Consumer Auto Rewards
Auto Club Scam, Excessive & Hidden Charges, Misleading Advertising & Short Cancellation Time

Consumer auto rewards program:

A telemarketing phone call was received on or around February 17 promoting a program called Consumer Auto Rewards which assured $300 up front and many other valuable services which could be received and reviewed on a $1.95 trial subscription. Though dubious and doubtful, the trial was accepted and a packet received late in the first week of March.

A review of the materials showed that the $300 could only be obtained month-by-month over a year's time and that other benefits were basically discounts on auto requirements like tires, oil changes, repairs etc. On March 6 I called their cancellation number (866-355-7337) and got a representative named David W& who, upon my request, said he had canceled the Cash Awards Central Program, Cancellation Code - (#654670). He seemed amenable to canceling the program but said nothing else and left me with the feeling that there was more to be done. It occurred to me that the Cash Awards Central Program had a name different from the Consumer Auto Rewards Program, and was a new program to me.

I inquired whether there were any other programs outstanding, and upon this inquiry, was then told that the Auto Rewards Program was still active. I requested that this program also be canceled. He advised that to cancel this I must call a different number, (866-335-2457).

I then called Auto Rewards and got David M — . He pulled up my account, which was my phone number, and upon my request, said he had canceled the Consumer Auto Rewards Program, Cancellation Code (#654671). Notice that this number is one digit higher than the other cancellation number. David was then ready to sign off, much as the former David, and again it seemed that something was missing. So I asked further, were any charges made to my account because of these programs. David reluctantly affirmed this, and I had to ask again, what charges were outstanding?

He then responded: On March 2, an Enrollment Fee of $25; on March 3, a Cash Awards (Central?) Program charge of $19.95 (apparently an additional program I knew nothing about); and on March 5, an Auto Rewards Program charge of $29.95 - or total charges of essentially $75 dollars. I directed that these charges be canceled, and he said the cancellation period had expired. I further advised I had just recently received the package and had been told by the telemarketer that there would be sufficient time (seven days) to cancel the program without any further charges. David responded that the mailer would need to be returned to him before the charges could be canceled.

I became indignant and advised David of what I had been told by the telemarketer, and that I was canceling the program well within the stipulated time allowed for this. When David heard of my readiness to do battle, he said he was in process of canceling all charges. This took several minutes, and when he finished I asked if there were any other charges outstanding to my account. He replied there were none. I asked if there was anything further I needed to do to make these cancellations effective. He said, nothing, indicating I did not need to send the mailer back to him.

The refund codes were (#654669) for the Cash Awards Program costing $19.95 per month, and (#654672) for the Consumer Auto Rewards Program to which the $54.95 ($25 $29.95) charge attached. As can be seen again, each of these cancellation codes was in sequence with the two previous codes. It is obvious that the system was set up to quickly reveal what had been canceled - which included either of the two programs as well as the charges which attached to each of them. The intent of this scheme was to be able to cancel either program or both while still collecting at least an enrollment fee and one month's charge for each of the programs, or a total of $75 before the consumer had made cancellation of the programs. Also, I do not recall that the Cash Awards Central Program was discussed by the telemarketer, which suggests it was added after the fact.

Bottom line, this outfit's programs are, in my opinion, a scam intended to dupe the uninitiated and collect at least one month's, and hopefully several month's charges, before everything is understood by the subscriber. Moreover, the annual cost of the program amounts to roughly $50 per month, or $600 per year, plus the $25 enrollment fee, for a total cost of $625 - sorry, no free lunch, as seemingly advertised.

NOTE: The conversation with the company reps moved along quickly and the nomenclature used above may not be exact, nor some details precise. Notwithstanding, the above is materially correct - the programs sold by the company are meant to collect substantial fees before the subscriber is aware of all the stipulations which attach to subscription - the folks behind this scheme are cunning and deceptive. The Cancellation Codes have been changed for privacy purposes, but remain in sequence, as were the former codes.

The above is based upon what the telemarketer presented in her call. The website currently shows details of the Consumer Auto Rewards program (which are somewhat different from the telemarketing call), and it appears there is $29.95 Monthly Account Management Fee additional to the $29.95 Monthly Maintenance Fee - see following from company website:

MONTHLY MAINTENANCE FEE:
I agree to pay Consumer Auto Rewards the Monthly Reoccurring Maintenance Fee of $29.95, for my membership in the Auto Rewards Network. I understand this is a monthly reoccurring membership, as outlined in "Membership" in the terms and conditions. If satisfied with the services I do nothing and Consumer Auto Rewards will continue my membership at the then monthly membership price.

ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT FEE:
A $29.95 monthly account management fee will be applied to all active accounts.
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Company: Consumer Auto Rewards
Country: USA
State: Florida
City: Tampa
Address: P.O. BOX 280159
Phone: 8663352457

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