I recently purchased some magnets through a company called "VistaPrint". They advertise free business cards and discounted prices on otherwise pricey printed materials. Being a graphic artist I thought - what a great deal!
Being a graphic artist who runs their own freelance business - figured out - too great to be true deal.
I went through the process of ordering via vistaprint - I even phoned their customer service for some ordering help. Upon completion I entered in my VISA check card information and submitted my order. Thereafter I was taken to a screen that held a coupon for 10% off my next purchase.
Because of the way the quantities worked, I opted not to use this coupon and just close everything out.
I received an email about a week after receiving my magnets that my membership to PASSPORT TO FUN was ready to be billed. I thought it was junk mail and deleted it unread.
WRONG! Two days later going through my ledger online I see a charge for $14.95 for AP9*PASSPORTVISTA - Who are they? I call my bank and we just dispute it no questions asked.
Two days after that - there is another charge pending from a company called SHOPPINGESSENTIALS - Who are they? This time I do my research.
Turns out - VistaPrint is very flexible with their customers credit card information and sold it to Vertrue, Inc. Who in turn uses it in all of their departments - each with a different name ie - PASSPORT TO FUN, PASSPORTVISTA, SHOPPING ESSENTIALS and BUSINESS MAX.
Vertrue, Inc. Signs you up for a membership - whether your coupon has been filled out or whether you wan a membership or not and gives you 30 days to try it out for free - not informing you of this until they are ready to bill your credit card.
Now, I have to wonder, how many company/department names does Vertrue, Inc. Have - how many $15 charges will I be receiving for something I didn't want, didn't know about, and didn't give my information for.
Buyer beware - DO NOT shop at VistaPrint! If you have charges to your credit card, or check card from any suspicious vender report it immediately as fraud and get a new card with a new number.
While my magnets were worth it - my draining bank account is NOT!
Sara
Seseme, Georgia
U.S.A.
0 comments