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Auction Road ripoff fraud scam bait and switch no refund On Line Company California
This company put an add in our local paper looking for people to be resellers on E-bay, they promised items that were 80% off retail price for us to buy, actually their prices were a lot higher than if I went straight to the store and bought it off the shelf! Then they promised me 30 money back guarantee if I didnt like the program, and the first month free.
They also said that they would only charge me $9.95 for each month for a year. Then I see a charge for $100 on my credit card!!! So, I called up the company and said I didnt like the program and I want my money back. They then said (only after I bought the product from them) that I need to set up an auction and wait for it to end then I need to mail that along with my updated e-bay information along with the original booklet back to them then they will refund me the money.
So, I sent them all the information they wanted back to them and still no refund! So, I ended up calling them and they said that it will be credited back to my account in a few days. So, I waited and waited, and still no credit back! So, I called them back again, and the lady I talked to said that there was a glitch in the system and I heard her type on the keyboard and she said that she credited it back to my account and it should be there within 5-7 business days and that was 2 weeks ago (today is August 21, 2003).
So, I called them back on the same phone number and it says that the number has been disconnected and the company is no longer around! I got screwed out of my money and Im a college student and that is a lot of money! I want it back!
Julie
Addison, Illinois
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Abby
Havertown,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
"Auction Road ripoff fraud scam bait and switch no refund On Line Company California"
#2Consumer Suggestion
Fri, August 22, 2003
Hi Julie. I'm sorry to hear about your problems with Auction Road. I too was taken in by their hype and fraudulent advertising.
My advice is to go through your credit card company and dispute the charge. More likely than not, they will refund the money once you tell them how you were defrauded. Auction Road is most certainly guilty of false advertising as well as fraudulent and deceptive practices. I know when I called, I was first told everything was free (they got my cc info by telling me it was "for security purposes if I did decide to go through with the program" - I fell for that b/c that is something I've had to do with a legit company before), then once they got my info, they mentioned the $9.95 charge, but still said free trial. I only found out they were charging my card that day b/c I stated to the guy, "so I'm not being charged anything today, right?" It was then he told me I would start incurring charges immediately. It appears that almost no one is made aware that they charge you your full year's membership the first time you speak with them (ironically enough, to sign up for a free trial). I would also consider asking your credit card company to cancel that card and open a new account b/c I know Auction Road sells its "members" private info to 3rd party companies who then start taking additional money from your account without authoriztion!
Oh, another little trick they apprently pull - if you can get them to refund the money, they keep about $10 for shipping you their info packet which is apparently worthless (and costs only $1 and change to ship), so you never get 100% of your money back.
Following is a link to a message board where you can see tons of complaints about Auction Road and there may be some other helpful info about getting refunds from them as well:
I hope this helps. Don't wait too long to contact your credit card company. Auction Road is definitely one of the biggest scams going and the people who work for them appear to have no sense of decency.
Also, even after you get your money back through the cc company, you may want to consider filing a complaint with the BBB and AG office of your state - it may not do much, but I know there are a lot of people out there complaining about Auction Road and if enough of us do, maybe we can shut them down forever! Sorry so long, but hopefully it's helpful!