I ordered a 10$ french CD of the Pimsleur Approach, 18 months ago, on internet for my girlfriend to learn my mother tongue. I did not pay attention that from this day on, they were still taking 64$/month from my credit card. After 30 days, they sent an additional CD, and then another one. Fortunately, i lost my credit card, and had to cancel it after Pimsleur paid themselves 128$.
I never saw the CD's because of an internal problem in my appartment complex. So, i did not take any action. 6 months ago, Pimsleur started sending me letters to claim the 384$ i "owe" them. i tried calling them, explain them the situation, but they refuse to hear what i said: I investigated at my appartments complx, and ended up finding my CD's.
i offered Pimsleur to return my unopened CD's in exchange with them waiving my "debt"! they told me it's my fault, that i agreed to the "terms and conditions of purchase", and that the upcoming CD's were mentioned clearly, as well as the rates. At the end, they rejected the return of the CD's, but they offered me a discount: i pay 300$ and we are good! I refused, because i feel i have been abused!
I tried calling them a few other times, but they never put me through to their manager, and they show me they're not scared of any lawsuit. they seem to have been trained. they seem to know exactly how to handle complaints. they're extremely rude!
since then, on may 1st, i received a letter to request my payment. I received a new one on june 1st, threatening me to go to take more drastic collection actions. should i pay them? what should i fear if i dont?
eric
costa mesa,#2Author of original report
Mon, June 17, 2013
inspector,
i would appreciate if you could read what i'm writing prior to judging my case!
i never stated that it was my fault!
thats what Pimsleur told me on the phone!
they told me "it is your fault that you did not read the fineprints"
And i still consider that there internet offer is a huge trap to make people pay them 500$ thinking they will only have to pay 10$!
i thought you were here to investigate this kind of ripoffs, and not to reject them just for the sake of having "solved" another case!
i'm trying to report as truthfully as i can my case, and trying to get the feeling of a legal professional that i thought you were about what my possibilities are! can you guys do anything for me? should i go to the small claims?
PS: that method of french learning did not work on my girlfriend! but i can use some of it to support my teaching.
Inspector
Tobyhanna,#3Consumer Comment
Mon, June 17, 2013
You said the terms and conditions were agreed to and that it "was my fault". How were you abused and ripped off? Don't blame others because you messed up. You admitted you owe them so PAY. By the way, did your girlfriend learn to speak french?