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  • Report:  #715414

Complaint Review: PC Protect - Baltimore Maryland

Reported By:
Chad - Fishers, Indiana, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:

PC Protect
400 East Pratt St, 8th Floor Baltimore, 21202 Maryland, United States of America
Phone:
866-961-3476
Web:
www.pcprotect.biz
Categories:
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good? What's this?
I noticed that I had been receiving a charge of $19.95 on my AT&T phone bill for the last six months from a company called PC Protect, Inc.  The charge was supposedly for online anti-virus "membership." 

I called the number provided to find out what this was and how I was signed up for it.  I spoke to "Freddy" (#107) who was located in Baltimore MD.  He told me that my wife went to their website and signed up for this "service."  I asked him what the service was and he told me that it was a website that you go to and it will scan your computer for viruses. 

There are many problems with this explaination. The first is that I work in the Information Security field.  My wife would never seek out a web page to scan our computers for viruses without talking to me first.  Furthermore, she would never pay $240/year for said service when we already get enterprise class antivirus protection for FREE.

The second problem is that if she happen to loose her mind and go out to a site and sign up for this service why is it billed to my phone bill ?!?!  How many things have you purchased online and paid via your phonebill???  I never have and I do ALOT of business online.  When I asked him what site she used to sign up he informed me that they have "multiple web-sites" and that he isn't able to verify the site.

Putting aside his obvious BS I proceeded to request reimbursment for all of the charges.  He refused at first, only offering to cancel the service.  I let him know that this was unacceptable.  He placed me on hold and came back with the "offer" of crediting only three months.  I asked him why I could not have all of my money back.  He stated that he was being "very generous" in that I had the service this whole time.  (A service that I had without my knowledge and NEVER used)

I accepted his offer and let him know that this wasn't over yet.  I found an entry on the BBB website giving them a "D" rating.  I found the name/address/phone number of Linda Harper (President.)  Funny...the phone number was the same as what was listed on the bill. 

I called the number and was connected to a Elonda (#1056) in Balitmore MD.  I asked to speak with Linda Harper and was told that nobody with that name worked in her department.  I let her know that I assumed she didn't work that phones as she was the president of the company.  She refused to give me the number after a long circular discussion.  She told me that the Nevada office didn't have a phone. ....right   I would only be able to contact her by sending an email to www.pcprotect.biz.  I informed her that I knew that was a web address and not an email address.  She then proceded to give me a generic email address and said that it would be forwarded.  ....right.

After doing a little more Google searching I have found that many people are having the exact same experience that I have had.  According to "Freddy" I should be thankful for his generosity of giving back only part of my STOLEN MONEY!

Here is my theory on how this happened.  My wife received a text message from an unknow origin.  She responded by asking who it was.  She never received a response.  Turns out that somebody can send you a SMS saying anything and when you respond they can then bill you anything they want.  ...even if your response is "Who is this." 

I am in the wrong business...


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