Fraud Alert !

[Drdogface]

Many of you likely know about this but in case not....

I just noticed a charge on my Visa card by a company called Easy Saver. I have heard of them before and was victimized once before a few years ago.

What this is is a supposed coupon service that one subscribes to for $14.95 per month. Not many would do this willingly but if you are not careful when you buy online you will be signed up without knowing it. Certain online stores...it was Pro Flowers for me...have a box that needs to be UN-CHECKED in order to decline this so called 'offer'. It's easy to miss this especially if it were in an unusual place on the payment page. When people are not fastidious about checking each and every charge on you credit cart statement (color me bad here) this charge can go on for months.

I talked to the Visa fraud office and they are not sure if I can get my money back or not. Easy Saver also got a nasty call from me.

Just be careful...

[masraum]

I hate those checkboxes that'll either sign you up for spam or have you paying for stuff that you don't want.

[Danny_Ocean]

There is one (even on legitimage websites...Amazon, etc.) indicating "10% off your next order". When you "click here" and agree, you end up signing for a monthly subscription discount service. Bastards.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Drdogface

... I talked to the Visa fraud office and they are not sure if I can get my money back or not...

They certainly can. If they give you a song and dance, you can always tell them, to kept the $15 and you'll take your bussiness somewhere else since they can not protect their customer...

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

There is one (even on legitimage websites...Amazon, etc.) indicating "10% off your next order". When you "click here" and agree, you end up signing for a monthly subscription discount service. Bastards.

Love Amazon but the one that get me is even if you qualified for Free Shipping, when you go check out, the shipping default to the 2 days service You have to select the "Free Shipping" option.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Drdogface

I talked to the Visa fraud office and they are not sure if I can get my money back or not. Easy Saver also got a nasty call from me.
Just be careful...

There is a formal process for disputing a charge, did they suggest that you do that? The first step in the process is to call Easy Saver and ask them to give you a credit. That may be all you need to do, since they probably want to keep a low profile so they can cheat people for as long as possible before being put out of business. Please stay on them until they reverse the charge. When people roll over on things like this it just encourages more sleazebags to do it.

[gtc]

Amazon free shipping takes so long that I usually break down and pay for normal ground shipping... grrr...

[cgarr]

I guess I should start looking at my credit card statement each month! I only scan thru the hundred dollar charges and up.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by cgarr

I only scan thru the hundred dollar charges and up.

That's what they're hoping. Someone might not notice a small charge, nor take the time to dispute it. Multiply that x 100,000 customers and you have a nice chunk of change every month.

[widgeon13]

Don't know if anyone has said it but "dispute the charge", don't just complain about it.

I had one of these things happen with a cycling race I signed up for, also complained to the company that set up the scam, and it was a scam.

[Drdogface]

I emailed Pro Flowers and complained. I got an email back very quickly giving me a full refund.

[porsche4life]

Its nice to hear that Wayne has our back!

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by cgarr

I only scan thru the hundred dollar charges and up.

Not good. When your CC # is stolen the thieves usually start out with a small purchase to see if the card is good. If you don't catch that one then soon you have larger purchases all over the world.
You may want to ask for a new card number just in case.

[Drdogface]

Wayne, I never doubted for a moment that you would tell this trash to hit the road. We all know what a stand up guy you are.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

These scam-type services have contacted me in the past about putting this crap on Pelican. I told them to stick it, and hung up on them. Terrible Customer Service, how can you abuse your customers like that, tricking them into buying something that they don't want?

Sheesh.

-Wayne

Where's your business sense, Wayne? You're passing on an opportunity to add revenue to your operations. For lots of business owners this is a no-brainer, and they're not as smart as you.

[JJ 911SC]

Mark

Good for you. Most people don't complaint, so the scam goes on.

Wayne

Good for you for telling them to hit the road "Caca" face... (told you that the bad word filter does not work in French)

Since you decided to cut the middle man out, how about this new part #; PEL-10-OFF... Who ever use it, will be back for sure

[widgeon13]

The only way I caught it was by checking "recent activity" on one of my cards. I do this every few days to make certain there aren't any bogus charges.

I had signed up for a cycling race and by not reading the fine print I acknowledged membership to a club that kept me advised of other rides, annual cost was over $100 and had I not checked recent activity they would have had my money.

I don't understand how they get away with it either, it's like "three card monty" but with my credit card.

[Drdogface]

I emailed a bunch of friends...maybe 30 or so.. the same day I posted this. Most all who got back to me had never heard of this. A couple said they'd been had too. My wife reminded me that a few years back when I bought some bath towels at The Company Store I got hooked again. They also gave me a full refund but only after some time on the phone yelling at them. One would think that the bad business practice would have a cost to it that would certainly out weigh the money they get from such scams on their online store...nevermind the ethics issue.

[vash]

thanks for the heads-up. i use ProFlowers!!!

so far, i havent tripped up. i have not seen that pop-up yet..this a new thing?

[Drdogface]

Originally Posted by vash

thanks for the heads-up. i use ProFlowers!!!

so far, i havent tripped up. i have not seen that pop-up yet..this a new thing?

Not really. They told me that I was 'enrolled' the last time I ordered from them in August of '09. Shame on me for not seeing it on my statement for all that time. At least they gave me a full refund.

As you may know, several talk show guys have PF as sponsors. Would be good to get to them about this. Rush has them, Hannity and Savage too. I would love to find a list of online stores that 'partner' with these parasites.

Edit: I just 'Googled' Easy Saver and there are tons of hits, most re: Pro Flowers. Interesting reading. I can't believe this is legal.