Amanda
Santa Monica,#2Consumer Suggestion
Sat, November 19, 2005
If Entertainment Rewards doesn't resolve the problem to your satisfaction, you should call the bank from which the money was deducted. Tell them that you never authorized the deductions and ask to speak to whomever handles anti-fraud protection for bank customers. I called Bank of America after this happened to me. At B of A, they reverse transactions for up to 3 months and return the money to your account immediately. Then they require you to fill out a form explaining what happened so that the bank can go after Entertainment Rewards directly. In this situation, the merchant (ER) has the burden of proving that the transactions were legitimate. If it does not satisfy VISA's proof requirements, the bank tells the merchant that it may either voluntarily reimburse the bank for the funds, or the bank will take the money from the its merchant account. If the merchant receives too many complaints, whether it voluntarily reimburses or not, the merchant will lose its ability to accept VISA or other credit cards through that bank. The customer service representative assured me that once one bank does this to a merchant, all banks follow suit. This is probably the best "stick" I can think of (even more than class actions b/c the burden is on Entertainment Rewards to defend its conduct here) to force Entertainment Rewards to change its business practice -- it's tough to do business if you can't accept a VISA card.
Natalie
cordova,#3Author of original report
Fri, October 28, 2005
Since Entertainment Publications chose not to respond to my rebuttal regarding the complaint I filed against them thru the BBB, I've decided to file a consumer complaint against them thru my home state of Tennessee. I will keep everyone informed as to the progress but I would urge each one of you to also pursue filing a complaint against them with the BBB's Detroit & Eastern Michigan branch. I have also emailed everyone I know not to do business with either Ticketmaster or Entertainment Publications or any other IAC company. I have contacted my local news people also. Under the Consumer Protection Act, I have 5 years from when the deception occurred to sue and/or hire an attorney. This company needs to change their deceptive solicitation practices.
Natalie
cordova,#4Author of original report
Tue, September 27, 2005
I filed a report with the Better Business Bureau against Entertainment.com and here is the response I received.
From: "Carmel Weems"
Natalie
Cordova,#5Consumer Suggestion
Thu, September 08, 2005
I watched my checking account for a two month credit as promised by Amber. I did see a 1 month credit of $9 so I called them again for the third time. This time I got Teresa who said her records show that I was promised a one time courtesy refund for 1 month. I told her I was promised a 2 month refund of $18 and she explained some bs about how they don't give refunds cause they have to send out 4 emails. I told her I still wanted a supervisor and she came back and said that her supervisor told her that since I was promised a 2 month refund that she would process another $9 credit for me. Has anyone ever talked to one of these supposed supervisors? I think they are lying when they say I'm checking with my supervisor cause when she came back to the phone, she said she had already processed my refund. She just didn't have me on hold long enough to explain my situation to a supervisor and process a refund too. I finally got all my money back & am done with these sheisters. I've reported them to my local news station and also to the BBB.
Natalie
Cordova,#6Consumer Comment
Thu, September 01, 2005
I've done some research on IAC, the company that owns Ticketmaster. IAC also owns 18 others including Lending Tree, HSN, Ask Jeeves and Match.com so they are a HUGE conglomerate. It's great Dale that you have proof of what they're doing. Thanks for sharing that. I wish someone would file a class action lawsuit. By their own definition, they are in violation of their own Code of Ethics which I've found thru the internet and read. I intend to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and contact my local TV station and newspaper. Another company, Entertainment Publications, which is also owned by IAC currently owes me a refund of $29.99 that I've been trying to get from them since June. These are the same people that market the entertainment coupon books that are so poplar.
Natalie
Cordova,#7Consumer Comment
Thu, September 01, 2005
I've done some research on IAC, the company that owns Ticketmaster. IAC also owns 18 others including Lending Tree, HSN, Ask Jeeves and Match.com so they are a HUGE conglomerate. It's great Dale that you have proof of what they're doing. Thanks for sharing that. I wish someone would file a class action lawsuit. By their own definition, they are in violation of their own Code of Ethics which I've found thru the internet and read. I intend to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and contact my local TV station and newspaper. Another company, Entertainment Publications, which is also owned by IAC currently owes me a refund of $29.99 that I've been trying to get from them since June. These are the same people that market the entertainment coupon books that are so poplar.
Natalie
Cordova,#8Consumer Comment
Thu, September 01, 2005
I've done some research on IAC, the company that owns Ticketmaster. IAC also owns 18 others including Lending Tree, HSN, Ask Jeeves and Match.com so they are a HUGE conglomerate. It's great Dale that you have proof of what they're doing. Thanks for sharing that. I wish someone would file a class action lawsuit. By their own definition, they are in violation of their own Code of Ethics which I've found thru the internet and read. I intend to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and contact my local TV station and newspaper. Another company, Entertainment Publications, which is also owned by IAC currently owes me a refund of $29.99 that I've been trying to get from them since June. These are the same people that market the entertainment coupon books that are so poplar.
Natalie
Cordova,#9Consumer Comment
Thu, September 01, 2005
I've done some research on IAC, the company that owns Ticketmaster. IAC also owns 18 others including Lending Tree, HSN, Ask Jeeves and Match.com so they are a HUGE conglomerate. It's great Dale that you have proof of what they're doing. Thanks for sharing that. I wish someone would file a class action lawsuit. By their own definition, they are in violation of their own Code of Ethics which I've found thru the internet and read. I intend to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and contact my local TV station and newspaper. Another company, Entertainment Publications, which is also owned by IAC currently owes me a refund of $29.99 that I've been trying to get from them since June. These are the same people that market the entertainment coupon books that are so poplar.
Dale
Vancouver,#10Consumer Comment
Thu, September 01, 2005
I discovered after this happend to me that ticketmaster.com and Entertainment rewards are owned by the same company. It appears that they are taking a percentage of the tickemaster.com customers and automatically signing them up for Entertainment Rewards. In order for this scam to work, they rely on the following... 1.) That the victims will not remember in DETAIL what they did a month ago. 2.) That the victims will not check their credit card statements 3.) That the victims will NOT persue this in a legal venue since it's only $7-9 a month. 4.) That the victims will have SPAM filters on their email (This explains why you never got an email as required by law) 5.) That the victims will not have a detailed modem log showing internet activity on the day they supposedly "signed up". Well, in my case, they blew it. I DO remember in detail the day I purchased my tickets. I did NOT click on their LINK on the confirmation page with ticketmaster. I DO check my credit card statements and found it the day they charged it (via my Online report). I did persue the fraudulent charges and didn't take NO for an answer (or 2 hours 17 minutes on hold). I do not have SPAM filters on my email and I have not deleted any emails in over 6 months. I DO have a DSL modem log (I have kids) that shows EXACTLY what internet sites were accessed (Date/time/IP)ON THAT DAY!! I shared this with Entertainment Rewards and they said I must have forgot I signed up. Hello? As stated in other posts, I CAN PROVE WHAT I AM SAYING IN A COURT OF LAW.
Natalie
cordova,#11Author of original report
Wed, August 31, 2005
I called them back again today after being hung up on yesterday. This time I got Amber. She said she'd give me a one month refund and I said not good enough. After being put on hold she came back and said I could have 2 mos refund. I was pretty upset cause they keep insisting over and over again that you siged up for this phony program just by entering your email address into a box. I told her I knew all about her company's little scam and had seen this website too. She got quiet and I asked her why she didn't have a comment. She started to say Ma'am I don't have to comment on...at which point I thought I'd let them see how it feels to be hung up on. Ha!