charges
Complaint
Dawn
Country: United States
I recently made a purchase online back in September. Today I noticed a $16.95 charge from my bank account. After going back through last months charges I realized there was a $16.95 charge also. I then wondered who the heck WC Value Plus was. I make a lot of purchases with my card so I wasn't paying attention last month but with the identical charge to the same company sent red flags. I went through my junk mail and there it was, www.valueplusonline.com with my subscriber number. I've never subscribed tho these people and have no idea how they received my account number. So I called the number to cancel this phony subscription. I asked what the charges were for, she replied coupons and so on. I asked where were my coupons because I didn't receive any and for 3 payments so far I would like my money's worth. She replied a refund would be made to my account within 2 weeks and no further charges would be made. What a scam! This needs to be brought to the attention of consumers.
Comments
Although they claim you "authorized" joining, often the terms are buried in find print somewhere on a website, possibly even in fuzzy print at the bottom of some TV ad, or allegedly read from a script if you called to order. The web "agreement" may have been acknowledged only by some "check mark", some consumers report being signed up after unchecking the mark, and the company has even been reported to claim they don't know what retailer signed you up.
Do not trust that they will just return your money as they claimed verbally. They know that if they just stretch this out past 60 day from your statement showing the unauthorized charges, your bank won't help you get your money back.
Immediately contact your bank to dispute the fraudulent charge and close the account to prevent future fraudulent charges. Follow up with a WRITTEN LETTER DISPUTING the charges, sent to your bank's dispute address from your statement, and send it certified return receipt requested so you can prove that your bank received it less than 60 days from the statement date showing the first charge. THIS IS ESSENTIAL TO PRESERVE YOUR FRB Reg. E DISPUTE RIGHTS.
Then file complaints with FTC and your state AG.
Send your dispute to your bank IN WRITING, sent certified return receipt requested, regardless of what you "agreed" to do. FRB Reg E requires that disputes be received by your bank (in writing) within 60 days of the statement date showing the disputed charge to invoke your Reg E dispute rights.
Also, close your card immediately. "Membership" scams often put through charges under other names once they find one goes through. The only way to prevent future fraudulent charges is to close the account due to fraud, and even then some charges may roll over to your new card number, so watch your statements closely.
The address and number above is a UPS store. Value plus has a box with them.
I would urge everyone to call that store and complain to them as well as the FTC and BBB and your bank. Atleast maybe UPS will think twice about dealing with companies such as this one in the future.
The UPS store was able to give me the same 800 number that everyone has. Make their phones ring off the hook. Good luck to all who have been scammed.