and have no incentive to protect their card holders (unless the card holder is a member of the Board). I repeat, you are AT RISK if you hold a credit card with the Brownfield Farmers Co-op. I am ashamed that they use the word " farmers "in the title, I have never seen fellow farmers behave so reprehensibly in my life. I remember the days when if a fellow farmer could not gather a crop, my husband would pitch in and help out his neighbors. I guess those days of helping your neighbor are gone, and there is nothing but an adversarial relationship existing with Farmer Co-ops.
The entire sequence of events has resulted in our using what remaining retirement funds we have so that Brownfield Farmers Coop can make it's 18% interest. Hope they enjoy it, but folks, what goes around comes around. If the same thing happens to one of the members of the Co-op Board, what do you think will happen?
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There are two sides of me when considering this situation. The consumer side of me is outraged that the Brownfield Farmers Co-op did not have the appropriate controls in place to identify and prevent theft. How convenient for them. Claiming it is not their responsibility is a poor excuse - and all existing and potential customers should take this into SERIOUS consideration before doing business with them. Would I find it acceptable as a consumer? Absolutely not. It is inexcusable and I doubt that the appropriate changes will be made by Brownfield Farmers Co-op until consumers DEMAND change that protects them. Existing customers should take this as a direct threat to their own business. Unless there is reform – this situation could happen again, to any one of their customers. Anyone who thinks it won’t happen again or to them is simply ignoring the facts.
The other side of me – as the daughter of this incredibly hard-working, honest man – is PISSED that this company would attempt to tarnish his reputation with accusations. I have never known a man that works as hard as he does, is as honest as he is, and is loved by so many people. He is as good as gold, and did not deserve to be treated like that, by “friends”. As I say that – I spit in their general direction, and will just close with a gentle reminder for them: Karma is a bitch.
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