Complaint Review: Synapse Ventures Inc C/O Processing Center

On Nov. 30, 2011 a Wed. afternoon at 2:28pm - I received a call from 618-551-5507 (my caller ID) showed this a call from Rewards Dept.  I spoke to a person named, Ryan.  I was asked if I did a survey for them, they would send me 2 - $25.00 gift cards from Wal Mart.  So, I did the survey.  The survey was a 'yes/no' and a 'rate' type survey...ratings from 1 to 5... 5 being good ... 1 being bad.  

  1.  Risk free quarantee - not working good or WalMart taking back items that don't work - I rated this question a '5'.
  2.  Shopping in a retail store preferred than online - I answered this a 'yes'.
  3.  Rate importance of trying a product before buying - I rated this a '4'.
  4.  Would you buy from internet that offered free shipping - I answered 'yes'.
  5.  Asked where do I get me adds from - I answered TV adds, internet, radio and newspaper.
  6.  Do you like extra bonus - like a free gift for trying a product - I rated this a '5'.
 
Here comes the 'catch'.... Then I was asked to try a 'trail period' of 3 magazines for 3 months for free...   I said I would like to try Better Homes and Gardens - Good Housekeeping - and Women's Health.   I was given a selection list before I picked what I wanted. I was told to call and confirm if you  wanted top keep these magazines after 3 months...was given this number: 1-800-607-9869.

I was then asked my VIAS Debit card number for shipping the 2 WalMart gift cards...it would cost me $2.95 and I would get them in 2 weeks... I was then sent to a confirmation person for the purpose of authorizing to debit the $2.95 for shipping the WalMart gift cards...this authorization was for shipping cards NOT for magazines. Ryan assured me this was only for shipping the 2 WalMart gift cards.

This conversation with the Rewards Dept. ended at 2:47pm.

At 2:52pm (same day) I called my Bank (US BAnk) 740-259-5280 and spoke to Trish to alert them that I was having $2.95 taken out of my account...and that nothing more was to come out of that accout unless I called and approved it.  Trish made a note on my account and gave me a way to contact US Bank if any fraud took place. 
 
As of todate. I still haven't received those 2 WalMart gift cards that I was promised for taking that Survey...I have received 2 - Better Homes and Gardens magazines and 1 - Good Housekeeping magazine and none of the Women's Health magazines...supposedly monies will be subtracted from my account by March 8, 2012.  Better Homes and Gardens - $23.00 for 15 issues...Good Housekeeping - $24.00 for 15 issues...Women's Health - $24.00 for 13 issues.  Which I am calling and cancelling...not because I don't like the magazines (I love them)...I don't like the way I was scammed in obtaining them by doing a survey and promised 2 $25.00 gift cards from WalMart.

They were nice enough to send me a postcard type letter (which came from Synapse Ventures, Inc.  C/O Processing Center at PO Box 30468 - Salt Lake City, Utah 84130) to inform me if I didn't call by March 8th (2012) to cancel...my account would be charged the above monies...which I had been told to call  1-800-607-9869 if I wanted to keep these magazines after 3 months... the post card said to call to cancel subscription.  

I take notes on these type of calls because I am tired of being riped off...and Ryan knew I was taking notes...cause he repeated the survey questions for me several times as I was writing them down...as well as any other information I inquired of him.

I want people to see...we don't have to be lied to...about sending free gift cards and such in oder to be scammed into buying magazines.  I don't want anything from them...no monies...except the $2.95 my account was charged for shipping those non-existant WalMart gift cards...also to 'lose' my number and don't call me again...and I am calling to cancel my subscription order and they had better not try to debit my account...then I will be taking further actions...legal actions.    

Thank you for your time...    Respectfully,