Complaint Review: Seattle Coffee Direct / Metro Coffee Direct

Copied from my BBB complaint against this company:

On 05/09/2009 I followed a link to the website of Seattle Coffee Direct to purchase a promotional item. Per the promotion, I was to have received 2 lbs of coffee, 2 coffee mugs and 2 travel mugs. The order was placed using a Visa Check Card attached to my bank account.

On 5/11/09, a debit was processed against my account for $25.00 from "Metro Coffee". This was not the agreed upon amount for these items.

Additionally, on 5/11/09 an unauthorized charge from "Metro Coffee" was initiated for $38.95 and processed on 5/13/09. Once the fraudulent charge was discovered, a Federal Regulation E dispute was filed with my bank on 5/20/2009 for the $38.95 charge. On 6/3/09 the dispute was settled with my bank in my favor resulting in a credit of $38.95.

In addition, I called "Seattle Direct Coffee" and disputed the charge with them. I was told that the $38.95 was the monthly charge for the coffee club I had joined and that they could not refund the monies until the product had been returned. I received the coffee in the mail several days later and sent it back to them. At that time, they "canceled" the membership that I had not authorized and stated they would reverse the charge once the coffee was returned. The coffee was returned with delivery confirmation and was delivered back to the company on 5/20/09.

The initial charge was supposed to have been $5.00. In reading the terms of service when I paid for it, there was no language that indicated that I was signing up for a "monthly coffee club".

I would like a refund of, at minimum, $26.50. This is the difference between the $5.00 promotional price touted by the company and the $25.00 price actually charged by the company AND the cost to return the coffee that I did not order to the company.

Because my Federal Regulation E dispute has already been settled for the $38.95 charge and is now in the hands of the banking industry, I feel that that charge has been settled.

Chris B
Rochester Hills, Michigan
U.S.A.