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ADAPTIVE MARKETING Shopping Essentials Plus Unauthorized use of my credit card Omaha, Nebraska *EDitor's Suggestions on how to get your money back into your bank account that someone wrongfully takes it from you!
Shopping Essentials Plus (Adaptive Marketing) obtained my credit information from an unauthorized third party, and then charged my card for a service I did not authorize. As a preventive measure, I filed a complaint against this company with the bbb.org (Better Business Bureau). Please feel free to add your complaint to the file.
EDitor's Suggestions on how to get your money back! HERE IS WHAT RIP-OFF REPORT SUGGESTS YOU DO: Go to your bank within 60 days of the charge, or as soon as you know about the charge, don't delay, and tell them that there has been fraudulent activity within your account. Explain that you wish to file a dispute, and demand that they assist you in accordance with Federal Regulation E. According to the majority of victims interviewed by Rip-off Report, those who immediately called their banks to dispute the charges did not get very far. Many victims got the following responses from their banks: we could not do anything for you or you waited too long; it has been more than 60 days. If the bank is says that you have waited too long, explain to them how you called their 800 number as soon as the charges were found, and were told by the bank that nothing could be done. Remind the bank that they failed to assist you properly at the 800 #, and instead, provided you with an inadequate explanation of your right to dispute. Tell the bank that it's their fault time has expired, and since they gave you the wrong info to begin with, they will just have to deal with it, take the loss and reverse the charges. Tell them the truth; this was unauthorized and your account was NOT to be charged! Keep emphasizing how you never authorized anything! Direct them to the hundreds of victims reports that were filed on Rip-off Report.com. And if you're at the bank, walk them over to their computer and make them go to this site! If you are on the phone with them, tell them you will wait while they access this site! Either way, be persistent! DO NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER! Let them know nicely, that you were advised to Report them (the Bank) and this situation to the Banking Commission in your state. Since each state has a different name for the agency/controller over banks, find that name before you call or get to the bank so you can throw it in their face. The more knowledgeable you appear to be, the further you will get. And just continue to demand the Federal Regulation E form! The bank CAN, MUST and WILL reverse the charge! But, you must be persistent; ask to speak to the supervisor or the area manager for all the branches in the state. Let the bank personnel know you are meeting with the media later in the day, that you would much rather they do the right thing (as most other banks have) by looking at the complaints and immediately reversing the charge(s) to your account; no matter how long ago it was. Be sure to call the Media if necessary so you are telling the truth. If you have to, be loud (but nice) in front of other customers. If you are just calling by phone, the above tactics should still work. The bank can easily fax or mail to you the Federal Regulation E dispute form. CHARGES TO YOUR CREDIT CARD If the charge was to your credit card (not debit card, check card, or checking account), contact the credit card company as soon as possible to request a dispute form. Consumers usually have a little longer to dispute fraudulent credit card charges (up to 6 months), but it is better to act right away. In this type of situation, credit card disputes are usually successful since fraudulent companies often won't contest the disputed charge. In rare cases, credit card companies will review disputes, but refuse to reverse the charges. If this occurs, complain to a manager and let them know you will be filing a report here. Remember Don't let them get away with it! Make sure they make the Rip-off Report .. The more Reports filed on a Company or individual, the more likely it is that the authorities, media and attorneys will want to take action. And good luck Let us know how you do! ED Magedson Founder RipoffReport.com Author of www.ripoffrevenge.com Rip-off Report PO Box 310, Tempe, Arizona 85280
1 Updates & Rebuttals
bmw_speeder_2010
Internet,United States of America
we found the solution to this
#2Consumer Suggestion
Tue, November 24, 2009
We first approached out bank (Citi) about the errant charges, but as previously mentioned by other contributors, the call center agent (in Bangalore) was useless except for providing us with a series of seemingly cryptic numbers associated with the transaction. One of the numbers appeared to be an 888 phone number, so while we were on the call with Citi we dialed it on another phone and put them on speaker.
Just to be clear - your call will always be answered by an automated voice answering system (called an IVR), that prompts you to select from a series of options. This is very commonplace with "big business" because it is there to help ensure that whomever you eventually talk with will have a clue about what you want to discuss.
In our experience, and it may differ for others, when we select the option regarding purchasing something (i.e. you spoof them by indicating that you want to give them your money) we will invariably get a human on the line. In this particular case it worked as expected, and someone answered right away.
The inside sales rep who got on the phone with us had a flowery voice, acting as though she was over-joyed to talk with us about how she could help make our lives easier by achieving discounts of between 20% and 60% with upwards of 600 vendors. My immediate response was calm, cool yet deadly serious when I said, "I'd like to know if you're the right person to speak with regarding these fraudulent charges on my credit card, before I pass along the information to our attorney".
Needless to say I was politely put on hold while being transferred to her supervisor. When the supervisor got on the line, I shushed whatever it was that he was trying to "share with me" by asking, and then insisting, on getting his full name and ID number. I took the time to write it down, and slowly repeated it back to him for emphasis, and in so doing gained control of our conversation. ** NOTE: This is a VERY important element when dealing with situations like this. YOU need to be the one driving !!
Funny how the "game" can be played against them, because I only needed to mention to my wife who was sitting beside me that "the attorney would need to add this name to the court records" and "this guy's information will be included in the complaint we're registering with the State's Attorney General" tomorrow. For effect she said, "Yes you're absolutely right, this guy (Mike) knows the whole scam" and then a few seconds later she said "Mr Ruskin answered my chat and told me to get the call center mailing address where Mike works. Can you ask Mike what his address is so we can forward him correspondence?" Of course Mike (the call center supervisor) could hear this (as designed). Parenthetically, our poor Citibank agent in Bangalore was probably in shock on her end as well.
And to throw a little fuel on the fire I then asked Mike "how did we get infected by your scam service?" I think at that point our position was fairly clear, and miraculously the conversation changed. He confirmed that VitaCost.com had automatically signed us up for the Savings Ace program in August when we had ordered some vitamins. He assured us that our account with him would be immediately closed and the charges from September and October on our credit card were going to be refunded. Of course I asked him "for the record" whether or not we should expect any further charges INCLUDING November, to which he confirmed that there would be no further charges whatsoever, etc etc etc. He actually apologized to the point where I almost started to feel sorry for the guy, until I remembered that it was he and his crew who had been trying to bilk my wife and I out of our money in the first place.
Bottom line here folks, at least from what we've experienced four times so far this year with situations like this, is that predatory practices are starting to become more "mainstream". Unfortunately most people still don't double-check their CC statements each month, so these seemingly minor amounts slip by until it's too late.
So to protect yourselves by ALWAYS checking the fine print on any on-line "offers" BEFORE you accept them because if something sounds like a really great deal (like the "claim your reward" discount coupon on future purchases) there will usually be a big hook lurking in the details somewhere that'll give them a "legal way" to start charging your CC without you being fully aware of it until after the money has already changed hands.
Hope this has been helpful! Be safe & be smart while shopping on-line, and enjoy your' holidays !!
Cheers,
AB