Last month, I was reviewing the activity on-line in my checking account (something I RARELY do as long as my overall balance seems correct) and I noticed a withdrawal of $6.00 to a company called "Travel Values Plus". Since I couldn't think of any travel that I had done in the past month, I decided to call the toll-free number listed in the entry.
When I explained to the agent what was going on - and asked her what the charge was for, she explained that they provide discounts for hotels and restaurants and other travel-related items. I told her that I didn't recall asking for the service - and had not made use of it. And asked her how the charge was initiated. She explained that often people "sign up" for the service as part of an internet purchase.
I then asked her how long I had been "signed up" - and she told me that I signed up in 2002! Seven years ago! At $6.00 / month! That's over $500!
I asked her how was I supposed to know that I have this "service"? Had they sent me something explaining what the service was, how to get to it, etc? She said that they had sent email - "frequently" - and she verified my email address (which they had correctly). I explained that I couldn't recall getting ANY email from them - and she continued to insist that email had been sent.
I then asked if she could credit my account for all of the charges that had been paid - since I had never signed into an account and never used the service. She told me that she could credit this month's charges only - $6 - and then cancel my membership, effective immediately. Which she did.
I hung up feeling VERY ripped off. Should I have noticed the $6/month being taken from my checking account before 7 years had passed? Probably. Is there a possibility that they DID send email to me - and, thinking it was spam, I deleted it without reading it? Possibly. But by doing either / both of these things, does that make me liable for paying the $500? Is it "right"? No!
I was ripped off.
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