Smart Savings Center pfishing scheme - unauthorized credit card charges Boca Raton Florida
My daughter tried to order a DVD online from a company called "Hot Movie Sale LLC". The DVD was never delivered or charged to my daughter's credit card account. What was charged to my daughter's account however was a montly fee of $9.99 to "Smart Savings Center" or "smartsavingscenter.com".
My daughter had other continuous monthly charges and did not notice this unauthorized charge for 22 months. Shame on her for being naive like we all probably were at her age - lesson learned the hard way - there are dishonest companies lurking.
What I've learned today is that Hot Movie Sales has the same PO Box as Smart Savings Center in Boca Raton FL (PO Box 810365). I would think it logical to conclude that both of these companies are AKA's of each other. You scratch my back, I scratch yours.
Neither of these companies (IMHO) is anything more than a paper company set up as a phishing scheme. My daughter never affirmatively signed up for a membership with Smart Savings. When you contact them, they claim you forgot to uncheck a box on the order form authorizing the monthly payment. They feign legitimacy by claiming they provide internet savings on various products to members - LOL.
Smart Savings has refused to refund my daughter the money that they stole from her. In fact, the phone rep yelled at her on the phone today, called her irresponsible and stated it was her fault. Of all the unmitigated gall. But the best defense is always a good offense. And this company is offensive.
My daughter will be filing complaints with the AG's office in Fl, as well as the BBB. For those who asked, the physical address of Hot Movie/Smart Savings is supposedly 999 Yamato Road Suite 100 in Boca Raton Florida, 33431. The address might be 999 West Yamato Road. In any event, one of these address is probably correct. How do I know this when Smart Savings does everything in their power not to list a physical address on any web sites they run? I called the 800 number and talked a phone rep in Manilla Philippines who reluctantly gave me this information.
Not only did my daughter not actively sign up for any service from Smart Savings, she does not remember receiving any information from them. If this is the case, it undoubtedly is by design. If you notify someone they are paying almost $10 a month for a basically worthless product that they didn't sign up for, the scheme would quickly end.
John
Central, New Jersey
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
John
Pittstown,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
UPDATE - UPDATE
#2Author of original report
Mon, November 24, 2008
Interesting twist today to all those looking for a physical address of Smart Savings Center (hereafter SSC). The operator in Manilla may not have given me the actual address of SSC. Remember I was told the address of SSC was 999 W Yamato in Boca. But I now believe SSC is actually located at 999 NW 51st Street in Boca Raton FL 33431.
I found numerous AKA's of SSC and intestingly one of them appears to be "Yamoto Corp" - hence the possible disinformation from Manilla. SSC may be a registered Delaware company with a Wilmington DE address of 3501 Silverside Road Suite 206NAA - Zip 19810. Their direct telephone line (presumably to Florida) is (561) 989-7455. They also have some affilitation to an address in Glen Allen Virginia at 4510 Cox Road - Zip 23060
The owner or manager of SSC is named Frederick Middleton and the registered agent is Kennith Schwartz. Good luck to all who have also had issues with this company.