I was approached by Wells Fargo about the "Preferred Program." This program offered concierge-type services, and as incentive for joining, they offer a $100 dollar gift certificate that you can use toward the purchase of gift certificates for retailers like book stores and restaurants.
What the representative does not tell you is that the $100 does not cover the cost of the gift certificates; it only gives you a percentage off the purchase of gift certificate for purchase on a Web site. So if you want to use your $100 certificate to purchase two $50 gift certificates for you favorite retailer, you must pay $80. Only $20 from your $100 certificate goes toward the purchase of the two $50 certificates. Confused yet? In other words, I would have to but about $500 in gift certificates in order to use the $100 incentive.
To further complicate things, they offer you a free trial period. When you call to cancel, they tell you that you need to maintain your membership in order to use your $100 incentive gift. And it's ONLY $9.99 a month.
Next thing you know, you've racked up $130 in charges for a service you cannot use for a $100 gift certificate that will cost you money to use! They automatically debit your checking account, so if you're not diligent, you'll miss it.
This is definitely a scam to weasel more money out of consumers for a "service" that is of no value to the average person. I cannot believe that in a time when so many are struggling to make ends meet, that Wells Fargo would stoop to this level.
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