Ubu
San Antonio,#2Author of original report
Fri, November 21, 2008
In October of 2007, I noticed some unauthorized charges on my debit card and closed out my bank account. I opened a new account and thought that was the end of that. Up until then, I had automatically reconciled my bank statement as soon as I got it. When I received my NEW ACCOUNT bank statement I found it confusing to reconcile between the old account and the new one. I'm bipolar, and about the time of closing my old account and opening the new one I began to have problems. It led to me shutting down almost completely until just recently. Because of this I procrastinated reconciling my bank statements until I opened my statement dated 11/18/08. This when I discovered the charges to my new bank account. I NEVER Authorized PRIVACY MATTERS to debit my bank account. They've ripped me off $536.15. I searched the web for information about them, and the only thing they give out is how to access your "Account" by phone or internet. There is no way to contact a PERSON so they can explain how they got my bank account information, who authorized the debits, and how to get my money back for a service I NEVER subscribed to. They have STOLEN from me, and I want retribution!
Laurie
Haslet,#3Consumer Comment
Fri, November 21, 2008
It was either a survey, money off your current order, or a prechecked check box you missed during check-out. It is disclosed that you are signing up for this program, but if you CHOSE not to read everything - you get the membership fees. The Today show did an piece on this - as they were investigating similar complaints. They found that in each instance - the program and fees were fully disclosed and no bothered to read it. You have to pay attention to everything online. You can complain about the program to the Federal Trade Commission. The real problem though - is this is one of numerous WORTHLESS MEMBERSHIP programs that NO ONE WANTS, so they advertise on internet retailer sites and the agreement is to have the sign up process as part of the checkout. Since most people make the personal decision not to read everything, they get stuck. They know this and take full advantage of it! Complain to retailers that this is not acceptable. Its one thing to sell them advertising space on websites, they should not be allowing these scam programs to have signing up as part of the check out process. I have seen this on internet retailers and do not complete the survey, take the money off offer and made sure that any prechecked check boxes were un-checked. Then I print out my order confirmation and write on it that I chose not to accept the membership program - I have yet to see it show up on my credit card statements.