TLG Great Fun rebate is a SCAM!

Complaint

+1
pulcino
Country: United States
I was scammed by "Great Fun" when I purchased an online ticket from CheapoAir.
There was a big button in the middle of my ticket reservation stating simply that by clicking it I get a $20 rebate. When I clicked on it, a pop up appeared with just an 1-800 (1-800-822-9612)
phone number to call, absolutely nothing else.  I thought it was from CheapoAir.
When my call was answered I was asked my name, address and phone number.
At that point I started to get suspicious because I had already entered the information they were asking
when making the CheapoAir reservation, so they should have had it.
So I repeatedly asked how was my information going to be used, and each time
I was assured that the information was needed "just to know where to send the rebate".

Then the telemarketer read the conditions VERY quickly, but since I was on my guard, I heard
her mention that if I don't cancel the membership then I would be  charged monthly.
I stopped her sales pitch right away, and clearly stated that I refused their benefits.
I was told that I would not be enrolled without my consent,
but when I checked my credit card the next day, I already had a charge from Great Fun.

Since then I have been calling Great Fun customer service almost every day, trying to clear the charge and make sure I will not
be enrolled in the Great Fun "benefits", but they kept telling me they can't find me
in their database despite the fact that my credit card has already been charged!I talked to a supervisor, all to no avail.

If you hear "Great Fun", hang up the phone right away!


IT'S A TOTAL SCAM!!!!

Comments

  • 0
    Get out
    | 3 replies
    No stores are in my area.
    Dollar General is the only
    On-line is a scam
    • 0
      Chloe replies to Get out
      | 2 replies
      A pop up add came up on spirit airlines website after purchasing a ticket and I called it,,, it sounded way to good to be true so I am glad I never gave them my info
      How can they do that if it's on a legitimate web site ?
      • 0
        tj replies to Chloe
        Watch your statements closely, and beware of any "sales calls", especially those pretending to be from the original merchant, "to confirm your order".

        Even though you didn't give them your charging information, in the past these cramming scams have been getting consumer account information directly from their "marketing partners", and using deceptive calls, or  just plain lying, as pretense that their "customers" agreed to monthly charges.  Supposedly, under common credit card merchant agreements, these offers should require that consumers separately provide account information, but there is nothing to stop such cramming scams from being passed that information behind the scenes and pretending otherwise, using some "sales call that you forgot" as their "authorization".
      • 0
        Allie L replies to Chloe
        Although it seems sketchy, this rebate actually works if you remember to cancel within 30 days.  I've done it several times!
  • 0
    bill
    | 4 replies
    If they had to ask your info then the only way you were charged is if you provided your credit information
    • 0
      tj replies to bill
      | 1 reply
      Not true.

      For  years, these cramming scams have made charges using account information passed by their marketing partners, without getting actual consumer agreement to the charges.  They have a history of faking "agreements", including use of faked "recorded authorizations", or even just claiming there is such a "recording", which they refuse to produce.

      When the "product" is basically the fraudulent "sale" of a worthless "discount" that costs more in monthly charges that any likely "savings", you shouldn't expect that any other aspect of the business is anything but a scam.
      • 0
        tj replies to tj
        Note that the original complaint reports:
        1)  The pop-up didn't identify who was behind it, or the terms of the "offer", only a phone number
        2)  On calling the number, the called party didn't identify themselves or that they were not Cheapo Air
        3)  With deceptive and vague disclosures, the victim only provided their name, address, and phone number
        4)  The "terms" were read quickly to make it difficult for the victim to understand what was being offered and what it would cost.
        5)  The victim did NOT agree to the charges
        6)  The charges were run through anyway, without the victim providing account information, showing that they were getting account information from the original plane flight purchase

        The business practices don't even comply with, for example, standard VISA merchant contract terms.
        The charges are made without consumer authorization, not even "authorization" implied by providing an account number.
        The charges are simply fraudulent.
    • 0
      Lia replies to bill
      Amen, Bill. It's hard for me to feel sympathetic to people who claim they were scammed in these cases...
    • 0
      Asking your info.. replies to bill
      while deceptively or not completely disclosing what you will be charging for, is simply fraud.

      Asking for a credit card number to charge implies you will be charging based on terms of an offer already disclosed.  It does not imply any later agreement to authorize charges based on later terms or added offers without separate agreement by the customer, and the earlier card number disclosure does not "confirm" any such later alleged "agreement".

      It's a form of "bait and switch" fraud.
  • 0
    Melanie
    I had to change my credit card number.  I told them I didn't want the service and they got my info (I think from where I got tickets) and started billing me.  I called the 800 number to cancel and they said they couldn't cancel they instead have me a month free of their useless service. So I had to change my card nbet to get them to go away
  • 0
    Amy
    Dear pulcino,
    Thank you so much for putting this onto the Internet.  As soon as I got the pop-up box after making my Dollar rental car reservation, I called Dollar and they said it was one of their "partners".  I called the number and you can tell right away by the overly-excited recorded voice that it's too good to be true.  I immediately typed in "Great Fun scam" and this popped up.  I think that you saved me a lot of grief.
  • 0
    onat
    | 1 reply
    Thank you for informing us about his scam, I was almost trapped :) but last minute I was suspicious when they asked me the information about payment.
    • 0
      Leah replies to onat
      The same thing with me. When she started asking for my information I put her on hold and looked them up. Thanks all for your stories. I just hung up the phone without ever coming back to it.
  • 0
    Kel
    | 1 reply
    I have been waiting to post about TLG great fun until I had all my information. On January 16, 2014 I ordered two tickets via ticketmaster. At the end of my purchase, I saw the Great Fun offer. So I called. The man on the other end asked if I wanted to do the Great Fun membership for one month for just $1 and that I would receive TWO $50 rebates for my two ticket purchases on Ticketmaster. I said yes to the great fun membership. He then proceeded to ask if I also wanted a Shopper's Advantage membership for 30 days for $1. I said no. On January 21, 2014 they emailed me the rebate applications. Upon receiving the two rebate applications (one for each ticket I purchased), I filled them out and mailed them both in the same envelope. That same day I called Great Fun (I did have to wait 15 minutes before someone picked up on the other end). I cancelled my membership and I also asked to have a paper copy of the membership cancellation mailed to my home address (which I did receive about two weeks later). On February 10, 2014 I received only one $50 rebate check in the mail. The letter stated that I had to provide two copies of the ticket receipt to get both $50 rebates. So, I called their rebate office. I explained that I had been informed that only one copy of the ticket receipt was necessary (I had been told that on the day I called to cancel my membership). The man I spoke to was very helpful and said "Ok, this is a one time thing. I will send you the second rebate in the mail. I am sorry you were misinformed."  

    So, I will be one of the very few success stories with Great Fun. I made $99 for doing pretty much nothing. Now, I did check my bank account every single day (which I do anyways, its a good habit) to see if there were any odd charges. I also called my bank and informed them that if they saw a charge from TLG that it was not authorized.

    If you do decide to take Great Fun up on their rebate offer, I support you because it turned out well for me. However, be careful to document when your membership ends and when you make phone calls to this company. That way you have all your bases covered.

    I will be posting this response on other forums criticizing Great Fun because I want people to know that I did not have an issue receiving the rebates.
    • 0
      Julie replies to Kel
      I just signed up... He informed me that I would need to do 2 separate (spirit airlines purchases) and mail in seperately to get the $50 check twice. Hope that works!!
  • 0
    Jenn
    Unbelievable. This was the most unintelligent thing I have ever done in my life and I am 24. My father would be so disappointed. I thought this was a scam from the beginning, I should have listened to my gut. I was skeptical-but I thought that I was speaking to Spirit, given the fact it popped up on their website with their name on it before I even saw my ticket was processed. The lady talked so fast and unclear which made me even more skeptical because she kept repeating the same thing over and over again because I was asking her questions on her wording.  I kept trying to google it but my internet was slow since i was on the phone.. right as it came up I was giving her my payment information (like an idiot, i know) and I kept pondering why I had to reveal that to her since I just bought a plane ticket. Right after I gave her all my information, like the young inexperienced dummy that I am, I said I did NOT want anything anymore. I said please cancel and erase any data. YEAH OK. that chick raced me off the phone so fast. I called back, the same girl answers and tries to act like she doesn't remember me and plays DUMB! She just kept repeating her script of the "rules of cancellation". Then she tried to act like she couldn't speak English and got her supervisor "MONA" who basically did the same thing! Yet they have no power of cancelling- just enrolling. She tried to say because i never fully agreed and I ended the conversation with saying I do not want anything charged to my account that it wouldn't since they record conversations.
     I IMMEDIATELY called my bank and closed my card before they could charge anything to my account. THANK GOD for my gut and thank god for this thread giving the reassurance I needed even at late time. DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY INFORMATION. I will forever remember this and learn from it because this is just unreal how they are getting away with this and Spirit Airlines is just all for it!! I know that I am responsible for falling into this trap, but how unprofessional of an airline to support scamming their own customers. This was my first time ever buying from Spirit Airlines, which i now regret, and I will never support them again.

    Ps, This was all for a stupid $40. Literally not even worth it and I still do not know what I am going to do about them having my phone number and address. Creeps me out.
  • 0
    Allan
    Good luck trying to get them off your charges. One month was refunded, next month, back again. AVOID!!
  • 0
    Tee Gee
    Beware! Always a Scam when someone ask for you to give a Credit Card before paying you. If you just spent $ with a business and you earned a rebate, you would not give them a credit card, a check or buy a membership to receive a rebate.
  • 0
    Charlotte
    TLG Great Fun offered through TicketMaster is one big scam. They did not enroll in the proper program - accidentally enrolled me in Buyer Advantage which did not have the ticketmaster rebate but did come with monthly charges. They stated there was nothing they could do but apologize for the wrong enrollment.  Stay away!!!
  • 0
    Anon
    Thank you for the info. I almost clicked it, but Spirit scammed me on a Fun Fare that I had to join to get the price on the flight. Initially I paid 19.99 and then they started billing me $69.95 a month on my credit card. After an hour on hold I was told that it was in the fine print if I didn't cancel. When I mentioned I would sue for this scam the woman asked what she could do for me. I told her to cancel it and refund my money. She said she would, but it would take 7 days. I have not checked my credit card yet, but beware of the extra charges on Spirit. They charge extra for everything. You are better off checking your bag because they have very small carry on limits. They charge you for a seat assignment. I don't care where I sit and booked for a friend and myself and we ended up with seats next to each other anyway. Beware!!!

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