SHADDOWSHOPPER.COM SHADOWSHOPPER A SUPER RIP OFF GIVES MYSTERY SHOPPING A BLACK EYE CARSON CITY NEVADA
Shadowshopper is an incredible ripoff. After sending me emails for 30 days in a 4.99 monthly trial, they automatically reupped me FOR A YEAR without my permission. When I asked them to keep a month's worth (because my trial was for a month so my renewal should have been for a month) and refund the rest, and they threatened to report me to ChargeBack Bureau merely for filing a dispute (not for a successful chargeback mind you). They said it would make it difficult to buy things.
Here's a direct quote from Johnathon's email to me:
You can try to initiate a dispute. I dont recommend going this way because the company will defend all charges using your entire account history, emails, terms of service and show the offer you agreed to, to win the dispute. Further, they report all customers that initiate a dispute to the ChargeBack Bureau (a national database which many major merchants use) which could make it harder for you to make purchases in the future.
Notice it says "they report all customers that initiate a dispute" it does not say "all chargebacks are reported." Is that a threat?
By the way I looked up ChargeBack Bureau, and it is a questionable Panamanian company that is under strict scrutiny in at least the State of California.
Betsy
Valparaiso, Indiana
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Johnathon
Houston,Texas,
U.S.A.
Renewed Membership As Agreed
#5UPDATE Employee
Fri, July 25, 2008
Betsy was notified in at least 7 different places about the automatic renewal to her membership (listed below). This could only come as a shock if the information was not read and followed to prevent it. I find it difficult for someone to not be able to pay attention to details when that is what the number one requirement is for a mystery shopper.
1. TRIAL DESCRIPTION ON ORDERING FORM (before joining in BOLD):
And, if you're as happy as we think you'll be, do nothing and we'll automatically renew your membership when it expires. If you're not completely satisfied, just go into your account preferences to cancel your renewal anytime before your membership is up. No questions and no further obligation.
2. TERMS OF SERVICE (before joining):
[Box you checked states, I have read and agree to the above terms and conditions. ]
On the 30th day of your trial membership, your credit card on file will be charged for continuing membership at your current membership level, Silver or Gold, for the time period you have specified, either 90 days or 1 year, based on the preferences you have set on your Account Information page. You may request NOT to have your credit card automatically charged for renewal anytime during the 30 day trial period, by either changing your account preferences yourself on the Account Information page located at https://www.shadowshopper.com/myshadowshopper_shopper_account_information.cfm (select 'I'll do it myself.
Don't automatically renew) under Account Renewal Preference, or by emailing us a notification of your intent to prevent automatic renewal prior to the time of renewal. If neither of these actions is taken prior to the renewal transaction, you agree to pay the full renewal charge. NO refunds, for any reason, will be issued after the renewal transaction has occurred. You may choose to cancel your membership after the renewal transaction has occurred, however, no refunds will be issued, either in full or for the unused portion of membership.
3. WELCOME EMAIL (after joining)
Toward the bottom of the email it states, And remember, if you're as happy as we think you'll be, do nothing and we'll automatically renew you for a year's membership at the end of your trial.
4. MY INFORMATION LOGIN PAGE (after joining)
At very top of page it states, [first name] you are currently a ShadowShopper Level member. Your account is due to automatically renew on (date).
5. MY INFORMATION - ACCOUNT PREFERENCES PAGE (after joining)
Under heading VI., the page states, Choose your account renewal preference.
When your trial membership expires on we'll automatically renew your membership. We'll use your credit card listed above and renew your membership for One Year ()
6. COMMON QUESTIONS PAGE (before joining)
Towards the bottom of the page is the question, Will my membership renew automatically?
Yes, all our memberships are set to automatically renew when your membership expires, for your convenience.
You may request NOT to have your credit card automatically charged anytime before the renewal occurs, by either changing your account preferences yourself or by emailing us a notification of your intent to prevent automatic renewal.
To change your renewal preference yourself, simply go to your Account Information page located here (NOTE: you must be logged in for this link to work). Select I'll do it myself. Don't automatically renew and click the 'update' button and your request will be immediately processed. You will also receive an email confirming your action for your records.
7. RENEWAL REMINDER EMAIL (towards the bottom, sent 10 days prior to renewal)
And while you're logged in, why not upgrade your membership a few days early? Not only have we made the ShadowShopper membership inexpensive, we also make it convenient with our no-hassle auto-renewal. All of our accounts are set up this way to make it easier for you to concentrate on getting paid to eat and shop, not on keeping track of expiration dates. Your account is currently set to automatically renew to a year's membership at the end of your trial period.
But, if you'd rather renew to a quarterly or month-to-month plan, or not auto-renew at all but do it manually, just change your preferences in your MyShadowShopper section. It's easy, just click HERE. We're excited to have the opportunity to send you the best mystery shopping job opportunities in the months to come.
Joe
Austin,Texas,
U.S.A.
DO NOT PAY TO WORK FOR SOMEONE -- IT'S A RIP OFF!
#5Consumer Suggestion
Sun, April 06, 2008
In the Real World of Business, SCAMS and CONS and check skimmers and embezzlers abound.
YOU DO NOT PAY PEOPLE MONEY UP FRONT TO WORK FOR THEM> THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY YOU!
Secret shopers are a pain in the tush!
We had a crooked outfit like that in Austin,Texas which seems to specialize in scams and crooked outfits, and just out of curiousity, I went and did a mystery shop at a rather remote Whataburger store. I answered all of their questions truthfully about what finally pay me and it went back and forth for about THREE damend weeks before I told tehm and they were able to verify that I had been a private investigator at one time and if they didn't want to be INVESTIGATED by local law enforcement, they had better pay me the $10 they promiswed me for completing THEIR investigation. I figured I had used about $10 of gas getting to the place to say nothing about the meal I was required to order as part of the alleged "shop." IT WAS MORE TROUBLE THAN IT WAS WORTH.
It's a GREAT scam though....
Maybe there are HONEST ones but I haven't heard about them.
Joe
Austin,Texas,
U.S.A.
DO NOT PAY TO WORK FOR SOMEONE -- IT'S A RIP OFF!
#5Consumer Suggestion
Sun, April 06, 2008
In the Real World of Business, SCAMS and CONS and check skimmers and embezzlers abound.
YOU DO NOT PAY PEOPLE MONEY UP FRONT TO WORK FOR THEM> THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY YOU!
Secret shopers are a pain in the tush!
We had a crooked outfit like that in Austin,Texas which seems to specialize in scams and crooked outfits, and just out of curiousity, I went and did a mystery shop at a rather remote Whataburger store. I answered all of their questions truthfully about what finally pay me and it went back and forth for about THREE damend weeks before I told tehm and they were able to verify that I had been a private investigator at one time and if they didn't want to be INVESTIGATED by local law enforcement, they had better pay me the $10 they promiswed me for completing THEIR investigation. I figured I had used about $10 of gas getting to the place to say nothing about the meal I was required to order as part of the alleged "shop." IT WAS MORE TROUBLE THAN IT WAS WORTH.
It's a GREAT scam though....
Maybe there are HONEST ones but I haven't heard about them.
Joe
Austin,Texas,
U.S.A.
DO NOT PAY TO WORK FOR SOMEONE -- IT'S A RIP OFF!
#5Consumer Suggestion
Sun, April 06, 2008
In the Real World of Business, SCAMS and CONS and check skimmers and embezzlers abound.
YOU DO NOT PAY PEOPLE MONEY UP FRONT TO WORK FOR THEM> THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY YOU!
Secret shopers are a pain in the tush!
We had a crooked outfit like that in Austin,Texas which seems to specialize in scams and crooked outfits, and just out of curiousity, I went and did a mystery shop at a rather remote Whataburger store. I answered all of their questions truthfully about what finally pay me and it went back and forth for about THREE damend weeks before I told tehm and they were able to verify that I had been a private investigator at one time and if they didn't want to be INVESTIGATED by local law enforcement, they had better pay me the $10 they promiswed me for completing THEIR investigation. I figured I had used about $10 of gas getting to the place to say nothing about the meal I was required to order as part of the alleged "shop." IT WAS MORE TROUBLE THAN IT WAS WORTH.
It's a GREAT scam though....
Maybe there are HONEST ones but I haven't heard about them.