- Report: #222279
Complaint Review: American Home-Based Work Administration AHBWA - Edenville Michigan
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Author Confirmed
Why?
American Home-Based Work Administration AHBWA
P. O. Box 103 Edenville, 48628 Michigan, U.S.A.
Phone:
810-958-0148 ext. 1
Web:
N/A
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American Home-Based Work Administration, AHBWA AHBWA does not adequately expose and therefore disclose its Terms of Service resulting in unexpected automatic monthly charges, dispute fees, and they report you to a collection agency. Edenville Michigan
On August 18th 2006, I purchased for $22.90, 2 month access to the American Home-Based Work Administration's (AHBWA) online services. AHBWA claims to provide work-at-home employment contacts for people who want to work from their home. AHBWA offers a "Money Back Guarantee" and "Guaranteed Work From Home. Start Immediately."
About 3 months later, I noticed an unexpected charge on my bank statement of $12.95 and upon closer examination, I noticed another such charge the month before. I was unaware of the "Terms of Service" of the transaction that I had with AHBWA because I completed the transaction without having been aware of "Terms of Service" and without ever having the language of the "Terms of Service" exposed to view throughout the transaction.
On the first of the two computer screen pages of the AHBWA "Secure Sign Up Form" is referenced with a check mark that, and I quoute: "By purchasing any products or services offered by the American Home-Based Work Administration... you agree you have read and accept these Terms of Service".
That check mark comes pre-checked on the form and would tend to lead one to believe that the information to which it referred was already exposed. However, the phrase "Terms of Service", although they are a different color than the rest of the surrounding text, are not underlined unless you place your cusor on the phrase. Without so directing my cursor, I did not recognize the phrase to be a link to the "Terms of Service" that AHBWA will try to enforce. Consequently, I thought the language that followed on the page of the "Secure Sign Up Form" constitued the actual "Terms of Service".
After contacting AHBWA about my objections to their charges to my account I contacted my debit card company and I am disputing my entire financial dealings AHBWA. Since I authorized the initial payment of $22.90 with the understanding that I had what amounted to an unconditional money back guarantee. I also dispute this charge because I obtained no benefit through my limited access to the services of AHBWA.
AHBWA informed me on 11-24-06 that I now owe them:
HERE IS THE AMOUNT THIS CUSTOMER NOW OWES:
$22.90 - Service Fee #1 (to cover the cost of the service this customer ordered and agreed to pay).
$12.95 - Service Fee #1 (to cover the cost of the service this customer ordered and agreed to pay).
$15.00 - Collection Processing Fee (to cover the time and resources utilized to administer this collection).
$14.00 - Illegal Dispute Fee (to cover the amount our bank charged us due to this customer's illegal dispute).
-------------------------------
$64.85 - TOTAL NOW OWED
I am disputing all charges that AHBWA has been given through my debit card and my bank has conditionally given all that money back to me pending the conclusion of their investigation. Hopefully, my bank will honor my dispute with AHBWA and not give them any of my money.
This entire matter could have been avoided if AHBWA made their transaction form in such a way as do the software manufactures in the respect that if you do not actively accept the "Terms of Service" you simply can not proceed with the transaction. But if that was the case with AHBWA, they would be out of business for lack of hardly anyone willing to accept what they view is their "Terms of Service".
Daniel
Kenosha, Wisconsin
U.S.A.
About 3 months later, I noticed an unexpected charge on my bank statement of $12.95 and upon closer examination, I noticed another such charge the month before. I was unaware of the "Terms of Service" of the transaction that I had with AHBWA because I completed the transaction without having been aware of "Terms of Service" and without ever having the language of the "Terms of Service" exposed to view throughout the transaction.
On the first of the two computer screen pages of the AHBWA "Secure Sign Up Form" is referenced with a check mark that, and I quoute: "By purchasing any products or services offered by the American Home-Based Work Administration... you agree you have read and accept these Terms of Service".
That check mark comes pre-checked on the form and would tend to lead one to believe that the information to which it referred was already exposed. However, the phrase "Terms of Service", although they are a different color than the rest of the surrounding text, are not underlined unless you place your cusor on the phrase. Without so directing my cursor, I did not recognize the phrase to be a link to the "Terms of Service" that AHBWA will try to enforce. Consequently, I thought the language that followed on the page of the "Secure Sign Up Form" constitued the actual "Terms of Service".
After contacting AHBWA about my objections to their charges to my account I contacted my debit card company and I am disputing my entire financial dealings AHBWA. Since I authorized the initial payment of $22.90 with the understanding that I had what amounted to an unconditional money back guarantee. I also dispute this charge because I obtained no benefit through my limited access to the services of AHBWA.
AHBWA informed me on 11-24-06 that I now owe them:
HERE IS THE AMOUNT THIS CUSTOMER NOW OWES:
$22.90 - Service Fee #1 (to cover the cost of the service this customer ordered and agreed to pay).
$12.95 - Service Fee #1 (to cover the cost of the service this customer ordered and agreed to pay).
$15.00 - Collection Processing Fee (to cover the time and resources utilized to administer this collection).
$14.00 - Illegal Dispute Fee (to cover the amount our bank charged us due to this customer's illegal dispute).
-------------------------------
$64.85 - TOTAL NOW OWED
I am disputing all charges that AHBWA has been given through my debit card and my bank has conditionally given all that money back to me pending the conclusion of their investigation. Hopefully, my bank will honor my dispute with AHBWA and not give them any of my money.
This entire matter could have been avoided if AHBWA made their transaction form in such a way as do the software manufactures in the respect that if you do not actively accept the "Terms of Service" you simply can not proceed with the transaction. But if that was the case with AHBWA, they would be out of business for lack of hardly anyone willing to accept what they view is their "Terms of Service".
Daniel
Kenosha, Wisconsin
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Juliet
Birmingham,Alabama,
U.S.A.
If you can't find the Terms, leave the site
#2Consumer Suggestion
Mon, November 27, 2006
To Larry, GREAT IDEA about calling the phone number to see if it's even valid. How I always make sure I know what the Terms are, is first, I make sure to find the Terms & Conditions on any site that has the potential for charging. If the words Terms & Conditions with a link are not right on the page I've been taken to, I search till I find them. This may mean typing in the website name and doing a search to get to the actual website, versus just the page that I arrived at. If I do see Terms & Condition on the opening page, even if they're not underlined, I click on them several times, to make sure they are not a link to the Terms. If they aren't, that's when I search further till I find them. If I can't find the Terms & Conditions, I leave the site.
Larry
West Sacramento,California,
U.S.A.
Know what you are signing up for
#3Consumer Suggestion
Mon, November 27, 2006
I went to the AHBWA website and found a clear link to the terms of service right at the bottom of the first page. The Ripoff Report would be out of business if everyone read the terms of service before they clicked the Accept button. Never purchase any service on the internet until you have read and understand the terms of service. The first thing I always look for is instructions on how to cancel. If the only way I can cancel is by telephone, I call the number they list. If no one answers, I go no further. The terms of service on the AHBWA site include that $14 charge for "illegal dispute fee."
Larry
West Sacramento,California,
U.S.A.
Know what you are signing up for
#4Consumer Suggestion
Mon, November 27, 2006
I went to the AHBWA website and found a clear link to the terms of service right at the bottom of the first page. The Ripoff Report would be out of business if everyone read the terms of service before they clicked the Accept button. Never purchase any service on the internet until you have read and understand the terms of service. The first thing I always look for is instructions on how to cancel. If the only way I can cancel is by telephone, I call the number they list. If no one answers, I go no further. The terms of service on the AHBWA site include that $14 charge for "illegal dispute fee."
Larry
West Sacramento,California,
U.S.A.
Know what you are signing up for
#5Consumer Suggestion
Mon, November 27, 2006
I went to the AHBWA website and found a clear link to the terms of service right at the bottom of the first page. The Ripoff Report would be out of business if everyone read the terms of service before they clicked the Accept button. Never purchase any service on the internet until you have read and understand the terms of service. The first thing I always look for is instructions on how to cancel. If the only way I can cancel is by telephone, I call the number they list. If no one answers, I go no further. The terms of service on the AHBWA site include that $14 charge for "illegal dispute fee."
