This rip off took place in October and continued for over 1 year with a company called Paralelles and with my business credit card company, Chase.
I am a small business owner that got lost in the shuffle, who's concerns and complaints fell into an abyss, who totally got screwed for $750, not to mention at least 50 hours of phone calls, emails and faxing numerous documentation to both companies.
I'm so glad that I came across this site to voice my complaint! I don't even know if it can be resolved in my favor at this point, but the fact that the owner of this company could not even extend the courtesy of a phone call to me will forever be a thorn in my side. That's just not the way you should do business! Here is my timeline:
10/07 - I was contacted by a sales representative from Paralelles to purchase a membership for $1500 that included a radio interview from a well known host and a bio page on their site. The rep. Was very pushy because I was hesitant because of the cost and offered to bill the amount $750 this month, $750 the following month. After getting off the phone I decided that the timing was not right for this and called her the next day to tell her that I decided not to move forward with this. She was very nice when she answered the phone until I gave her my decision. She became very pushy and said that she had already billed me the $750 and I asked her to please credit the amount back, apologized for any inconvenience and ended the call. I thought that she followed through with my request.
I did not sign any contract, was not emailed or snail mailed anything that informed me of any services that they provided, nor was I contacted for a radio interview.
12/07 I contacted Chase, my credit card company because there was a charge from Paralelles on my card dating 11/14/07 which I disputed. I followed the protocol that had given me to dispute the charge.
2/12/07 I called Chase and left a voicemail inquiring on the dispute
3/3/08 I received a letter from Chase stating that my dispute was declined because I did not have enough documentation. I had sent whatever they asked for but was re-billed.
I called Paralelles and was connected to Taze, who handled their billing who forwarded an email that they received from PayPal stating the chargeback. She said it was out of her hands and that the funds were being held.
I spoke with Laurie Aguero from Chase and faxed her the email from PayPal per her request. I also told her that I was not provided any type of service and did not sign anything to validate the charge on my card.
3/8/08 I disputed the charge once again
3/14/08 I received a letter from Chase requesting all information. I spoke with Juan Gonzales from Chase to be sure that I was sending what was needed to finalize this. He assured me that it was sufficient.
3/24/08 - Chase sent me a letter stating that PayPal was holding the merchants funds and would not release them.
4/3/08 - I contacted the merchant, being Paralelles and was told Apparently PayPal says it was resolved.
4/7/08 At the request of Chris Tiberio from Chase, I faxed a letter of disagreement to the disputes dept.
I called Chase on 4/22 and 4/28. My dispute was denied again.
6/08 - I finally emailed the President of Paralleles, Linda Coughlin, in hopes of getting some type of resolution in this matter. Being that I was NEVER provided any type of service or signed anything to verify the charge. Her response was If we had nothing signed, we would not have won the dispute! I asked her to provide me with proof that I signed and authorized this charge and have not heard from her since. No phone call, no email, nothing!
I did not sign any contract with Paralleles nor did I wait 5 days to cancel as Linda stated to me in her email as well. I called the next day to cancel, well within their 2 day cancellation policy (this policy is not found on their site). I did not register for these services online at their site. I gave my information to the rep. From their company over the phone.
PARALLELES did not provide me with any service and I did not purchase anything from them back in November 0f 2007. Their sales person billed me after I told her I wasn't sure if I wanted their services, continued to try and talk me into the sale of the PR services and then once I stood my ground, she said that she would have to see if she could credit me. This person is no longer working there from what I was told. I had spoken several times with a woman who did the bookkeeping for Paralelles. She originally told me that the money was not credited because I disputed the charge. She agrees that the money should be refunded to me but it seems that no one knows where the $750 is. I even contacted Paypal giving them the case # and they said that it is the merchant through Paralelles that is holding the money.
The last time I contacted the company on 6/23/08, the woman that i had been dealing with in bookkeeping was no longer working at this position at Paralleles, what a shocker. As for Chase, I am reporting them for not pursuing the signed documentation from Paralelles, for having me fax countless doumentation supporting my case and assuring me that I had sufficient evidence and after over 1 year, leave me flat. Again, what a shocker...
Lori
Shelton, Connecticut
U.S.A.
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