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Vinesse 5 Seasons Wine Club - Lawrence Dutra unauthorized billing of checking account using check coding only Westlake Village California
In January I reponded to a wine club trial offer and sent a check, so in case this was a bait and switch, they would not be able to continue charging my credit card. After the trial of 12 bottles of wine, all mediocre, we did not contact the company to join their wine club.
However, three months later, a box of wine arrives at our door and an unauthorized charge appears on our bank statement. Apparently, if a vendor has your check coding, they have access to your account just as if you had given them a credit card - very scary. We contacted our bank and were told that our only recourse was to file the bank's fraud form and that they will contact the company on our behalf for re-imbursement.
Apparently Vinesse 5Seasons Wine Club Founder and President Lawrence Dutra who writes letters on stationary with no return address or phone number is a scam artist who uses several wine club names (see other Rip Off Reports) to perpetuate this fraud. Not sure why American Airlines, Omaha Steaks and other incentives are offered with the wine deal, but then never fulfilled. I will wait and see if my bank can recover my funds and if not will try directly, although others indicate that is futile. I will call each winery whose wine they ship to be sure that they understand the fallout from using this form of distribution.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
J.N.
Sacramento,California,
False Complaint Against 5 Seasons
#2Consumer Comment
Sun, November 23, 2014
Hi, I just signed up for trial wines with 5 Seasons, and when I got a confirmation email from them it included the details of my membership.
Membership - becomming a member of the club.
So I read the email, which told me that I would be sent more wine in six weeks, and what the charge would be. I did a search for 5 Seasons, as I did not see a link to manage my membership and I came across this person''s complaint.
According to the email, there is also no obligation to continue the membership - I can cancel at any time (as could this person).
This person states that they were sent more wine within three weeks and charged without being told. Perhaps they should have read their welcome email when they joined so they would b=not have been caught by surprise when more wine came and they were charged. Had they read the email and cancelled their membership, they would not have to falsy accuse 5 Seasons of having ripped them off.
Thank you,
JN