Complaint Review: Magic Jack - West Palm Beach Florida

I purchased my magic jack in May 2008. I loved it so much, I told my babysitter about it. She wanted to purchase one, but didn't have a debit/credit card. In June 2008, she gave me the cash and I made the purchase for her, using her name and address. Once the order was processed and cleared through my bank, I contacted the company and requested the card information to be removed from that account due to it being my card and didn't want to be associated with any account other than my own. The Rep told me it would be removed and that there would be no more charges for that account on my card.

This is where it gets really good! In December 2008, I checked my bank account online, as any other day, and noticed a charge from Magic Jack for $39.95. I contacted on online rep and requested information to support this charge. They said they didn't see any charges for my account. So, thinking back to using my card for my babysitter I asked them to check the account for her phone number. They did and the charges were there. The rep then told me to call the billing department in which he/she gave me the number, so that the situation would be cleared up and a refund would be issued to the correct person.

First, I called the babysitter to find out what was going on before I placed this call to the billing department. She had asked for a replacement because her Magic Jack broke. She made sure there would be no charge, because like me, she was under the impression that my card had been removed from her account and she didn't have one of her own so she would have to make other arrangements to pay for a replacement. The rep told her there was no charge as long as she returned the broken one within two weeks of receiving the new one. She received the new one on January 3, 2009.

I called the billing department to explain this whole situation once again and was told to contact the babysitter, give her the billing department number, speak to a lady named "Andrea" for correct instructions on how to return the broken Magic Jack, and in the mean-time change her email address on her online account for her phone number. The babysitter tried to call on January 4, 2009 and talk to this "Andrea" but was told no one was there by that name. She called me back and I told her I would try to call as her and get the return instructions myself. When I did and verified all information showing I was the babysitter a rep by the name of "Allie" or "Ellie" gave out MY debit card number to who she thought was the babysitter. Then, she proceeded to tell who she thought was the babysitter that my card could not and would not be removed from her account ever.

I would love to know how a company can keep debit/credit card information on someone else's account when the card holder has requested and demanded that it be removed. I was completely satisfied with this company up until this point. Now, this is the worst company I have ever dealt with and am letting everyone I know and even those I don't know not to purchase this item. It is currently under review in New York and who knows how many other states, too. Beware!

Tara

Ofallon, Illinois

U.S.A.