I was writing to inform other consumers of an issue that I encountered this evening with a company called Consumer Reward Network. I received a phone call at about 6:30 this evening from an individual with a thick (Asian) accent.
They informed me that I had won a $500 gift certificate that could be used at any major store in the area. They insisted that I had won because they were working to reward consumers in the Springfield, Missouri area and my telephone number was chosen.
They insisted that I would be sent my $500 gift certificate in the mail and that I needed to pay $4.95 in S&H within five days of receiving my package. I questioned the high price of the shipping and handling when postage is currently only $. 37.
Two supervisors later I was asked the name of my bank which I gave them thinking that they couldn't do anything with just my bank information, however, from that point they read back to me my routing and account number. I went through the recorded verification process and said no to all the extra charges.
I asked several questions during verification and insisted that if they took any amount other than $4.95 I would seek legal action. They were very nice, fast talking individuals and I like to put faith in the human race, so I blame myself for allowing them to debit the $4.95 from my account.
After hanging up the phone I got online and checked the validity of the company. Obviously there were several complaints regarding a scheme that they were running around the country. One in North Dakota and another in California. Upon reading this information I immediately picked up the phone and called their customer service at 1-800-357-7158.
When the customer service representative answered the phone she immediately asked for my telephone number. I gave it to her and then she informed me that she could not assist me because my account has not been activated yet. She also tells me early in the conversation that we are being recorded.
I tell her that I would like to speak to a supervisor to which she again responded that they could not help me because I didn't have an account. At that point I told her that since the telephone call was being recorded I wanted to make sure they were aware that my telephone number was *, my full name was Sonja *, and as of July 5th at 8:09 I was cancelling any account that I had with Consumer Reward Network and that I was not authorizing their company to debit any amount of money from my bank account. She hung up on me.
I called back thirty-three seconds later and spoke with a male customer service representative. He asked for my phone number, which I gave him. When I conveyed to him what I wanted to speak with someone about he informed me that their system was down, so he couldn't let me talk to a Supervisor.
I told him to put me on hold and to walk into the management office and bring someone back with him. He told me that it would hang up on me if he put me on hold. He did offer to take my telephone number and label it 'high priority'. I insisted on speaking with a superviser.
I told him my concerns and he gave me the same song and dance as the three people I spoke to before authorizing the $4.95 to be taken out of my account. I asked him if the telephone call was being recorded, he replied, "yes". Once again I told him that they misrepresented themselves legally on the telephone and solicited my bank account information illegally, therefore I was cancelling any account I had with them and I was not authorizing any amount of money to be debited from my account on their behalf or any of their affiliates. He immediately hung up on me.
Again, I called back. This time Christine answered. When she asked for my phone number I politely changed the subject and told her that I just paid shipping and handling for a gift certificate that they were sending me and I was just wondering where the voucher was good at. She informed me that it wasn't a voucher and that it was good at Wal Mart and somewhere else that I couldn't understand.
I asked her if the phone call was being recorded and she said that it was. I told her that this was the third time that I called, thus it would be the third time that I would be recorded telling them that I was cancelling any account that I had with them and that I was not authorizing any amount of money taken out of my bank account, therefore, it would counteract any previous authorization that I had given.
I also told her that if any amount including, but not limited to, $4.95 or more was taken out of my account that I would seek legal action on every debit from my account individually. She said, "thank you" and hung up.
During each of these phone calls I ensured that they were being recorded, gave my full name, stated that I was cancelling any account I had with them, was not authorizing any debit from my bank account, and stated the date.
I don't know if this makes any difference. They will probably still debit my account, but at least I can put a stop payment on any debit from Consumer Rewards Network, Health Net, Mega Movie, or any other of their affiliates. Don't fall for this!
0 comments