A month ago I noticed a charge on my credit card that I didn't recognize and called my bank to file a dispute. The charge was for something named Shopping Essentials for $16.95. The bank told me I had to file a written dispute form in order for them to look into it. I requested a form but it required a code for the merchant in order to file it. Since the charge appeared on my credit card account online (which does not show the code) I had to wait for the actual statement to get the code for the filing.
While waiting for the statement about a month passed and before I received the statement another $16.95 charge from Shopping Essentials appeared on my online statement. Now I have to dispute two charges.
To prevent any further charges from occurring I reluctantly called the Shopping Essentials phone number appearing on my online statement and was told I would not be charged again (reluctantly because it makes me sick to even recognize that they legitimately exist). I told them I never authorized the charges in the first place as I would never sign up for a shopping service—it is not something I would ever take advantage of, especially to the tune of $17 a month.
I was told that I had authorized the charges by accepting a free 30 day trial during a phone call where I was purchasing something that I had seen on TV. I know this is a rip-off as I would never authorize anything on a free trial basis with which I was not thoroughly familiar—I intend to dispute both these charges vehemently with the credit card issuer and will take my business elsewhere if they will not remove them. It is not a large amount ($34) but it is reprehensible that there are people out there that prey on people they hope will never complain.
If you ever get nailed with charges from Shopping Essentials I encourage you to take whatever action it takes to keep them from benefiting from their shady business practices it's a matter of principle.
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