AOL Netmarket - Trilegiant sent sales checks to my ex for $2.50 (if you cash, you join type of telemarketing). He cashed the check and AOL billed my account causing me to bounce checks as I do not keep a high balance in that account. A month later I received another one of these sales checks from Trilegiant (netmarket) in my ex's name. I called AOL since they were the ones charging my account, they requested that I fax all materials to them including the check with my ex's name on it. I heard absolutely nothing for 2 months. I was then billed for some auto advantage that I never signed up for through Trilegiant (AOL billing my account) which caused me to bounce more checks. I sent letters to the BBB, Attorney General, AOL, Trilegiant and the FTC. Amazingly, AOL called me two days later apologizing for not returning my call two months earlier.
The problem is, Trilegiant is sending things to my ex who is not on my AOL account and is not on my banking account. AOL in VA (not the techs but Mike Spahr) verified through name and social security numbers that my ex is not on the account and should not be receiving any material linked to my account from Trilegiant.
Yet. When I send the information on how much I am out due to bounced check fees, AOL tells the BBB that they offer a service to their customers, if they buy something through Trilegiant, they bill the account. No mention on if you DON'T buy anything but AOL bills your account anyway. AOL takes no responsibility for any of this but passes it on to Trilegiant. AOL told the BBB for my experience, they were being nice and giving me a whole free month of AOL. Notice they never told me this, they told the BBB. I heard when the BBB sent me a copy of the letter.
November 21 AOL, Mike Spahr told me that I would be hearing from Trilegiant within 10 business days. It is now December 26. According to the other complaints on here, I highly doubt I will ever hear from Trilegiant. I think it's time that AOL stands up to their responsibility of using one's billing information. They sell our names and addresses to a company that they know are being investigated by numerous state attorney general's offices (this can be found on the BBB site as they refer you to the CT Attorney General's offices). My complaint is at the AG's office, I spoke to an investigator there who told me that numerous states are investigating Trilegiant (aka Netmarket).
My state, OK is currently investigating and sent me information to fill out. Trilegiant was downright rude when I called them regarding the fees charged to my account. Three different operators told me they were going to hang up on me when I asked for a supervisor. I was told they had authorization to charge my account. When asked if I as the only account holder didn't give them authorization, then who did??? Their answer? We had authorization. Then when asked for corporate information, they give you some PO BOX in Ohio. To this day I have no idea who that is. I did finally talk to one very nice operator who told me they are forbidden to give out corporate information.
AOL hides under the fact that they do not give out your billing information but bills when Trilegiant tells them to. If they mess up your account with a mistake, they take no responsibility but chuck it to Trilegiant who also takes no responsibility.
The fact is, AOL knowingly sells AOL account holder names to this telemarketing company knowing they are being investigated.
I am not a person who takes this lightly and sending copies to all news agencies except CNN who is owned by Time Warner (AOL).
I am out approximately $500 due to bounced check fees for being charged 3 times for things I did not order, fax fees (bothers me that AOL tells me to fax things when they know they aren't going to do anything about it), gasoline, long distance calls, etc.
AOL did take off the charges from Trilegiant a few days later, however, the small checks I had written already bounced.
Having someone's billing information should take some responsibility. If AOL wants to sell our names to a telemarketer, they need to bear the problems that may come with that. You can't warn other AOL people on the AOL boards because it gets deleted by a moderator.
The Attorney General's office in CT did tell me that they were following through and perhaps a civil litigation suit may be coming against Trilegiant. People need to send their complaints to them though to help the cause. The address is on the Better Business Bureau's site under the business name Trilegiant in CT.
W
Harrah, Oklahoma
U.S.A.
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