Spirit Airlines Unfair practices, recurring charges for $9 Fare Club, no notice, no authorization Fort Lauderdale Florida
My wife's statement to FL Attorney General, Pam Bondi, via online website: My husband purchased airline tickets using my debit card a year ago and was sucked in to the "$9 Fare Club". We only flew Spirit that one time last year, and had no plans to fly with them any time soon. Surprisingly, on May 10th I noticed a charge of $59.95 on my online bank statement from the airline. I did not receive any notice of a recurring fee, nor did my husband, and additionally it should be noted that while I gave my husband permission to use my card for the ONE purchase, I certainly should not be liable for recurring fees for a service that is not in my name and that I don't use or benefit from!
I attempted to contact Spirit the same day as the charge appeared and was UNABLE to reach a representative (their messaging system however was more than clear that there were NO REFUNDS once a charge was implemented--I wonder why? Perhaps many other complaints?). Afterwards I contacted my bank, Wells Fargo, and filed a complaint online, which they noted in a response email, then, when unfortunately I had to call THEM back, a rep stated that it was VISA's policy they followed regarding company terms and had closed the matter due to Spirit's stated policy. SCAMMING PEOPLE FOR SERVICES THEY DO NOT USE IS APPARENTLY THEIR POLICY! CHARGING A NON-MEMBER FOR A MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL BECAUSE OF ANOTHER PERSON'S ONE-TIME USE OF THEIR VISA CARD IS APPARENTLY ALSO THEIR POLICY, AND THE POLICY OF VISA, AND WELLS FARGO HAS NO PROBLEM WITH THIS EITHER.
On a side note: my husband bought some vitamins for his aunt online last week, I guess all future vitamin charges for her in the future should be charged to him as well? If Spirit were the vitamin company, I guess that would be their policy. I can only imagine how many elderly people are sucked into this scam, especially if they aren't active online and regularly monitor their accounts. I AM SURE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY COMPLAINANT REGARDING THIS COMPANY, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA DOES NOT CONDONE SUCH UNFAIR PRACTICES! Please investigate this matter and kindly have someone update me. Thank you for your assistance.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
speedman69
Ft Lauderdale,Florida,
Wells Fargo did the right thing
#5Author of original report
Thu, May 30, 2013
Just an update to give credit to Wells Fargo Bank, which even though they did not handle the situation the right way initially, did have another representative contact my wife, get her side of the story again, and did issue a full refund of the Spirit charges. Hopefully their legal department has been made aware of this scam and will seek to collect funds back from Spirit and protect other customers in the future.
BigB
Florida City,Florida,
Spirit Airlines Unfair practices, recurring charges for $9 Fare Club, no notice, no authorization Fort Lauderdale Florida
#5REBUTTAL Individual responds
Thu, May 30, 2013
Spirit Airlines Unfair practices, recurring charges for $9 Fare Club, no notice, no authorization Fort Lauderdale Florida
They charged me $59.95, unautoriz charge. Spirit Airline know what they doing about auto renew $9 Fare Club. When I called, massage said that auto renew $59.95 non-refund. So they know what problem is but they do not want to correct problem. please, do not get $9 fare club .. even you fly after that delect all credit card info and address. I Hope some do the Class-Action Lawsuit Over '$9 Fare club Fee' Unauthoris Tranaction from Bank.
DO NOT FLY SPIRIT AIRLINE.
speedman69
Ft Lauderdale,Florida,
Re-read
#5Author of original report
Mon, May 13, 2013
Why don't you re-read what was written before you get on your high-horse. My wife obviously knows what is going on, and the bottom line is the company is using fine print from a year ago which I didn't notice then, never mind having to remember it a year later, to charge a fee for providing no product or service, without warning or option to reverse charges, on a person's credit card that is not the registered member.
That, my friend, is fraud, and many people are obviously complaining because when you get to their automated system, it is prominently stated that no refund will be issued for cancellation of their (un)Fare Club. Any reasonable company that cared about it's customers would not force them to pay for a service that they did not use, want or need. And if you can't see that, then perhaps you need to get a job over at Spirit (if you're not already working for them), you will fit in perfectly with their philosophy.
Robert
Irvine,California,
Funny
#5Consumer Comment
Mon, May 13, 2013
It is very funny how you were the one who directly used the card..yet instead of posting this report in your own words you just copied what your wife said. I guess it is good that your wife didn't post this because you may not have to worry about having her read how you were probably the one in the wrong.
The fact is that when you bought the ticket, there was an option(either through a check box,link, or some special offer) that if you selected it would then have you agree that you want to sign up for the membership with automatic renewal. Just be glad that she didn't notice the original charge that most likey was charged last year when you actually signed up for it.
As for her not being responsible for the charge because she receives no benefit from it..yea nice try. Well actually she can get rid of the responsibility. She could report the card stolen saying you had no authorization and the bank would then credit her the money. Of course when she does this the bank would then go after you and have you arrested for fraud..after all it was a stolen card and they are now out the money. So you either get to go to the "big house" for fraud or the "dog house" for not reading what you were actually signing up for. Go ahead..make the choice. Because if your wife pushes it..she may do some additional discovery about the transactions and how it wasn't the first charge.
Oh and as to the side note on the vitamins. Actually the answer is YES. If when you purchased them, and you also agreed that all future purchases can go on that card..then yep you will be the one paying for them(probably in more ways than one). Which is why it is extreamly important that before you hand over any credit card or other financial information, you are 100% sure what you are agreeing to and have read and understood EVERY bit of the fine print.