BEWARE OF PHONE SCAM - WC Budget Savers MN
Complaint
wra
Country: United States
I noticed a $24.95 charge, for WC Budget Savers MN, on our online bank statement today. I did an Internet search for the name listed (WC Budget Savers MN) and came up with this page. I called the number listed here, (800) 475-1942, (since there wasn't one included with the charge on the bank statement), to find out what this charge is for. I was told that someone (presumably my husband - who has no recollection of the call), approved this service over the phone from an incoming solicitor - they offered a $1.00 trial period (which was supposed to include a coupon for $40 in gas), then when not cancelled it jumped to $24.95 per month. This started in June for $1.00. Our bank account was then charged $24.95 for the months of July, Aug, Sept & Oct - before we caught up with it!!!
The person I spoke with was not able (or willing) to provide me with any account information. I was told that they send out only ONE welcome letter and that is it. Apparently, that letter includes website that you can go to for discounts of some sort. No other info is available. Not even an account number or a way to find out what you are supposed to be getting for your monthly $24.95 fee.
I told them I wanted the account closed immediately and the money refunded or I would report them. I was told that the ONLY that could be accomplished would be by completing and mailing back a form that they first have to mail to me - it will take 7-10 days for this to arrive and no telling how long to stop charges and get the refund after that. She could not tell me how long that process will take and insisted that there was NO OTHER WAY to stop future charges and/or recapture that which has already been bilked. What a scam!!!
The person I spoke with was not able (or willing) to provide me with any account information. I was told that they send out only ONE welcome letter and that is it. Apparently, that letter includes website that you can go to for discounts of some sort. No other info is available. Not even an account number or a way to find out what you are supposed to be getting for your monthly $24.95 fee.
I told them I wanted the account closed immediately and the money refunded or I would report them. I was told that the ONLY that could be accomplished would be by completing and mailing back a form that they first have to mail to me - it will take 7-10 days for this to arrive and no telling how long to stop charges and get the refund after that. She could not tell me how long that process will take and insisted that there was NO OTHER WAY to stop future charges and/or recapture that which has already been bilked. What a scam!!!
Comments
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/PeNTcQy6rAA-vAjLsZ8h1w
File complaints with FTC, your state Attorney General, and the Minnesota Attorney General.
Although your bank might only reverse 60 days of fraudulent charges disputed under FRB Reg. E, complaints to BBB have been reported to shake out larger refunds, probably to avoid AG complaints. They will ALWAYS claim you authorized it, but the "authorizations" might be through some pop-up or check box on some other shady on-line site, some fast read script if you ordered by phone (often reported to be associated with products sold on TV), or some deceptive telemarketing script, and many reports claim they refuse to disclose how or through who it was "authorized".
It is common with telemarketing fraud complaints to see reports that they claim you were sent an information packet that told you how to cancel, but nothing was ever received. Without any number to call to cancel, you can't cancel, and without receiving any packet, you will never know your "trial period" has turned into monthly charges until they show up on your account.
Stop hoping they will return your money. They will make all sorts of claims or promises just to hang onto your money, or to delay returning it long enough to let your 60 day FRB Reg. E or FCBA dispute period run out, after which they will just keep it.
They get account numbers from other on-line merchants, claiming they got your "authorization", but the many complaints against their charges indicate they are routinely charging consumes without consumers even being aware of any such "authorization".
If you never gave them any authorization, then this fraud, and you reverse through your bank, you do NOT treat this as a "billing error" or "merchant dispute" since you never had any agreement with them to allow any charges at all. You immediately contact your bank to dispute fraudulent or unauthorized charges, and close the account due to fraud to prevent additional fraud.
Follow up with a WRITTEN DISPUTE sent to your bank's dispute address from your statement, making sure your bank receives it sooner than 60 days from the statement date of the statement showing the disputed charges to preserve your FRB Reg. E or FCBA dispute rights.
Did they return the money they had already taken?
Disputing unauthorized charges through your bank can get your money back.
Just because they claim they cancelled your membership does not mean they won't keep taking your money.
Closing your account due to fraud is necessary if you expect to block additional charges.
Back up your claim by filing a police complaint of credit card fraud, sending your bank a copy of the report with a fraud afficavit.