essential+ charges $17.95

ComplaintsScamsessential+

Complaint

0
Ken
Country: United States
I have been having a $17.95 charge on my Visa Visa credit card every month for two months now from shopping essential+ . I have no idea for what or why these charges are for, but I need to know how to stop them.

Comments

  • 0
    Ken
    They are listed as "SHOPPINGESSENTIAL+" on my statement. What is it?
  • 0
    dean
    Seems like a scam to me.

    I found the following phone numbers associated with SHOPPINGESSENTIAL+. Call them to clear this out.

    888-999-0564
    877-636-6858
    888-999-0564
    877-636-6858
    888-999-0564
    800-316-8821
  • 0
    Ken
    I am a private consumer, and I have been having a Visa credit card transaction every month of $17.95... from shopping essential+... I have no idea for what or why these charges are for, but I need to know how to stop them.
  • 0
    tj
    A search on www.bbb.org for "shopping essentials plus" directs you to
    Trilegiant, which appears to do "negative option marketting" of its various "buying clubs", thru companies you would think should know better.

    Essentially, some company you do business with gives them your account information, claiming you "signed up" for their service, and you start finding their charges on your credit card.  Might be someone you gave your CC number to, such as AOL, or might even be your CC company itself.  There may, or may not, be some shred of "acknowledgement" by you as the basis for the "contract", possibly some "free trial" sign-up, that they hope you forget to cancel.  There are consumer reports that if you cancel, they try again several months later.  If you don't catch it, they get your money.

    From the BBB report:

    Trilegiant Corporation
    100 Connecticut Ave
    Norwalk, CT  06850-3541
    Telephone: (203) 956-1000  
    Fax: (203) 956-8789
    ...
    Additional DBA Names

    Shopping Essentials Plus
    Everyday Values
    Elite Excursions
    PC SafetyPlus
    AutoVantage

    Additional Phone Numbers
    Tel: (800) 411-9712
    Tel: (800) 318-6870
    Tel: (800) 290-8603
    Tel: (713) 667-9173
    Tel: (800) 892-2833
    Tel: (800) 374-8273
    Tel: (800) 214-6422
    Tel: (888) 617-2582
    Tel: (877) 276-3919
    Tel: (800) 468-5463
    Tel: (800) 526-4848
    Tel: (800) 743-2584
    Tel: (203) 956-1076
    Tel: (877) 488-9283
    Tel: (800) 316-8821
    Tel: (866) 363-8258
    Tel: (877) 630-1183
    ..."

    Background on their "business":
    http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/trilegiant_inside.html

    Trilegiant settlement with Florida AG:
    http://www.myfloridalegal.com/Trilegiant_Settlement.pdf
    http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/fl_trilegiant.html

    Trilegiant and Chase settle with AG's of these states: Alaska,California,Connecticut,Illinois,Iowa,Maine,Michigan,Missouri,New Jersey,North Carolina,Ohio,Oregon,Pennsylvania,Tennessee,Vermont,Washington.
    http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/12/trilegiant_chase.html

    And the complaints keep coming:
    http://www.consumeraffairs.com/scam_alerts/trilegiant_complaints.html
  • 0
    tj
    One of their products is "PrivacyGuard".

    Overview:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilegiant

    AARP warning against their "negative option marketting" sign-ups:
    www.aarpelderwatch.org/public/alerts/beware_o ... s_template.html

    Another warning:
    www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15104735/

    Class action lawsuit against Trilegiant:
    www.girardgibbs.com/trilegiant.html

    Looks like another one:
    www.lakinlaw.com/CM/Custom/TrilegiantLitigationForm.asp
  • 0
    clott109
    I am the same as everyone else, got monthly charges for something I never ordered or asked for.  Called my credit card company (VISA) and they took care of it. I received an e-mail from Shopping Essentials and they are to issue a credit to my account. Waiting for statement to see such.
  • 0
    walkerslim6
    i recieved charges on my debit card from this company, they have charge me 19.95 for two months in a roll. call them they said they would refund it back to my account. thats what i was told about last months, but as of now there is no refund. what can be done about this company that is scanning people.
  • 0
    cgchris
    I also have been charged via Visa for this service  I didnt order from ShoppingEssential - Two months in a row - $14.95 - the January charge slipped by me, but I picked it up on this February statement.  I have called to cancel now, but it bothers me that I let the first charge slip by me.  They claim that I agreed to the service in October.  I definitely DID NOT - although I believe it was explained to me.  I definitely declined the offer.
  • 0
    shirmac
    My 84 year old mother has a charge of $69.99 on her Chase credit card.  I had cancelled the credit card last month, but this charge ended up there just before the cancelation.  Any ideas on how to get it off there??
  • 0
    tj
    Dispute fraudulent charges through your bank, under FCBA.

    If the former card number was blocked, but replaced by a new card number, you should closely watch your new statements for charges that might be carried over to the new card number, particularly "automatic payment" charges set up by fraudulent cramming scams.
  • 0
    tj
    Dispute fraudulent charges through your bank.  

    Your bank can reverse unauthorized charges disputed within 60 days of the statement date of the statement showing the disputed charges, under FCBA (for credit cards) or FRB Reg. E (for checking account EFT and debit cards).

    There are numerous reports of deceptively designed websites, and fraudulent telemarketers, passing account information from a legitimate order over to these cramming scams without authorization.

    NY AG settlement with Trilegiant and Web Loyalty:
    http://www.ag.ny.gov/bureaus/consumer_frauds/affinion.html

    File complaints with FTC, your state Attorney General, and at www.ic3.gov
  • 0
    tj
    Cramming scams are often reported to deceptively promise refunds to string consumers along, cram more charges, and run out the 60 day dispute window during which your bank can reverse the charges.

    Dispute fraudulent charges through your bank.  

    Your bank can reverse unauthorized charges disputed within 60 days of the statement date of the statement showing the disputed charges, under FCBA (for credit cards) or FRB Reg. E (for checking account EFT and debit cards).

    Be sure to close your account or block your card number to prevent additional fraudulent charges.

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