- Report: #935271
Complaint Review: Bridgevine - Internet
Reported By:
sick_n_tired -
Houston, Texas, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Confirmed
Why?
Bridgevine
Internet, United States of America
Phone:
Web:
https://www.mychangeaddress.com/index.php?gclid=CMS4qcCNkrICFeeMTAodw38AuQ
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
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Bridgevine changemyaddress.com Deceiptive scheme targeted at busy people in a hurry Internet
Bridgevine's website "changemyaddress.com" is quite obviously intended to deceive consumers by mimicking the US Postal Service's website. The change of address service offered by this site is available for $1 via the US Postal Service and; therefore, there seems no legitimate purpose to the "changemyaddress.com" website. The website is merely a marketing tactic and a scam. At the time of this writing, Bridgevine charges unwitting consumers $9.95 for a service the USPS offers for $1. While Bridgevine seeks to keep themselves out of legal trouble by providing a disclaimer in fine print, they prey on consumers who by the very nature of needing to make a change of address, are likely under the stress of relocation and also likely in a hurry. Yes, Bridgevine can attempt to defend themselves by claiming they provide a written disclaimer and consumers should read it; however, the idea behind "changemyaddress.com" is nothing less than suspicious since Bridgevine is offering an unnecessary service--in that the EXACT SAME SERVICE is already offered by the US Postal Service for $1--and offering it at a greatly inflated price.
Recently relocated, under stress, unemployed, in a hurry? Beware. Bridgevine pays to have their hyperlink at the top of the search engine page to catch unwitting consumers in their net of deceit by mimicking the US Postal Service. Once you have submitted payment, there is no way to stop the transaction. Canceling your credit card will only prevent FUTURE transactions on the card but will not stop the transaction to Bridgevine that has already begun.
I would like to see the Federal Trade Commission outlaw the practice of private businesses impersonating, mimicking, or attempting in any way whether through logos, labels, or locations the resemblance to any government entity. It should not be legal for Bridgevine to mimick the US Postal Service and set themselves us as an unnecessary "middleman" to offer an unnecessary service which misleads consumers into paying inflated prices.
Recently relocated, under stress, unemployed, in a hurry? Beware. Bridgevine pays to have their hyperlink at the top of the search engine page to catch unwitting consumers in their net of deceit by mimicking the US Postal Service. Once you have submitted payment, there is no way to stop the transaction. Canceling your credit card will only prevent FUTURE transactions on the card but will not stop the transaction to Bridgevine that has already begun.
I would like to see the Federal Trade Commission outlaw the practice of private businesses impersonating, mimicking, or attempting in any way whether through logos, labels, or locations the resemblance to any government entity. It should not be legal for Bridgevine to mimick the US Postal Service and set themselves us as an unnecessary "middleman" to offer an unnecessary service which misleads consumers into paying inflated prices.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
sick_n_tired
Texas,United States of America
NO service -- 100% Scam!
#2Author of original report
Fri, September 07, 2012
I appears that Bridgevine's "changemyaddress.com" website is 100% scam. After allowing 7 full days for a change of address order to be processed, I called the US Postal Service to verify that a change of address order was received and that mail would begin being forwarded. No such order had ever been placed on my behalf!
The customer service representative of the US Postal Service can be reach via telephone using their phone number listed on the OFFICIAL US Postal Service website. I called this number and was informed that when a change of address order is submitted, several things happen.
1) A confirmation email containing an order number is sent to the email address of the customer filing the change order.
2) A letter is mailed to the "OLD" address of the customer notifying them of the change of address order and providing instructions for canceling the order.
3) A letter is mailed to the "NEW" address of the customer notifying them of the change of address order.
I recieved NONE of the above mentioned verifications from the USPS following my change of address order submitted through "changemyaddress.com"!
The USPS customer service operator inquired about the fee for the change of address order and I told her I had paid $9.95. She stated that the USPS ONLY charges $1.00 to verify identity.
Finally, the most telling of all clues. The USPS customer service operator asked me what website I had used to change my address. I told her "changemyaddress.com" and she said...
"That is NOT an official US Postal Service website. The US Postal Service has NO affiliation with that site and the US Postal service DOES NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THAT WEBSITE."
From what I could see on the Bridgevine website, they do NOT show the USPS as one of their "partners". They do show several other well-known companies as "partners"; however, so online customers should be VERY cautious when receiving emails or conducting online business with any of these "partner" companies. My advice is to make certain you are dealing directly with the company you are trying to interface with and NOT with a Bridgevine spoof site. These "partner" companies include businesses such as: AT&T, Direct TV, Verizon, Comcast Xfinity, TimeWarner Cable, Qwest, Insight, Bright House, Charter, American Express, ADT, Acer, Dell, Nintendo, Sony, Intel, Netflix, Blockbuster, USA Today, Spark Energy, Constellation Energy, Game House, Game Fly, etc.
There are also many stories online about customers who have used "changemyaddress.com" and following that, continue to get a monthly charge of $9.99 labeled as "Indentity Safety Service".
Bottom line: BE CAREFUL!
It appears that Bridgevine is simply stealing money through a "spoof" website called "changemyaddress.com" and does NOT provide the service they advertise though they DO charge a fee.
It appears that Bridgevine is not simply taking advantage of unwitting customers who are busy and/or in a hurry, but it seems what they are doing is actually illegal.
VeroMark
Vero Beach,Florida,
USA
mychangeaddress
#3UPDATE Employee
Fri, September 07, 2012
I'm sorry that you feel like we here at Bridgevine are trying to deceive you. We have tried our best to make sure the website does not look anything like the USPS website. In fact we state at the top of the page that we have no affiliation with the government service.
In the first paragraph it states:
"Please note that MyChangeAddress is a private business entity
that facilitates the address change request process for its users and is
not affiliated with the Post Office."
It is also a fact that users must check a button that informs them before the transaction that their credit card is going to be billed $9.95. So to say that we prey on 'unwitting consumers' is neither true nor fair. We also offer users the opportunity to subscribe to FREE trials for home services and when they do so their change of address is processed for free.
In conclusion, if someone has changed their address thru mychangeaddress and would like to cancel their transaction please email me at [email protected].
Regards
Mark Ballard
