Local radio ad stated that ATS Market Research was doing a study on grocery purchases in our area and would provide $1000.00 to purchase groceries so they could monitor what people were buying.
I called and they said that I qualified to be in the study. I was told that this was being paid for by JP Morgan Chase because they wanted to see what people were buying. I was told that I would be provided a "Gift Card" that would give me access to the $1000.00 so I could buy "Anything except Alcohol and Tobacco products".
The Catch - I had to enroll in 4 different programs that would be a recurring monthly charge if I did not cancel within the 15-30 grace period. I thought that hassel would be worth the $1000.00 so I agreed. I was charge $15.70 for processing fees for each program and shipping charges for ATS to send me the "Gift Card".
What I got. I received a "online coupon membership card" that allowed me to join www.grocerysavers.com without paying their normal $99.95 registration fee. This allows me to go online and select coupons from a very limited selection, pay a shipping and handling fee of $2.00, and have the coupons sent to my address. Not only can I not buy what I want, I can only buy the products listed on this web site.
I believe that I was deliberatly misled by the ATS representative to make the program sound like market research and that I was going to be given a gift card that would have a $1000.00 balance that I could shop with. I gave my neighbor the phone number so she could sign up and after she did we realized we were told different things by the ATS representatives.
I have since cancelled the 4 programs that I was enrolled in and contacted ATS Research directly. The ATS customer service representative was condescending and rude. He played back my original recorded phone call I made when I signed up, including me giving my personal information and credit card number. Scares me knowing that all my info is now recorded and being held by ATS Research. After a horrible 20 min phone call I was told that my $7.95 would be credited back to my account only after arguing that they offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarentee and that I was far from satisfied.
In my opinion this is a Huge scam and very misleading. I recommend that nobody signs up for this. Clip coupons from the Sunday paper and save yourself the money and trouble.
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