An “under the radar” Scientologist — someone who is considered an active member by the church, but who is actually reading “entheta” websites like this one — reached out to us with a startling claim.
They say that in the last few years, Scientology registrars — called “regges” in Scientology parlance — developed a specific high-pressure routine to encourage members to rack up huge credit card bills, which not only left them under crushing debt, but also created a backlash from the credit card company.
One reason that we are taking this claim seriously is that we have already published multiple accounts in recent years of similar schemes, with victims like Efrem Logreira and an elderly woman in the Midwest seeking legal redress after they were put under intense pressure by Scientology registrars to open credit card accounts and immediately max them out by purchasing Scientology services.
Our new source says that this practice developed a specific method and a specific name.
They say it was called the “Chase Wave.”
Our source has passed on to us a document they received from a registrar, spelling out step by step how the Chase Wave worked, with members being pressured to open specific Chase credit card accounts to achieve a zero percent interest rate and then roll up huge balances.
Our source says that the Chase Wave became so prevalent between 2016 to 2019, it provoked a reaction from Chase itself, which noticed that so many defaults were coming from Scientologists.
“This led Chase to blacklist all charges to Scientology merchants from going through on Chase,” our source says. “You could confirm the blacklisting with other Scientologists who were in between 2018 to 2019. They will confirm that orgs like Flag, Freewinds, and LA Org would ask public if they had other cards to use or other forms of payment instead when they presented a Chase card to pay for services. After Chase banned the Church all the Sea Org regges in every country were busted from post and put on heavy MEST work….The regges were only busted as a scapegoat once what was being done was discovered externally.”
This is a big claim, and we have no confirmation of it. But we would like to hear from any other Scientologists who had experience with the Chase Wave, or who can confirm that they were told they could not use Chase cards for purchases after 2018.
In order to protect our source, we have reproduced only the text of the document our source says that regges were sharing with each other that contained instructions for the Chase Wave. We’re looking forward to reactions from the financial industry readers of this blog. Again, we have no confirmation of what our source is saying, but we’ve put out messages to several recent victims of Scientology financial schemes to see if the Chase Wave is familiar to them.
Chase Wave instructions:
1. Choose the best intro APR card for your needs. The staple card has been the Freedom for 5% cash back on select categories, but the Slate card is perfect for balance transfers and the new Freedom Unlimited pays 1.5% on any charges. So be sure to pick the right card for your needs:
a. Chase Freedom Unlimited https://creditcards.chase.com/credit-cards/chase-freedom-unlimited
b. Chase Freedom https://creditcards.chase.com/credit-cards/chase-freedom
c. Chase Slate https://creditcards.chase.com/credit-cards/chase-slate2. Apply for the card online through the Chase website. The links provided will take you to the information on the card and you can apply from there. Some important points on the application:
a. Kind of obvious but really important – make sure there are no mistakes/typos in the personal contact info (name & address) and on the social security number.
Advertisementb. On the 2nd page of the application be sure to “check” (click) that you have a checking and savings account. These get missed sometimes.
c. Your annual income reported needs to be as much as possible. Read the disclosure Chase highlights in the field. Include “house hold” (anyone you live with). Include your relationship income if they’re ok with it. If you’re applying to let someone else use the card, include his or her income as per the final disclosure from Chase.3. Do not add an authorized user or any balance transfers at this time. You can do so later if you want.
4. Check the agree box and submit the application. Do not go back or click out of the screen. Wait while it processes it. Two things can happen at this point:
a. You’re approved! Note down the amount and what the APR will go to after 15 months. Go to step 6 if this is the case
b. You are application goes pending. The screen says they need more time to review the application and you will get a letter within 7-14 days.5. If the application goes pending: this means a credit analyst needs to review your application. You’re going to call them (888-270-2127) and find out what they need. The analyst has the ability to approve or disapprove your application. It is important that you establish whether or not they are a social personality or anti-social. To do this you simply say: Hello I applied for a credit card online and would like to get a decision on it today – can you help me? If the analyst sounds robotic or unhelpful in his response (example: no ack – what is your social security number so I can look it up?), hang up and call back. Do this until you find someone who says yes and sounds sincere. Here are some further steps on this once you establish the social analyst:
a. Give them your social security to look up the application.
b. One of three scenarios will now happen:i. You’ve been declined. Find out why exactly. They can tell you the reasons. If you disagree or feel there is false information, then ask then to reconsider. Explain what the inaccuracies are. For instance, recently a person paid off over $19,000 in credit card debit. Chase did not see this payment on Experian so they “cross pulled” credit reports with the other two bureaus, this showed they had paid that much and the analyst turned the decision from denied to approved. Moral of the story: don’t be dismayed if initially denied – the analyst can reconsider and overturn the denial. Note: the only denial they cannot reconsider is if you have opened more than 5 cards within the last 2 years. ☹
ii. They need to review your application and see if you’re a good credit risk. They will ask you questions about your application (job and income) and data on your credit report and history. Don’t be thrown off by personal information they have from your credit report. Sell them that you’re a good risk – have always paid on time, pay more than enough, pay off balances each month, etc. however you handle your credit cards explain that. You should be able to get approved. If they deny you, get the data and hang up. Talk to a reg who knows credit analysts. Come up with the correct handling and then call back explaining what happened and asking for a reconsider. Multiple times people have gone from denial to approval this way. Stay Positive!c. You need to get verified by their Identity Verifications Dept. This is good – it means you are approved pending identity verification. Take down the ref number and phone number. Call IDV and they will walk you through the verification process. Be sure to get what limit you have been approved for. IDV’s number is 877-470-9042 & they can look you up through your social security number.
6. Once you have the first good card, now you apply for the other “bad” cards. Important note: you need to clear your search history & cookies after every application. Through your IP address Chase will say you’ve already done an application and to call them to find out. If you clear the search history and cookies, you will be able to do the other applications with no problem.
7. Here are the other cards to apply for. All the proceeding steps from 2 through 5a, b & c apply. Also, between card applications 3 and 5 they will deny you for too many cards with Chase (they have a cap). Stop applying for cards at this point. Additionally, if you have to talk to analysts after each application, explain to them you really want this card for travel or points or whatever the card is for. Tell them you like Chase and want 3-4 of their specific cards.
Advertisementa. United Club Card: https://creditcards.chase.com/credit-cards/united-mileageplus-club
b. Ritz Carlton Card: https://creditcards.chase.com/credit-cards/ritz-carlton-rewards
c. Disney Premier Card: https://creditcards.chase.com/credit-cards/disney-premier
d. Marriott Rewards Card: https://creditcards.chase.com/credit-cards/marriott-premier
e. Southwest Card: https://creditcards.chase.com/credit-cards/southwest-premier8. Be sure to note down how much each card is approved for.
9. 24 hours later call this number (888-298-5623) and tell them you would like to merge your United, Ritz and Disney cards (whatever bad cards you got) with your good card. Merge each limit to the good card (from step 1) & be sure the bad cards are closed out. This avoids their fee and makes one huge good card that can be used. If they ask why explain that the Freedom or Slate is much better in terms of APR and rewards.
10. All cards will arrive in the mail and show up on your Chase online account. However, all the bad cards will be closed. Only the 1 large good card will be active. Be sure to activate it when it arrives.
Our source says that this high-pressure technique was used on Scientologists to bury them in debt because the church itself was getting increasingly desperate for money.
“LA Org had a period of several years where it was making over $600,000 a week. In fact, if it didn’t make this much each week, it was a flap. With the field as small as it is, you can’t make that much money without intense pressure for public to borrow money they didn’t have,” our source says. “Additionally throughout the US, the Ideal Org Sea Org regges would come to an area needing funds for a building and not leave until the majority of the field had done the attached ‘Chase Wave’ to fund the org. The pressure for Scientologists to do this was immense. I don’t think I can describe the depth of spiritual blackmail they would use on public. Phrases like ‘This is the first time in the history of the universe you can put your spiritual freedom on a credit card.’ I personally know ten people who still have over $500,000 in debt that they have little chance of ever paying back.
“Scientologists were able to take on huge amounts of debt, totally disproportionate to their debt to income ratio. I am talking 20-year-olds with $200,000 in debt. Elderly people with only retirement or Social Security income with $100,000 in debt. Thirty to forty people in each Ideal Org field taking on an average debt of $150,000 each using this method. People making $60,000 a year and taking on $150,000+ of debt. These are not rich people. These are normal people signing up for debt that they will most likely never be able to pay off.”
Have you been saddled with debt through the “Chase Wave”? We want to hear from you.
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Did you know you can get an email every morning when we post our daily Scientology story? We know some of the folks who come to the Underground Bunker aren’t here to talk about the politics of the day, and that’s why we created a daily politics feature over at our other blog, The Lowdown, and we ask readers to take their political discussions over there. And if you drop us a line at tonyo94 AT gmail, we’ll put you on the list so you get a morning reminder that a new Scientology story has been posted — and only for our Scientology stories.
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“We understand God because of the Devil; we understand this, we understand that. These are double data. The basic unit of the universe is two, not one. And we suddenly announce, ‘Theta has as its potentiality the location of matter and energy in space and time, and can, as well, create space and time.’ Well, once we say that, and the same time we say it has no wavelength, it — boy, we’re really describing a beast here. This thing couldn’t possibly have any position in the real universe. And sure enough, it doesn’t.” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 14, 1956
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“At Group Muster last night the FSO was not satisfied that the requirements were met by S. Moreau, A. Tabayoyon, C. Varga and E. Hayes, so the above are still restricted to the ship and given 24 hrs to: Get all shore passes of those restricted to ship removed from QM desk and given to AMA. Run a series of drills on QMs to ensure they won’t goof again. Draw up a proposed watch stat for QMs which includes a heavy penalty for watch goofs. Get a list of all QMs given to Dept 13 so that gangway QMs be post purpose cleared.” — Lt. N.F. Starkey, Captain, November 14, 1971
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“Aliens used 1/4 of earth animal DNA, and 3/4 theirs from another planetary race. This may explain the wild disparity between different pictures — different places….LRH collected data from Dianetics sessions for a couple of years before he wrote History of Man. A lot of this material was amazing just for the reason that the people had not communicated to each other and had the same incidents. Hubbard really thought he had all of these things correct. It turns out that some of these were in error because of people’s concept of science (their personal belief in ape-man-evolution and use of the faked Piltdown model). Hostile authors like Russell Miller and Jon Atack seized on this to make Hubbard look bad.”
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2000: Tilman Hausherr reported on a book reading by Ilse Hruby of her new book, My Marriage to a Scientologist. “The reading took place in the library’s front hall, and was sponsored by Kiepert Book distributors. The actual reading was done by Natascha Kobitzsch. Thomas Gandow asked questions which Ilse Hruby answered. Besides that, an Austrian ex-Scientologist who draws comics was at the podium (Gerhard Foerster). He had painted a giant poster which was stuck up on the wall. It consisted of a Hubbard-head, an octopus and phrases from KSW (that is the one with which every course starts.) There were two, or possibly four Scientologists there. Ute Koch and a gray-haired woman I didn’t recognize. Ute Koch diligently wrote everything down, and even sketched the drawing. However she drew the octopus without the Hubbard-head; she wrote only ‘LRH.’ She looked unhappy. There were no disruptions. Ilse won the audience over quickly, there was some laughter as she described certain illogical, but Scientological methods of behavior. Thomas Gandow put on his Xenu baseball cap and told the Xenu story, which was a lot of fun.”
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“Hubbard had it wrong from the very beginning. Man is an animal and nothing more. Detachment from the material world is one of the main reasons humanity is destroying the material world. Spiritualism is our get out of jail free card.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next hearing set for February 8. Trial scheduled for August 29, 2022.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for November 19.
— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Eleventh Circuit affirmed ruling granting Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Garcias considering next move.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ US Supreme Court denied Valerie’s petition Oct 4.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: California Supreme Court granted review on May 26 and asked the Second Appellate Division to direct Judge Steven Kleifield to show cause why he granted Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Oral arguments held November 2, awaiting a ruling.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9, 2020 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for June 28, 2022.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 23. Appeal hearing held Aug 23-27. Awaiting a ruling.
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Jon Atack quizzes Mike Rinder: Scientology’s former spy chief on L. Ron Hubbard’s paranoia
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s David Miscavige served again: This time in a sick case alleging child abuse
[THREE years ago] Records of Scientology leader David Miscavige’s speeding tickets contain a small surprise
[FOUR years ago] Tonight on ‘Leah Remini’: L. Ron Hubbard gets the Russell Miller treatment
[FIVE years ago] At an early age, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard learned how to captivate the press
[SIX years ago] Jeffrey Augustine: Just a friendly reminder — Scientology prices are outrageous
[SEVEN years ago] Classic Scientology shenanigans as class action lawsuit is filed against legal opponent NAFC
[EIGHT years ago] Jefferson Hawkins Drops In To See What Condition Our Scientology Condition Is In
[NINE years ago] Lawrence Wright’s Book on Scientology — Going Clear — Hits Bookstores January 17
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s Sales Pitch: ‘Pure and Simple Blackmail’
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,484 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,989 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,509 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,529 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,420 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,727 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,595 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,369 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,699 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,173 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,489 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,055 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,974 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,142 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,723 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,984 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,020 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,735 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,260 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 615 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,790 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,341 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,490 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,810 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,665 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,784 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,140 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,443 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,549 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,947 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,823 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,406 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,901 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,155 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,264 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on November 14, 2021 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
