smashingsavers.com They offered $1000 for groceries. You would alo be given a number of gift cards to Target and Walmart plus magazine subscriptions. maine, Internet
I responded to a radio ad offering $1000 for groceries. I contacted the company and was given general information. I asked questions of the sales rep to make sure the deal was legitimate. The sales rep was courteous and responded to my questions with what i thought was accurate information.
The deal was that if you sign up and pay an intro fee to a selection of companies, you would be sent an email where you would then access the $1000 for groceries. The rep explained that i would have 6 months to use the $1000 and that the program was sponsored by brand name companies doing market research. When i stated the deal sounded like a scam, she stated they were held under regulations by the FCC and couldn't advertise for something fraudulent on the radio.
The total over 5 charges was just shy of $28. The company enrollled me in 4 other company programs: ID Sentenel Alert, Uniform Advantage, Smart Shop and Smart travel (these are what appeared on my credit card statement.) I was informed i would receive a $100 Target gift card, a $100 Walmart gift card and 2 magazine subscriptions from the companies. (i can't remember which was supposed to give what.)
I was informed i had to call within 2 weeks to cancel my subscriptions or i would incur a $19.95 charge from the 4 other companies. I called and was told i would receive a refund from the companies.
When i called the parent organization that initiated the advertsing, they were extremely rude, belittled me for "assuming" the "coupons" were one coupon, was told by the "supervisor" i was lying, and didn't pay attention, was played a small portion of my call recording to prove i was lying but they cut it off before it went into the area where i asked the sales rep questions and was overall told was taking everything too personal and therefore would not receive a refund.
Frankly, the company humiliated me for $13.85. Any attempts to contact them are futile as they only have one phone center, no physical address and the reps rarely give their names.
I am looking or the company to be shut down so now one else has to deal with this unprofessional company.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Steph
USAChris is right
#4Consumer Comment
Sun, December 26, 2010
When a contest asks you to pay afee to receive a prize then it is a scam.
Some one called me quite a few years back and told me I won about $7000 but I had to buy alot of pens totaling $700. I told them I did not have that kind of money but I was told I had to put it on a credit card. I knew right then and there it was a scam.
I told the caller you send me the money and I wont report you to the feds. I know d**n well you do not have to pay anything if you win a prize
Chris
Iowa,USA
Of course it's a scam
#4Consumer Comment
Tue, December 07, 2010
"The deal was that if you sign up and pay an intro fee to a selection of companies, you would be sent an email where you would then access the $1000 for groceries."
Flynrider
Phoenix,Arizona,
USA
Wonder how that works.
#4Consumer Comment
Wed, December 01, 2010
"I asked questions of the sales rep to make sure the deal was legitimate. "
I see comments like this a lot on ROR and I've always wondered, if it was not legitimate would the scammer just admit it because you asked?
The easy way to tell if this was legit would be noticing that for a "small fee" you would get $1000 worth of groceries. It's just not logical.
One of the most common scenarios for scams is that you pay a "small fee" now and will get something of great value later. Of course, they always get their money and you never get what you thought you would.