Bargain Network Ripoff Suspicious Behavior Internet
Agreed to participate in a paid survey (I don't remember the survey company, darn it), but I was to be paid $15.00 to participate - but I had to sign up for the $1.00 (Free?) 7-day trial service.I completed the online application using my credit card and was billed $1.00.
Fortunately, several days later I became nervous after looking around the site and noticing that it is nothing but a bunch of information that is publicly available online elsewhere - for no cost. I then went to www.ripoffreport.com and found several other reports of this company. Ugh. It was then I noticed others reporting a recurring charge of $9.95 per week. I don't remember agreeing to a recurring charge. I would certainly have quit the registration process at that time.
I sent emails to cancel my subscription but was told I had to call - no email cancellation allowed. It took them a week to respond to that request! There was no phone number on their response, nor was it easily located on the website.
Eventually I found the phone number and was placed on hold for nearly 30 minutes before a live operator came on. I told them I wanted to cancel, and after another 15 minutes ("The computers are really slow today"), I finally got a confirmation number for my cancellation.
They have my $40.00 as I was too late to cancel for the month, but I will contest that when I see on my credit card bill. Although they may not have "ripped me off", but I still feel like I got screwed by their lack of obvious up-front notification of fees and by hiding their customer service number.
I will certainly review www.ripoffreport.com BEFORE I do business with a new company online again!
Dar
WESTLAND, Michigan
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Shannon
Spokane,Washington,
U.S.A.
haha
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, October 17, 2006
I worked for bargain network years ago in their "sales" department. I had to chuck when I read this line.
"It is true, you can find some of the information found on Bargain's website elsewhere online but that is only a small percentage of what the company has to offer its members."
Call their 800 sales number, ask them "can I find this elsewhere" they'll say that exact sentence (unless it has changed)
Its part of their "rebuttal" script when the customer says no.
Anyway - thanks for bringing back memories!!!
(sorry you got ripped off, companies like this suck)
Patrick
Goleta,California,
U.S.A.
Actually, all the info is on the website
#3UPDATE Employee
Thu, September 28, 2006
Hi there,
I work for the said company you speak of, Bargain Network and I wanted to first apologize for any inconvenience that you may have experienced. Since you signed up online, the website states that the $1.00 that you paid is a "refundable processing fee" so in answer to your question, as long as you asked for the refund before the end of the 7 day trial, you do in fact get to take advantage of the 7 days for free.
It is true, you can find some of the information found on Bargain's website elsewhere online but that is only a small percentage of what the company has to offer its members. Bargain updates its listings every night and changes or removes listings as per notification or request from sellers.
You mentioned that you do not remember agreeing to a charge of $9.95 but on the website it clearly states that "After your 7-day trial period your membership continues at nine dollars and ninety five cents per week, billed on a monthly basis at thirty nine dollars and eighty cents and is automatically charged to the credit card you use today." It also gives the phone number on the website to call, 1-800-333-1915. You mention that when you called the number, you had to be put on hold for 30 minutes. Wait times do not usually average that amount of time, and most likely you tried calling during a peak time (between the hours of 7am-9am, just before people go to work, after 5pm until about 9pm when people get off work) which would be the reason for the 30 minute wait.
Just for future reference for either you or any person who may interested in taking advantage of Bargain's services, just be sure to read what is stated on the website because it lists all the necessary information (the charges, who to call, and so forth) in plain English. Happy hunting!