I noticed a charge I didn't recognize on my credit card statement this month from "PC Tools" for $29.95, with no further details about what service I had supposedly authorized. I tried to contact PC Tools via the (incomplete) 800 number they provided on my statement but got a, "This call cannot be completed as dialed" message.
I then went to their website to contact customer service, however "free customers" are not given access to their contact information and to obtain their contact information as an "paid customer, " I would have to put in my email address and a license number I don't have since I've never been a paid customer and didn't want to leave any sort of paper trail implying I ever was a "paid customer."
Instead, I called my credit card company and requested their help in reaching this "merchant." They were able to find the complete 800-number and stayed on the line as I spoke to the support person at PC Tools. First, she said that the service had been ordered by me using a different email address. I informed her I have only used one email address in my life and the one she had on file was not it. Then she hemmed and hawed about not seeing the charge I was referring to (having just told me the charge was there under a different email address). She said she'd have to refer my complaint and refund request to their "escalation team" who would contact me by email in 24-72 hours with a response. This entailed my giving her my true email address, natch, but I decided to risk it.
I explained to her carefully that I was requesting a refund of the $29.95 billed on 02/10/10 (which I overlooked at the time) and the second charge of $29.95 billed on 02/07 AND wanted confirmation in writing that the "service" (I still don't know what service I supposedly ordered) had been discontinued along with any and all automatic billing arrangement.
I will update in 72 hours to alert other Rip-Off readers about the outcome but I'm not optimistic.
Obviously, it's not the $29.95 I care about but the principle of the thing — the idea that they are automatically bilking... Er, billing God knows how many unsuspecting customers these small easily-overlooked amounts year after year is simply infuriating.
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