Enhanced Long Distance Inc, - Brandarama - Active Response Group Inc web; email; default activation; billed thru Verizon; $20/mo; objection; demand Cancel; 'cannot'; Supv; declare ILLEGAL; cancelled New York City New York - Fort Lauderdale Florida
On March 26,'09, Mrs. Brooks received & opened Verizon telephone monthly billing; surprised to see new item "Enhanced Long Distance Service" added for $18.63 per month plus assoc US taxes. Called Verizon customer service (CS) same day to object & have removed. Verizon says NO, explains this is a pass-thru billing from a 3rd party firm for services we 'obviously' contracted for directly; we would have to deal with them for cancelation. Verizon CS said Brookses had received 2 emails from 3rd party with offer and threat to implement service & monthly charge on default if Brookses did not reply to email. Neither Mr. or Mrs Brooks ever saw/received said emails. Mrs. Brooks employed female screaming tactic of negotiating to obtain commitment by Verizon to cancel 2nd month and-on. Mr. Brooks then called Verizon CS and dealt with CS Supervisor to get first month (all charges) cancelled. Mr. Brooks ran internet searches for 3rd party firm (Enhanced Long Distance, Inc.) and history of complaints about this "service." Found ample history dating back to at least November 2008 (e.g. ripoffreport.com). Received email from Verizon CS suggesting we confirm cancellation by visiting enhancedlongdistance.com; a dead end as it shows "Under Construction". Verizon email also revealed the billing came from Brandarama.com. Internet reveals that is a 'service mark' of Active Response Group Inc (ARG). ARG is located in New York, Florida and Colorado, & dba oridian.com. Brooks could not find parent of Active, but it owns rewardsparade.com and householdsavingsclub.com among others. ARG business model employs tactics called "lead generation solutions" & "creates monetization opportunities" in their online marketing services. Some internet assertions that ARG launches billings automatically when internet curious 'register' at some sites; no confirmations found. Mr. Brooks believes the billing through Verizon was illegal due to ARG's use of email 'no reply' default 'authorizations'.
Ken (Rivers) Brooks
Mukilteo, Washington
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Arg
New York,New York,
U.S.A.
Active Response Group Business Response Re: Mr. & Mrs. Brooks
#2UPDATE Employee
Fri, March 27, 2009
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Brooks:
Active Response Group Inc. takes this opportunity to respond to your post on www.ripoffreport.com regarding your Verizon telephone bill and a charge from Enhanced Long Distance Service.
Our company would like to clarify that we do not bill customers for any service we provide on our sites. Brandarama is a proprietary site of Active Response Group offering independent rewards to consumers. All fees and charges incurred are from third party survey and sponsor offers that you opt in for and complete on our brand sites after signing up for the service. You are not obligated to opt-in to receive any offers when you participate in the service. However, only when you choose to opt-in or complete a third party offer you would be contacted or charged by that sponsor based on the terms of the offer you completed.
We believe that you may have been billed for the Enhanced Long Distance Service on your Verizon bill as a result of your opting in for the offer on our site. However, in order to further investigate and confirm your participation in our program we require your account details. Please feel free to contact us by phone at 1877-312-7263 or email support@cs.brandarama.com. We would be happy to assist you as best we can.
Sincerely,
Customer Service Team
Active Response Group, Inc