In mid December we signed up online for shipments of coffee through Seattle Coffee Direct. The promo offer included 2 pounds of coffee, 2 travel mugs (one arrived with a broken handle), and 2 ceramic mugs. All for $5.00 to which we provided our debit card number.
The first shipment arrived. Two weeks later another shipment arrived, and then for two consecutive weeks we received yet more coffee! For each 2 bags, 38.95 was deducted from our debit card.
In late January, we sent back 4 bags of coffee, and called and cancelled our "membership". We were advised this would be taken care of, and our card credited $77.90. February passed with more calls to them and more reassurances, yet no credit. I then called the bank and had my debit card number changed. They stated that, to date, no one had contacted them regarding this credit.
On March 20, I called and spoke to a woman who again assured me that this was taken care of, and the credit would post to our account in 7-10 business days. On March 30, I called again (still no credit) and a man informed me that I had called on March 20th and it would take 10 BUSINESS DAYS. He was quite rude.
I checked my card balance on April 6 and no credit. On April 8th, I called Seattle Direct and a "Jeanette" informed me that I would need to speak to a supervisor about this since once things were put through for credit they could only be addressed by supervisors. She advised me to call back the next day.
April 9th, I called back and spoke to a man. I asked for a supervisor and he says "I can help you". I explain the situation. He says he understands and puts me on hold for about 10 minutes while he goes to get "authorization numbers" from his supervisor. He gives me two such numbers and says that now I need to call my bank and give them these numbers and they will be able to make the credit to my account. He assures me that having these numbers is a sure way to get the bank to release the credit sooner. I informed him that this was the last I was calling them; that my next call was to the Better Business Bureau. He said "I understand". I told him that I felt the entire process was fraudulent and I wanted my account credited at once. He said it had been done. I asked him when and he replied "early this morning"!
I then call my bank and explain the situation providing them with the two authorization numbers given to me by the man at Seattle Coffee Direct. The bank informs me that this is not a practice she has ever heard of and that they never "hold" credits. She then tells me that neither authorization number is in their system - that the numbers don't exist.
I am very frustrated. Something needs to be done to stop this practice. All I want is my money back. They have their coffee!
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