IFriends Credit Card Charges Florida Nationwide
About a month ago I joined the Ifreinds netwrok for that $1 dollar charge.....whcih I was told would give me access to free chat with people. I thought this was pretty cool and chatted witha couple people...one of them was pretty cool so I joined his fan club which I didn't mind paying the $6.95 per month charge.
After that I chatted with another guy in Europe about very mundane topics....never anything sexual or anything. I would enter what I was told was a public chat room and I along with several others would chat with this indidviual...after the first time I chatted with this person which last a couple hours....during which he left several times to do private chat with other people( which he said they were charged for) I hung around the public room so he and I and other could continue our chat which was about world issues and the news.
I really enjoy the chat that night and though this was a cool service....the next day I tried to use the Credit card which I registered with the nite before and was told it was over limit....I was sure all I have been charged was the $1 dollar and maybe the $6.95 charge.
But when I checked with my credidt card company I was toldthere was a charge for over $40 on my card. I contacted Ifreinds to find out whatwas up and they said there was a $300.00 charge waiting to post to my card.
Theysaid the public room Iw as in was indeed a public room but the host had been charging me....unknown to me or anyone else.
They said they would cancel my account but the $300 charge would continue to try my credit for the funds and that if I didn't pay than the host wouldn't get paid...and that I would be in bad standing with the company.
What annoys me is that there was no notice that Iw as being charged a fee for being ina public room with others also chatting about just current affairs.....it wasn't a private room it was very public with people coming and going and no indidcation that there was any charges being accumulated.
I am not sure for how long they try to post the amount to my credit card but I am contacting my credit card company tos ee if there is anything I can do....people need to be made aware of charges and this is really a sham that you join a site like this and than get charged without any warnings or anything....I hope the law enforcemnet agencies take a VERY close look at companies like I Friends.
I know I will be forwarding my experience to the proper authorities in the United States.
Justin
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Christine
Racine,Wisconsin,
U.S.A.
Sorry
#4Consumer Suggestion
Sat, January 20, 2007
Misimpression is not even a word. I wouldn't do business with anyone does not seem to have a grasp on the English language.
Steve
Lake Worth,Florida,
U.S.A.
Reply from iFriends/WebPower Customer Service
#4UPDATE Employee
Fri, January 19, 2007
We apologize for any misimpression that Justin may have about our services and our company. Unfortunately, due to the limited amount of information provided in this complaint, we were unable to locate an account matching the details related by Justin.
As Justin described in his complaint, both the standard iFriends membership (which carries no monthly charge) and the premium iFriends membership (which does carry a monthly charge) allow access to chat rooms and other content on the iFriends service. Some rooms are free, and some rooms carry a charge. Each video chat host is free to set his or her own prices and terms, but all charges are clearly and conspicuously displayed in advance, by the use of prominent icons and multiple click-throughs.
It seems that some information may have been inadequately communicated to Justin when he called our Customer Care Center. A chat host may set a charge for a premium services, including a public chat room, and that charge (like all others on our service) is clearly displayed to all users before the user enters the premium area. It is impossible for any user to access premium areas without having first been presented with information on the associated charges. To proceed, the customer must indicate his acknowledgement of and affirmative consent to the stated charges. If the chat host misled or lied to the customer about the charges for the session, however, we will take appropriate disciplinary measures, up to and including termination of the chat host's iFriends account.
Our "Customer is Always Right" policy ensures that we take action sufficient to obtain each customer's complete satisfaction, including making refunds for any charges which a customer has incurred but disputes. We apologize that Justin's conversation with our Customer Care Center did not resolve the issue to his satisfaction. We would appreciate the chance to rectify the matter; unfortunately, as we were not able to find his account, we do not have a way to contact him. We encourage Justin to contact our Customer Care Center, and ask to speak to a manager who will be able to take all necessary steps, including complete refunds of all charges, to resolve the situation in a satisfactory manner. We can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-800-437-4363.
Our company has a spotless 11-year-record with all of the leading consumer protection agencies, and is well-recognized as an industry leader in the development of model consumer best practices in its internet business segment. Every one of our web services is verified by TRUSTe to be on its sealholder list of "the most trustworthy online businesses." The members of the iFriends online community are very important stakeholders in that service, and we place enormous value on making sure they feel satisfied with our service.
Ken
Kent,Washington,
U.S.A.
Notice all their boilerplate rebuttals say they have a perfect record with the consumer protection organizations, which really amazes me
#4Consumer Comment
Thu, December 28, 2006
Be sure to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. They need to know people are having problems with these guys. Notice all their boilerplate rebuttals say they have a perfect record with the consumer protection organizations, which really amazes me based on how many people have had problems.