On October 20 I was watching TV and saw an infomercial on CD's being advertised as FREE all you have to pay is $6.95 shipping/handling. They claimed they were having to get rid of these to make room for newer versions.
First of all, this is NOT as advertised and I feel very strongly they are not only misleading people, but false advertising which I definitely learned later!
However, as if this isn't enough, I called the number and when a male answered he IMMEDIATELY asked me for my personal information, name, address, phone number (ph.# I do not give out) and my means of payment and credit card information.
Upon giving this he started telling me about the product and that it was for a 14 day trial period and that is when I STOPPED him immediately asking him were these CD's not FREE? He said, "NO, they are not". I told him this is not how it sounded during the advertisement and that I was not interested in the product nor the offer what so ever and to disregard my call and not to charge anything on my visa.
I specifically asked that he NOT CHARGE on my Visa Card as I know how many marketing companies work. They say by you giving them your credit card number, that in essence you are giving them permission to charge on it and that is absolutely false.
This has come around mostly with the Trial Offers for 30 day trail offer complaints where people take the trial period and do not call back to cancel therefore they are charged the full yearly amount of membership after the 30 days and the Co. Uses what I just said as their defense plus you've signed a discalimer as well on the site for the 30 days or what ever amount of days for the trial offer which has in there that by doing this you give them permission and/or agreeing after the trial offer is up they can charge on your credit card.
However, in this particular case, it is absolutely different. This time it was an Illegal act and a Fraudulent one at that because it was performed deceptively with intent to defraud me. I did not want the product therefore I did not agree to a Trail Offer what so ever, nor did I verbally advise or sign my name or accept through a disclaimer that I wanted the offer! Therefore, I should not have been charged anything!
All of a sudden I pulled up my banking statement via the internet the next day, Oct. 21st and not only found a charge, but it was for $9.95 and not even the $6.95 which was advertised on the infomercial, which was a double unauthorized charge. NEVER give your information personal, credit card, address first before asking what the deal is. This Company is listed as WMI but also has a web address as dealpass.com and refers to it as such when you call the number I have listed.
Upon calling back and explaining this to a guy, which I have the names of people I spoke with, telling him what had happened right off, he comes back trying to make me see the benefits of using this memebership. I told him I DID NOT want the memebership, I NEVER Wanted It, I DID NOT Ask for a Membership of any kind, nor the product and this charge was fraudulent due to me telling the first person EXACTLY this and requesting my credit card information not to be used and yet he blantantly disregarded my wishes and not only charged on my credit card, but went a step further in charging a fee that was NOT the fee advertised on the television infomercial that was being discussed at the time.
So until I looked at my bank statement, I didn't even know about the $9.95 that was actually charged. When I asked this male giving me the refund what was the $9.95 for, he told me it was for the actual membership charge. Then he put me on hold after telling me he would credit my card and never came back on the phone and the phone line finally diconnected which upset me because I didn't know if he corrected the issue at hand or not.
So upon calling back and entering in my phone number, which you have to do, the recording advised me that my membership was cancelled and would be completed in the next 2 to 3 business days and to allow at least 2 statement cycles for this refund to show up. I got my credit initiated, mind you I've said inititated, but I still have to keep checking to make sure it goes through all the way. This companies phone number is 1-877-444-7526 just in case you need it. Their hours are M-F 6a-11p, Sat. 6a-5p Central Time.
Even at this I still had unauthorized charges made to my account just that easily which is a Very Serious matter and I would be more than happy to be part in and witness to what they performed on me that I deem illegal as well as fraudulent to peoples banking/charge accounts! And their advertising is very misleading as well as false as I see it. There needs to be some action on this to teach these people they just cannot use your financial information anyway they Darn well please! This is not any different in my book than someone stealing your information and charging with it which is considered Fraud and a Felony.
I am for us getting together to initate a lawsuit to make it happen and for them to feel these deceptive actions where it hurts the most, in their pocket books and to make it more public. Also, I truly feel that these so call "Trail Period Offers" need to be looked into more carefully. Say for a moment it is true that you are giving them permission to use the credit card for this trial offer, that doesn't have to mean that you are giving them permission to charge on it there after.
The Federal Trade Commission should and can make them put in there a seperate part you have to agree to and select saying should you wish to continue this memebership or in this club, in this disclaimer you are giving us permission to charge your credit card for the full memebership and mememberships thereafter until you call and cancelle. Otherwise, it should be just for that time and that time only and without giving a charge card.
If you do give a charge card, another way to look at it is, it should be up to the marketing/sales, customer service dept. Of the company directly involved to recontact you to see if you wish to continue your membership and not put it on the consumer who they count on forgetting about it since it is for such a lengthy period of time and also by being busy and not thinking about it until it is too late! Oh, they will cancel, but by then they want to cancel with Pro-Rating you giving you back less than the total amount unless you catch it within a couple of days of the Trial Period being Expired!
There needs to be a law implimented like the NO CALL LIST for telemrktg. Companies now to stop these actions. That is exactly why they give you 15 and 30 day trial periods, definitely 30 days for a trial period because they count on this amount of time to help you forget that you did this knowing what they offer is or may not be used that often to help remind you of it or you just get too busy to remember. This is all forethought ladies and gentlemen and don't think for one measly moment it isn't! This is the way they make their money you guys and you have to ask yourself at times is it worth all that?!
Get the one time offer if offered and pay for it and that is it, especially where credit reports are involved. These people that offer you the extra's on a website are often "NOT" Affiliated with the actual company's website in which you are visiting at the time, so when you call back that particular company, be it credit or other wise, they tell you something like, "Oh, that is a Third Party Company and you will have to contact them"! So, from here on out, just STOP, THINK about what you are visiting and if you really need it first off, then if you would even use it on down the road before jumping into it because it sounds good and give some fore thought to it all before making what may or will be a terrible mistake more times than not on down the road! PLEASE, think about it!
You will find most of the time you will just pass on it and later when you think about it, you will tell yourself, "Boy am I glad I didn't take advantage of that offer"! You will, I have. It's just that in my case here, I tried to head it off after finding out it was not what I thought or what they were leading people to think it was and because someone thought they would be wise and take the chance in charging me anyway thinking they would get away with it and help them in their marks for signing on someone which helps them in their bonus'money with some marketing companies.
They caused me time and trouble of getting this straigtened out and should have to pay for it. Our time is just as valuable as theirs! That is why I hope I can be of help if and when they are sued! Matter a fact, I believe I have a Very Good Case here and chance of having a Tremendous Influence upon this situation with this company and companies alike. CALL ME! I'M READY!
Frances
Monroe, North Carolina
U.S.A.
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