BARGAIN NETWORK Ripoff Beware deception trick cheating trickery dishonesty con ruse ripoff scam fraud swindle Bakersfield California
Company BARGAIN NETWORK Phone Number: 800-3331915
Beware, you will not be able to find this company on the BBB Better Business Bureau website and that should be clue one that there is something fishy going on, but I didn't check the legitimacy of this company until it was to late, not that there's anything to find out except when you search for others that have had the same complaint. Bargain Network is blatantly a con, ruse, ripoff, scam, fraud and/or swindle, how ever you want to say it - be my guest.
What happened to me I assume is not all too uncommon because I found other complaints about the same specific' issue. First I signed up for there service which is suppose to be a means to locating foreclosed properties for good prices, and other bargains', but you can not successfully do this through there web site first of all and second of all, they are completely fraudulent at every turn. What I signed up for was a free trial which turned into anything but.
First they charged me a 'low' fee to send information to my address regarding foreclosure listings, it never arrived. So then I canceled there service online within the same day, within there trial period. Half a month later I get charged by both them and their subsidiaries, which makes this both a scam and illegal (close to 150 bucks). Then when I tried to cancel or simply call them, I could not get through - you will stay on hold forever.
Now I'm not really sure what to do; I'm a college student and have no time for people ripping other people off. I kind of want to (but won't) go down to there main office - which they don't list and is probably not an office at all, but rather someone's personal computer setup - and kick someone's face in.
Micheal
Bakersfield, California
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Gavin
Santa Maria,California,
U.S.A.
Bargain Network NOT for bad consumers
#2UPDATE Employee
Tue, July 18, 2006
I simply had to write in response to this post as well as every other post I've read regarding the same company. Much of the issues and details I'll discuss have to do with many other companies out there. I have worked for the company for over two years in both customer service and taking orders. The company has gone from a privately owned company to a publicly owned company (the kind on wallstreet). Furthermore, every single call taken is RECORDED. This is for the members protection as well as the companies.
When you sign up for a free trial for thirty days, you pay $1.95 for shipping of listings which do arrive (many people throw the package out without looking at it, one woman told me on the phone she "might have thrown it out" and then still insisted she never recieve her package) Also the employees taking orders over the phone read from a SCRIPT. They MUST do this. Every bit of information needed to use the service is given to the member to write down. This includes the name and operator number of the person taking the order, the website address, user id and password, and the number(s) to contact for accessing benefits as well as discontinuing service. Customer service is available mon. through sat. 4am-9pm. When you cancel the service it is also recorded, name and operator number given as well as a cancellation confirmation number.
What happens when people sign up is they are offered additional trials in which they can claim free offers for doing so and also use services of for thirty days as well. Phone numbers are also given out for each program offered as well as it is advised that the separate numbers MUST be called to cancel each service. On top of all of that, there MUST be a clear and full RECORDED authorization of EACH program as well as a CONFIRMATION of each authorization that with certain transactions even requires the member signing up to enter a four digit pin into the phone pad!
In addition, there are no cancellations available through email. Again it is explained to contact customer service to discontinue (hours posted above) What happens is people signing up DO NOT LISTEN. They don't ask questions if they miss something. All the information is on the website as well. The company IS a member of the BBB and has been for a long time.
Because of my employment and knowledge of companies that offer free trials I now feel comfortable accepting offers from other companies I deal with. For example my credit card company offers me a protection service over the phone while I activate my card. They say if I join for thirty days free I can """CLAIM""" a free 15 dollar voucher good on any purchase. I accept. I cancel. I recieve a free voucher for 15 bucks. Also have you ever seen those offers for free "ipods" on the web? They actually are true. I actually did recieved a FREE ipod. But you do have to go through the steps to get it which involves signing up for offers and having friends referred to do the same.
People who listen, follow directions and write important information down (it is in the script that pen and paper is needed for some important information) can use the service for it's full potential. There is a customer service department that is available to answer any questions as well as assist members for listings who don't have access to the internet.
There are companies out there that do things not in compliance with the law. They're usually called credit card companies. Bargain is not one of them.