Unauthorized charge to my account

ComplaintsInternet ScamsSeattle Coffee Direct

Complaint

0
John Ross
Country: United States
Some months ago, I "joined" Seattle Coffee Direct and was disappointed to find that I was going to get auto-shipped over priced coffee. I called to cancel and thought that it was over, only to see a new charge on the debit card today.

Comments

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  • 0
    John
    Same thing here. Signed up for a "free trial" on the 22nd of Sep., just paid shipping, three days later they charged me the full amount of their "club" membership. I called and cancelled, and then just a few days ago on Nov. 27th they charged me another $79.

    Cancel any credit card they have on file, file a dispute with you bank if ti was a debit card, and do a charge back if ti is a credit card. These people are scum, and will NOT stop stealing your money unless you are proactive.
  • 0
    Ralphster
    There seems to be a lot of this sort of thing going on!
    If you call Seattle Coffee Direct (888)217-2233 (the number listed on our unauthorized billing of $79)you will get an auto-recording which is strangely identical to the one we heard when we called PublicationsMax.com at (888)624-2877 ( also listed on our credit card bill as a $79 charge!!)
    Both of these charges occured this billing period. I guess someone at least has found a recession-proof income opportunity!!!
  • 0
    KLD5
    They will promise a refund but will not follow through.  They will blame a computer or server error - if you are lucky enough to get through to them. The parent company is Peel, Inc.  I'm just disgusted that they are ripping so many people off (including me!)... I actually contacted my local FBI office and they told me that unauthorized charges to your credit card IS CREDIT CARD FRAUD and is handled by the United States Secret Service Agency! I've already left a message with them and I will be filing a complaint and making them aware of Peel, Inc.  Please do the same...  Together we can expose this company!

    http://www.secretservice.gov/field_offices.shtml

    Also, here is the form to file a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General's Office:
    http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/conscomp.pdf

    BBB Link:
    http://www.bbb.org/chicago/business-reviews/p ... 0239#govtaction
  • 0
    TWEE
    Ditto here-- 3 $79 charges in 3 weeks. No phone response.  Also, call PEEL, and the message redirects you to a Pay-Per-Call 700#!

    When I file complaints against Internet ripoffs, I file with:

    My State AG
    My County AG
    Seller's State AG
    Seller's County AG
    Seller's Local Police
    US AG

    USPS Mail Fraud
    https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx
  • 0
    Mary B.
    Unfortunately I came to this information too late to prevent 3 $79.00 unauthorized charges to my Visa card.  I will however be filing the complaints suggested by KLD5 and TWEE.
  • 0
    MsGypsy
    I just got a charge on the 27th, too. And one from some jewelry company I never heard of called Dani something or other. I think they're either in it together or stealing info from one another.
  • 0
    tj
    Complaints of unauthorized charges by Peel Inc. have been going on for years.  

    As you can confirm by their BBB report, complaints allege deceptive sales tactics and unauthorized charges, with highest complaint counts under "advertizing", "billing", "refunds", etc.

    http://www.bbb.org/chicago/business-reviews/p ... ton-il-36000239

    "...
    Consumer complaints allege undisclosed or unauthorized charges, lack of clearly disclosed shipping and/or membership fees, and deceptive advertising. Consumers further allege receiving multiple orders of merchandise that has not been ordered and/or authorized, and subsequent difficulties obtaining refunds.

    Furthermore, many complainants allege purchasing posters from posterpass.com at a particular price, and report having been charged a much higher price and allegedly unknown fees for the transaction.
    ..."

    Complaint rates are increasing.

    "BBB processed a total of 1712 complaints about Peel, Inc. in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period. Of the total of 1712 complaints closed in 36 months, 1267 were closed in the last year."

    DBAs:
    "...
    SeattleCoffeeDirect.com
    publicationsmax.com
    PosterPass.com
    Danielle Janine Jewelry
    Peel.com
    EspeciallyPosters.com
    Coffee Roasters Direct, Inc.
    ShopDani.com
    HollywoodJewelryStore.com
    PerfectlyPendants.com
    RelationshipSpot.com
    RingingCell.com
    Superduperfree.com
    MagazineBurst.com
    VermontRoastingCo.com
    Homeartsdirect.com
    Art Print World
    MetroCoffeeDirect
    Global Coffee Direct
    Urban Tea Direct
    WorldTeaDirect
    World Tea Direct
    Tea Francais
    Worldbeancafe
    Haute Jewelry Direct
    Cafe Saporito
    ..."

    They use a deceptive "trial offer" for a range of products under various names, and use the account information obtained to cram on much larger charges claiming they are for repeated orders.  Consumers then report problems attempting to cancel the repeated charges, and in getting refunds of charges they did not authorize.

    https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/_88vBsRUNQBLigjMJBKFgA

    Starting about a week ago, a cluster of complaints indicated that Peel may have again started charging consumers who had cancelled many months ago, using old retained consumer account information.  Since then, the rate of complaints against their various names has been rapidly rising beyond their baseline complaint rate.

    One consumer reported they claimed it was a "computer glitch", but unauthorized charges have been part of this company's M.O. all along.  The above report, however, does indicate that Peel knows that they have been submitting unauthorized charges using account information from "cancelled" customer accounts, whether "accidentally" or deliberately.

    The Christmas shopping season has also traditionally been the prime season for fraudulent charges.  Fraudulent charging gangs are known to step up their fraudulent activities during this period, since it gives them the best chances of hanging on to their illegal gain.  Compared to other parts of the year, the Christmas shopping season is characterized by:
    1)  the large number of transactions going through the payment systems, 2)  the large number of charges on consumer statements during this season,
    3)  the likelyhood that people will miss fraudulent charges among legitimate charges, confuse fraudulent charges with gift purchases by a spouse, or fail to dispute fraudulent charges through their banks in time to reverse the charges.


    This recent increase in unauthorized charges by this company has been perfectly timed to slip through unauthorized charges with the best chance that they will be overlooked.


    Contact your bank immediately to dispute all fraudulent charges, and close the account due to fraud to prevent future fraudulent charges.  Follow up with a written dispute or fraud affidavit to your bank, making sure they receive it within 60 days of the statement date of the statement showing the disputed charges to preserve your FCBA or FRB Reg. E dispute rights.

    Do NOT attempt to get reversals of fraudulent charges from the merchant.  A number of complaints indicate Peel claims refunds take "2 billing cycles" which would delay the consumer from filing a fraud dispute through their bank until it is too late to use the FCBA or FRB Reg. E dispute process, allowing the company to "forget" to send the refund while leaving the consumer with no effective recourse.

    Do NOT leave any account open for which Peel has account information.  If consumers had originally closed accounts after "cancelling" their relationship with Peel, they would not now be seeing fraudulent charges.

    Since this fits existing patterns of false advertising and fraudulent charging reportedly engaged in by this company, file complaints with FTC, your state Attorney General, the Illinois Attorney General.
  • 0
    tj
    According to a comment by Detective T. Wilson of the Evanston Police on Dec. 2, Peel, Inc. has moved from Evanston IL, but the Illinois Attorney General is investigating them.  Contact Christopher Chestnut from the Illinois Attorney General's Office (IL).

    http://local.yahoo.com/info-33943943-seattle-coffee-direct-evanston

    "...
    Detective T. Wilson Evanston Police Department - 12/02/09
    Hello... THIS IS DETECTIVE WILSON with the Evanston Police Department. I'm not sure how my name got involved with this investigation, but I will attempt to post good information for you. I don't have this case and I have not heard of anything regarding this case until today. So this is what I can do to help. I was advised that Christopher Chestnut from the Attorney General's Office (IL) was in charge of this investigation. The company Seattle Coffee Direct is no longer in Evanston, IL Go to the Attorney General Office Webpage. www.ag.state.il.us 1. Click on the Protecting Consumer Tab with the picture of the credit card. 2. Click on the Consumer Complaint Form. (larger font and in Spanish available) 3. Follow ALL the instructions for filling out the complaint. Here is the contact information for them. LISA MADIGAN Illinois Attorney General Consumer Fraud Bureau 500 South Second Street Springfield, IL 62706 217-782-1090 1-800-243-0618 (Toll free in IL) TTY: 1-877-844-5461 www.IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov 
    ..."
  • 0
    tj
    Although according to Det. Wilson they may have moved from Evanston, their website still shows the Evanston address.

    http://www.peel.com/

    "...
    Peel, Inc.
    990 Grove St, Ste 204
    Evanston IL 60201

    Ph:  847-424-0954
    Fax: 847-424-0986
    ..."

    Complaints of "reactivated" cancelled accounts and new unauthorized charges
    are also showing up on Ripoffreport.com.  

    Also note repeated pattern of complaints that they promise a refund after merchandise is returned, but no merchandise was received to return.

    http://www.ripoffreport.com/Search/peel--inc_.aspx
  • 0
    TRobinson
    Same scam here...except the company making the unauthorized debit to my bank account is "Java Beanery Direct (.com).  No answer at any number I could find on my bank statement or on their website.  I, too, had a brief "trial" period with Seattle Direct many months ago and cancelled the account.  I have NEVER done business with "Java Beanery Direct".
  • 0
    tj
    Report that recent wave of "account reactivations" and unauthorized charges followed a change in ownership, and that Wells Fargo has had numerous complaints against them in the past 6 weeks.

    http://www.ripoffreport.com/miscellaneous-companies/posterpass-com/posterpass-com-especially-post-ce774.htm

    "...
    Posterpass.com Especially Posters charged my debit account 3 times for a total of $237. I cancelld my account over a year ago Evanston, Illinois
    ...

    Posterpass.com

    Evanston Illinois 60204
    United States of America
    Phone:  877-807-2929
    Web Address:  www.posterpass.com

    Category: Miscellaneous Companies

    Submitted: Thursday, December 03, 2009
    Posted: Thursday, December 03, 2009

    Over a year ago I cancelled my account with Poster Pass when I was unable to find the poster I wanted.  They have just charged my debit account 3 payments of $79.00 for a total of $237.00!  My bank has credited my account the monies stolen from me, so I am happy about that.  (God Bless Well Fargo).  They have had numerous complaints in the past 6 weeks.  The company was purchased recently and the new owner decided to charge all cancelled accounts for their monthly poster selection, but the site specifically states that the $6.58 charges will appear monthly.

    This company is a Rip-Off!  The bank is pursuing all complaints and will hopefully be filing charges against this Company.
    ..."
  • 0
    Gus
    I just filed a complaint with the BBB through a link I found here:

    https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/Yl5APfA3yAD8EgjMP-9p0w

    According to the information here, a large number of these cases have been resolved through the BBB:

    http://www.bbb.org/chicago/business-reviews/p ... 0239#govtaction

    Should I still contact Lisa Madigan like Det. Wilson says?  

    Thanks!
  • 0
    PENNY
    Someone is running a scam.  Got the same unarthurized charges on my card.  Am going to cancel my card.  Can't even get Seattle coffee works on phone
  • 0
    Wim
    They steal from me last year, as happen to many of you,  based on a recuest I sent in the net. At that time they (Poster Pass) still were answering the phone, and I got some of my money back after a lot of calls. Now again, with not any request , they bill me two times $79.  They are professional robbers!
  • 0
    Janet T.
    I accepted an internet offer thru Shop Dani and unknowingly was added to their club, which I didnt realize until the following week, when I recieved two packages from them. Each holding the same cheap chain only with a different polished ROCK on each. I called them and canceled any further shipments and told them to cancel my membership! I payed their charges to my credit card, only to protect my credit.

    This was aprox. 8 months ago and I have not had any trouble since...that is until last week.

    Last week I started receiving packages from a Company called Haute Jewlery Direct. I never heard of them and NEVER ordered anything from them.
    Again, two in one week...lord knows what these will cost me and I have repeatedly tried to call the only number, they list and never get an answer.

    If anyone starts a class action lawsuit against them, please include me! I dont know if these company can be tracked down because their address is a Post Office Box:
    HauteJewelryDirect
    P.O. Box 4004
    Evanston, IL 60204
    and there is no contact person or email address listed. These RIP OFF ARTISTS
    For now, all I can do is cancel out my credit card.
  • 0
    Dottie
    Hello ,
    I order the seattle coffee last year and then canceled it..guess what I am getting it again with out my permission,never ordered it this time ,they just sending. I keep calling no one ever answers the phone. It comes under  Cafe Saporito Seattle Coffee. I don't understand why they are sending me something I did not order. It is rude that they are not answering the phone.
  • 0
    Levonne R.
    I too have been ripped off by these con artist.  I believe they hire these reps to deliberatly lie to you. I am a very determined and persistent person, so therefore, I have called them everyday for the last 2 weeks.  I have left messages on their voicemails.  Seattle coffee/World Tea NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN.  I am looking into a class action suit.  I want my money and I want them out of business.  I am fighting mad in Mobile, AL.
  • 0
    Tam
    Same here, two unauthorized transactions last week for $79 from SeattleCoffee company over a year after I canceled a free offer. Just following up with my bank but will follow advice here to file a complaint. Any other suggestions for how to get my money back welcome!
    Tam
  • 0
    CP
    I have had to WEEKLY return to UPS coffee sent to me but not ordered and yet posted to my charge from Seattle coffee as well as a charge disputed from a place called DANI...some jewelry place according to what I looked up online.  I am extremely upset and frustrated as my credit card company constantly disputes these returns and they continue!   Any help would be appreciated.
  • 0
    tj
    The "jewelrey place" is the same company.
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