Unauthorized "membership" charge

ComplaintsUnsolicited Phone CallsSEM Budget Savers

Complaint

0
Ike Hatchimonji
Country: United States
September 25, 2010, my MC was charged $24.95 without my knowledge or authorization. I called SEM budget Savers and complained. I was told I would be credited. Let's see if they do.

Comments

12345...678910Next
  • 0
    mel.
    I to have fallen victim to this scam!!!I just called Budget savers,,they have promised to reimburse 2 payments of 29.95!!I NEVER AUTHORIZED!!!! they said 3to 5 buissness days... lets see!!
  • 0
    rhughesI
    I was taken for $29.95 the same way.
  • 0
    Old Timer
    Thanks for the number.  I just fell for this same scam even though I should have known better.
  • 0
    roberts
    no gas card now i am complaing to the state attorney general but dont think it will help they have a lot of other thingsd to do but dont worry about us little people but waite unil election comes around
  • 0
    CMCUNITED
    This is a scam folks.  Yes you will "eventually" get a package.  Here is how it works:  you place an order for a TV product.  You get a call from SEM offering you a "14 day trial" to review the budget savers product for $1.  You are informed that a charge will appear on your credit card if you do not cancel within the 14 day period.  THE CATCH: They will intentially make sure your product is not shipped to you until the 14 days has expired.  The hope is you will receive the product on day 16 and call to cancel.  OOPS.. you have already been billed for the first month membership.  This is devious and I can't believe the FTC allows this to happen (SHAME).  IF you call within the first 14 days to cancel, then you should not be charged.  YES, even though you have not received the product yet.  What a scam.
  • 0
    art and candy
    we was scamed by sem budget savers today. it caused our bank to charge a 32.00 overdraft fee. we called the bank and they said this was the 2nd payment they have took out. tommorow we will change the number on our debt card. we knew nothing about what it was for. this is so wrong. we should sue there ass.
  • 0
    Joyce
    I am with you, keep me posted
  • 0
    dan
    I have had three charges of 29.95 to my account after I have requested that the account be closed and canceled. I want all of this money put back onto my account with no questions asked.D
  • 0
    jimmy jackson
    they did the same to taking 2995 from may 2011 and i cant get in touch with them
  • 0
    Essie Brown
    I had exactly this same thing happen.  We ordered the sun glasses from the EV ad. They called and wanted to sell me a bunch of memberships.  I said "no" to everything.  They said they would send the packet, along with the $l00.00 in free gas.  They gave me a number to call if I wanted to cancel.  I called my credit card holder and tried to cancel and get a new card.  They refused.  The packets arrived - no gas coupon.  I called all numbers given me for cancellation, and they were very courteous and said they would cancel, but our credit card shows a charge of $29.95, for stuff we didn't want.  I will NEVER order anything online, by TV or radio commercials no matter how much I want it.  These crooks need to be prosecuted!!
  • 0
    TA
    Call the 800 number in your membership package and tell them you want to cancel.  I caught it soon enough that I had only paid the $1 initial charge and the $29.95 charge that came exactly 14 days after first talking to them and exactly the same day I received my membership package.  I called the number, told them that I did not want to continue and that I wanted the money refunded.  I was assured that it would be returned, both the $1 charge and the $29.95 charge within 5 days.  The refund showed up in my account 4 days later.

    YOU HAVE TO CALL THEM!  

    I think they have had so much trouble in the past that they are now refunding upon demand.  For those that let it go too long I can't guarantee that you will get a full refund but it is worth a try.  Don't let it go past that first deduction is the key.

    The number to call is:  1-800-475-1942.  They recognized who I was from caller ID but try to have your membership number handy.  It would have been included in your membership package.
  • 0
    Sharron
    I'm so glad to have done a search on the internet re Sem*Budget Savers and found this forum.  Now I know I'm not crazy.  I called the # listed with the item for $29.95 on June  Discover bill and was told I authorized their offer on the phone.  Neither my husband or I recall or would do that. They said they would cancel, however it appeared again on the July statement so I called again.  This time I was told there were 2 phone #'s listed for me.  One was my home #in Indiana the other was an area code in Tennessee. We never lived in TN & haven't been to TN for over 15 years. With all the above comments verifying this scam I will contact Discover again and let them dispute it.  What a shame innocent folks  are being cheated by this scum.
  • 0
    Fraud Victim
    My husband got the call from SEM Budget while I was at the store the other day and bought into their scam about a 'free trial offer' with a free 100 dollar gas car. I was furious when he excitedly told me about this offer. I knew it was a fraud as our account has been hacked before. Today there was (4) $1.00 charges pending on my bank account. One from SEM Budget, one from TLG Shoppe, one from TLG Great Fun... I called the bank and immediately notified them of this fraudulent activity. At this point, they say that there is nothing they can do until the charges post. My husband is currently calling SEM Budget to cancel this 'free' membership. I am furious with him to say the least. As soon as these charges post, my bank refunds the money and any debits (or checks) that we've made come in, I'm closing my account and opening another one. It's the easiest (best way) to deal with fraud.
  • 0
    sherry
    this is same thing happening to my elderly mothers account. going to file a police repot and change her bank account. hope whoever is doing this gets caught.
  • 0
    Michelle
    these [***] did an unauthorized transaction on my acct twice. i notified my bank and they will investigate.I do not know who they are or never heard of them. all i know s that i better receive my refund.
  • 0
    S.LINDO
    Same thing happened to me. I purchased a packet of Patch Perfect grass seeds and they told me to hold...someone else came on the phone....next thing I know I am getting billed. Never asked for anything other than the grass seed which I paid for....how can we report them or file a class action lawsuit??? I want my money back
  • 0
    Sally P
    Well they got me too when I ordered something advertised on T.V. I have serious doubs taking it to the Att. Gen. will help. This has been going on for a long time according to these complaints.
    I will be at my bank tomorrow when they open. Going to close the acct. and open another one. Also will find out how to get in touch with my banks dispute center.
    That is the very last time I order anything on t.v., internet, catalogs, they only hit me once. they wont get another chance.
    u2m4
  • 0
    Linda
    I got charged for 2 diffrent companies I called my credit card company had my card closed out thses people need a kick in the butt the scamers!! I wont answer anymore calls on the phone or the computer I hatte this when someone takes your money!!!
  • 0
    Douglas Nelson
    They sent me a letter stating that they would refund the $59.90 to my account within 8-10 days.  My next bank statement charged me another $29.95.  I called the 800 number and got a guy who says he only sells batteries. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! How suspicious is that!!!!!!!!!! Let us get these guys.  I learned my lesson....do not buy on the internet or the late night calls to purchase a doggie loungee....once they get ahold of your infomation......it goes out to the ethers....thank you friends....I am happy that I am not alone...God Bless
  • 0
    Belinda
    I just started going through my mother's credit card statements and bank statements to pay her bills. She is 77 and has been diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. I have found repeated charges on all three credit cards for sem value plus, sem budget savers,tlggreat fun,and north shore marketing that go back for months. They are also accessing her checking account through e checks multiple times each billing cycle.
    She has no idea who these people are. She never uses the internet so they had to use telemarketing. This is not only a scam but a criminal enterprise.
    I am reporting this to the attorney general in my state and others should too.
12345...678910Next

Post a new comment