I ordered a book by Avril Harper on how to use newspapers and magazines as money makers by selling them on eBay. I chose to pay with my PayPal account, rather than enter a credit card. I was taken to a page which offered a FREE downloadable ebook on how to make money on eBay. There was nothing that I saw about paying for shipping or signing up for anything.
I clicked on the link and downloaded my eBook. The next thing I know I am on a page talking up Pacific Webworks "packaged" web sites and store fronts for use on eBay. I did not click to sign up for anything. There was no button to say "No Thanks".
Three days later I saw a charge on my debit card from Pacific Webworks for 4.95. I never gave anyone my card number. I can only speculate that somehow Pacific Webworks obtained my card information from PayPal. I did some research on the web and came across The complaint write ups on this company.
Two to three weeks later I got a packet of material from the company talking about a "free" 30-minute consultation with their "web" experts. I called the number given and told the woman who answered that I had never signed up for any of this. She gave me the number for the billing department. I called that number, told the woman I wanted to cancel whatever I had signed up for and she said fine and gave me a cancelation number.
About a week later I get another charge on my debit card for 49.90 from Pacific Webworks. When I called the billing number again, I got a very uncooperative operator who told me I had not cancelled in time and that I could only get my money back by claiming fraud. Unfortunately I lost my temper and she hung up on me. However, I reported the incident to my bank and was connected to their Fraud and Security Department. The bank has refunded my money, but I have not heard results from their investigation.
I am now wondering just what the relationship between Pacific Webworks, eBay and PayPal is. I know that PayPal is a wholly-owned subsidiary of eBay. I am wondering if thiere is some kind of colusion going on between them. I have not done so, but I am going to contact Paypal about all this and see what they have to say.
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