CLASSMATES.COM FRAUDULENT, UNAUTHORIZED CHARGES TO CREDIT CARD RIPOFF Renton Washington
I have contacted CLASSMATES.COM via email (and attempts by phone) for the past several months. All copies of correspondence have been saved.
I've basically got the same complaints as all the others: unauthorized charges on credit card. However, my complaint goes further in that Classmates.com has verified IN WRITING VIA EMAIL that I am NOT a Gold Member, and am a "free/basic" member (which is odd given that I have tried SEVERAL times to cancel my ENTIRE account). Either way, point remains that they themselves admit that I am NOT a paying customer even by THEIR records. Yet I continue to be charged!
Secondly, and most importantly: My first membership was done sometime in late 2003 or early 2004. Once it expired, I reverted to the free account, as I only needed a membership so that I could retrieve info about an upcoming class reunion (in 2004). In 2005, I received a message from an old class friend who used classmates to send it. In order to RESPOND to their message (non-members are not privy to the email address of the sender of the message), I had to become a member. I chose the minimum 3 mo membership for $15.00 per month.
I continued to be charged the Gold Membership fee, even after many efforts to have the charges stopped. I demanded my account be cancelled, and they wrote and confirmed that it WAS cancelled... and for 2 quiet months, I had no more charges to my credit card.
Then, on Sept 8,2006 - another charge from CLASSMATES.COM appears on my credit card!!!
What this tells me is that they are using an expired credit card number. I complained to my bank, since the expiration date for the card I had originally used to CREAT a Gold Member account (so that I could respond to my friend's email message), was from 2005. My present credit card expires at a different date, as I had been issued a NEW card (w/new exp. date) in 2006.
THIS TELLS ME that Classmates.com is toying with expiration dates in order to continue with their fraudulent charges!!!!!
I am now in the process of filing a dispute. I am disappointed in my bank's responses up to now, as they have been very hesitant to encourage a dispute being filed. When I read the recs. from Rip-Off Report.com (which is to tell my bank that I am aware of Fed. Regulations, etc), I suddenly got a much more receptive response, but unfortunately the dispute office is not open until Monday (it's Sat.). I intend to follow through with this on Monday morning.
Meanwhile, I am searching for ways to publicly notify classmate.com customers/users of the fraudulent practices of Classmates.com. I am considering a website to expose them - based on MY experience (putting our correspondence online for all to read).
I would like to know of any class action suits being brought against this company if anyone knows of any.
Thank you.
Kim
Fort Drum, New York
U.S.A.
7 Updates & Rebuttals
Stewart
Venice,California,
U.S.A.
CM contact (unitedonline)
#8Consumer Comment
Sun, December 02, 2007
Classmates.com (subsidiary of United Online)
United Online contacts with email addresses are:
Elizabeth Gengl
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
PR Hotline Number - (818) 287-3034
pr@untd.com
Scott Matulis
Vice President, Corporate Communications
PR Hotline Number - (818) 287-3034
pr@untd.com
United Online also owns NetZero, Juno, and other businesses.
Stewart
Venice,California,
U.S.A.
CM contact (unitedonline)
#8Consumer Comment
Sun, December 02, 2007
Classmates.com (subsidiary of United Online)
United Online contacts with email addresses are:
Elizabeth Gengl
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
PR Hotline Number - (818) 287-3034
pr@untd.com
Scott Matulis
Vice President, Corporate Communications
PR Hotline Number - (818) 287-3034
pr@untd.com
United Online also owns NetZero, Juno, and other businesses.
Stewart
Venice,California,
U.S.A.
CM contact (unitedonline)
#8Consumer Comment
Sun, December 02, 2007
Classmates.com (subsidiary of United Online)
United Online contacts with email addresses are:
Elizabeth Gengl
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
PR Hotline Number - (818) 287-3034
pr@untd.com
Scott Matulis
Vice President, Corporate Communications
PR Hotline Number - (818) 287-3034
pr@untd.com
United Online also owns NetZero, Juno, and other businesses.
Stewart
Venice,California,
U.S.A.
CM contact (unitedonline)
#8Consumer Comment
Sun, December 02, 2007
Classmates.com (subsidiary of United Online)
United Online contacts with email addresses are:
Elizabeth Gengl
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
PR Hotline Number - (818) 287-3034
pr@untd.com
Scott Matulis
Vice President, Corporate Communications
PR Hotline Number - (818) 287-3034
pr@untd.com
United Online also owns NetZero, Juno, and other businesses.
Kim
Fort Drum,New York,
U.S.A.
Problem resolved w/bank and Classmates.com
#8Consumer Comment
Wed, October 04, 2006
Please disregard my last update which I sent just minutes ago.
After several phone calls this morning between the bank and classmates.com, it was discovered that credits were mistakenly posted to our account as charges.
The bank and Classmates.com have resolved the issue.
Thank You!
Kim
Fort Drum,New York,
U.S.A.
THEY'VE CHARGED ME AGAIN!
#8Author of original report
Wed, October 04, 2006
*U*P*D*A*T*E*
I am the original author of this CLASSMATES.COM complaint, and of the previous rebuttal...
As of a few days ago, my bank had reimbursed me for TWO of the unauthorized charges to my credit card by CLASSMATES.COM. I had filed a formal dispute, and my bank took action (or so I thought).
I received email confirmations from Classmates.com that:
a) I am no longer an account holder or member
b) I would no longer be charged
Yet the DAY AFTER MY REIMBURSEMENTS were posted to my credit card account, I have been CHARGED AGAIN BY CLASSMATES.COM!!!!!!!!!!
I am contemplating filing a police report for theft at this point against Classmates.com.!!!
CLASSMATES.COM IS NOTHING BUT A SCAM! They are THEIVES!!
Will keep this webpage updated often!
Kim
Fort Drum,New York,
U.S.A.
An Update on my experience with Classmates.com
#8Author of original report
Mon, September 18, 2006
This is in response to my own report, and is an update on the latest regarding a resolution.
First, I filed a dispute with my bank, and the charges were taken off my credit card (by my bank).
About 20 min ago, I received a call from Classmates.com to discuss the charges. Long story short, their excuse for the most recent charge (charged on 8 Sept 06, even tho I recently received.. IN WRITING.. from Classmates.com that as of June 06, I was a "free/basic" member and would not be charged) is that "somebody else must be using my credit card to obtain a membership for Classmates.com under another name."
When I asked for the NAME of the person wanting to use my card to obtain a membership, they stated that due to confidentiality laws they could not give that info to me, but could give it to my bank if my bank inquired.
As you can imagine, I explained my concerns about someone else using my credit card information. It also makes me wonder why someone would be so desperate to have a $15.00 3 month Gold Membership to Classmates.com that they would take such a desperate measure as to steal someone else's credit card number.. YET.. not use the credit card for more worthwhile endeavors (diamond rings, new car, plane ticket to Mexico, etc).
My request at this point was that I demanded Classmates.com remove EVERY BIT OF PERSONAL INFORMATION, my account, and my credit card info from their system immediately... which they said they would do. (Of course, I'll believe it when I see it)
I then called my bank back to explain what had transpired between Classmates.com and I. The bank rep. then pondered whether or not the bank should take further action given Classmates is claiming that "someone else" has accessed my credit card. I have to say, the bank rep actually LAUGHED when I told them what Classmate's excuse for the SEpt. 8 charge was.
I have written to Classmates one last time to demand that I receive - in writing from them - their rationalization that "somebody else stole [my] credit card number to obtain a membership" and am writing them back now to also receive in writing their WORD that my entire account has been wiped out of their system.
I will write with an update should anything else regarding this issue occur. I encourage everyone in the same boat as me to fight it, and demand satisfaction - even if it's only $15.00.