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Girls Gone Wild - Karen ripoff misleading scammed ignorent lied 2 me when asked 4 superviser unprofessional uneducated theives VAN NUYS California Nationwide
My husband had ordered a "one-time only" dvd from GGW, but we kept on recieving more every month and could not understand why. I, being his wife, decided to call the company and ask very kindly "Are we getting billed for these dvds that you keep sending us?" A lady by the name Karen(or so that's what she said at the end of the call)said, my husband may have forgotten that he verbally agreed to a membership but, for $59.95 she'll send us the last three instead of paying $75.95! My husband never agree, comitted, or gave authorization to anyone for more than the first special dvds we received!
I missunderstood Karen at first thinking she would only bill us for the last 3 dvds we receivd and that would be the end, but that's when it got ugly! All I wanted to do was resolve this nicely, but when I denighed her offer and asked her to stop charging our credit card and stop sending the dvds, she got smart and ignorant about it by saying "I'll take care of it!". So I asked one more time nicely "Will you please stop charging my credit card or do I have to call my credit card company?" She said rudely "Did'nt I just tell you I would take care of it?" Me, being very upset, gave the phone to my husband instead of saying something I would regret, but it got even worce. He asked to speak to a superviser and she said that no-one would be in the office for a while but her name was Karen if we decided to call back.
I called back alright! Someone else answered and I asked the same question only to be questioned on what it was about. I said that I had a probroblem speaking with one of their reps. and would like to speak to a superviser plaese. She pretended to put me on hold and when she took her hand off the receiver, she said "I'm sorry but we are very buisy and no one is available to handle your call." Then had the nerve to ask me if she could help me instead! Since then, I called our credit company and am waiting to see what we can do. Unfortunatly GGW is still sending and charging us against our cunsent. What do we do?
Stacey
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
James
Spokane,Washington,
U.S.A.
When faced with uncooperative "membership" companies...
#2Consumer Comment
Tue, October 19, 2004
This approach was a common place in the 80's with the "by mail" music and book clubs. It is an unfortunate situation that can take a while to resolve. I myself was caught by a couple companies and will never do a "club/membership" purchase again.
1) Always log EVERYTHING. Dates, phone number called, time, how many times you called, who you talked to, and what your request was. Keep this in a file. If you have a computer, keep an electronic file as well as paper copy. This will help if it ever needs to go to court.
2) Do not pay for more that what you originally agreed to. Send back anything beyond that, even if you think you want it. Anthing you keep will be an acceptance of their billing. Good policy...If you did not order it, SEND IT BACK.
3) Keep a copy of everything. All correspondence too and from the company. CC (carbon copy) a copy to a trusted individual, lawyer, or reporting agency and make sure to add the CC line to all letters that you send. (i.e. CC: Mike Sueyourpantsoff, Attorney at Law, SueYoPantsOff Law Offices,OH 51515)
4) Remember, if you call someone and cancel membership, send all billings back with CANCELLED and the date and time of cancellation written on them. Employee number and name of who you talked too, as well. Again, keep copies.
5) Never rely on just one form of contact. If you call, send email and a letter. They cannot deny it if you have sent them all and remember that all emails are trackable.
6) Having worked as Paralegal Admin Assistant for the Army, the key to letters send by "snail-mail" is to SEND THEM RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED so they cannot say they did not get them. Certified and RRR mail are signed for. For emails, always click the "keep copy of sent items" and "read receipt" if you have the options with your email provider or program.
Most companies when faced with this realize they will spend more money trying to collect that $50-100 and will resolve the issue quickly.
I hope this helps. My deepest sympathies for the hell the original poster, and anyone else caught by this, is facing with this.