In July, 2017 I responded to an online ad/offer from Style Works, apparently located in Detroit, Michigan. The ad featured several kinds of accessories ( watches, jewelry, etc) and had a one-time offer to select one type of accessory and you would receive that free, with a shipping charge of 6.99. I carefully looked for any wording that indicated this would activate a repetitive order or would create an ongoing shipment - there was no such wording and I did not request any additional shipments. I chose to receive a men's watch, which was shipped and received. This was a vinyl band, Q&Q quartz watch with a dark blue face. No paperwork - no indication that this was anything other than a one-time deal
On August 31 I received a package from Latestfashions, listed as shipped from 6312 SW Capitol Hwy, #421, Portland, Oregon. I did not order anything from this company - had never heard of them. The package contained the exact same Q&Q watch I had received from Style Works. No invoice, only a shipping slip. There is a phone number on it, which I called.
I spoke with Leona, a customer service rep, who tried to tell me the small print on the ad said I had agreed to ongoing shipments. I told her it absolutely did not - I had been careful to look for any such wording and there was none. she argued that the agreement wording was there. I argued back and said this constitutes consumer fraud. Leona then gave me a cancellation number to cancel "any future shipments." I asked to speak with her supervisor, who was "busy on a call with another customer".
I told Leona I would not pay any amount for this second watch. She argued that I had agreed to do that, etc. etc. I stated that I was filing a consumer fraud complaint against them. Through the next 15 minutes Leona went from saying I had to pay the full amount for the second watch, to saying they "would meet me halfway", then saying they would, "give me a 75% refund as a good faith gesture", and finally agreed to " a full 100% refund. She gave me another confirmation number and said she would be sending me an email confirming the cancellation of the 'agreement' and also confirming the full refund. m waiting for the email. I will be alerting my credit card company that any charges from StyleWorks or Laterstfashions are not authorized.
This is very clearly a consumer fraud scam. Leona is very smooth - I can see where many people would simply give up and take the cancellation and take the $99.98 hit, which is what they charge for the subsequent shipments. This racket needs to be shut down.