Complaint Review: Privacyplus.ca Privacy Protection Free Credit Info Scam

I submitted a form online for a "free credit report" last year. It claimed to provide personal credit history on a trial basis. Apparantly after this trial period regular monthly billings of $29.95 were taken out of my Visa account, even though I never received any verifcation each month by mail or email. The visa billings read: "Privacy Protection", so I assumed that it was a Bank charge for a service provided by the bank. What a scam!! I took notice of this item on my visa account while doing my taxes this year and phoned the bank to ask what it was. They reported that it was a private company, and that I would have to appeal to them directly.

When I called to cancel they offered no explaination as to why I never received any emails or billings by mail. I asked to speak to customer relations and was told that they would refund 3 months immeadiately. I then told them that I was not satisfied with their offer and that I wanted my money back. They said that they could do nothing more. When I stated that I was going to report them to consumer fraud and online reporting agencies like this one the supervisor Regis #16839 said: "Go ahead, many people complain about MacDonald's food too, and they are still in business".

Is this practice legal? Is the internet safe? I believe that it is companies like this one who discourage legitimate business online. They must be forced by law to disclose their billings on credit card statements so as not to be confused with bank charges and they must send a report or statement by mail or email each month!! What a RIP!!!

Ripped off!
victoria, British Columbia
Canada