While searching for Gov't. Grants I unfortunately found this site which said they would forward me a dvd for 2.29 (1.29 shipping, 1.00 handling fee). They said they had been shown on CNN and some other well-known tv stations and so, trustingly, I ordered the dvd. I checked "NO" in any boxes referring to any other services they may offer. The confirmation email they said would be sent, wasn't. I called their 800 number and told them this and that the program would not download from their site (although there is a download bar). They said you couldn't download from there and that the dvd would be mailed to me. No answer as to why no confirmation email was sent, but I had my confirmation number and figured, okay.
Continuing my search, I ran across a consumer blog about scam companies. Lo and behold, there was the 800 number and 3 letters concerning the company I had just done business with - warning about additional charges that later appeared on the unsuspecting consumer's bank accts.
I immediately called back to the 800 number and demanded that any additional programs be cancelled immediately, and that I had noticed they had already debitted my acct. For 1.29 and would like the dvd mailing cancelled too. They said the mailing was already done - wow they're quick, it was only about 10 minutes before I called them to cancel. The heavily-accented (I couldn't tell what country they were in by the accent) operator said I didn't have to cancel the programs right away (she didn't mention how many there were), and could call back within two weeks to cancel. I said no, cancel them NOW. She then said she'd offer a 30 day trial/cancellation instead. I firmly said, NO, cancel them NOW.
She then gave me three cancellation confirmation numbers!!! They would have been charging me 39.95 for these other programs without my knowledge had I not come across that other blog!
I then called my bank. They were wonderful (didn't make me feel trustingly dumb) and suggested I cancel my debit/credit card and get another. They explained that the company I had dealt with used many names to place the charges against accounts and they would be unable to flag all of them. So, that's what I did.
It makes me sooooooo mad that companies like this are out there and people searching for grant money, who obviously need it for a reason, fall prey to them and lose money out of their accts. That they didn't realize would be taken. Many people probably have their accts. Overdrawn because of it! Adding additional charges from the bank to their problems. Argh.
Just had to write so that people would know what this company is about. I tried to get a complaint through the BBB site, but it's impossible to do - or it was for me, anyway. I realize that the site I had contacted was probably working within the limits of the law, but it was definitely not openly/obviously forthcoming in terms of the additional charges one would incur when they felt they were ordering just a free dvd - especially when you check NO in all the additional boxes offered.
Thanks for letting me post this and warning others about this site.
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