Another "discount buying club", supposedly offering credit and id theft protection services, that based on other consumer complaints appears to be signing up and charging consumers' accounts without their authorization using information obtained from other websites.
Ripoffreport shows 15 similar complaints since the beginning of 2008.
From their BBB report: "Customer Experience
Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record BBB Definition:
unsatisfactory record - A company has an "unsatisfactory business performance record" with the BBB is based on the experiences reflected in BBB files. This file condition results when the company has failed to resolve or respond to complaints, repeatedly failed to respond or resolve issues in a timely manner, failed to resolve the underlying issues for a pattern BBB Definition:
pattern - More than 2 complaints involving the same allegations usually within 12 months that are significant in relation to the company's size and volume of business.
of complaints, failed to honor their commitment to mediate or arbitrate disputes or honor mediated agreements or arbitrated decisions, failed to substantiate, modify or discontinue false advertising claims BBB Definition:
advertising claims - The BBB reviews business advertising, (newspaper, magazine, TV, radio, internet) routinely to ensure that it is truthful and ethical. Claims in advertising are measured against basic advertising principles of the BBB Code of Advertising BBB Definition:
which was developed to guide advertisers, advertising agencies and advertising media.
that are challenged by the BBB, or failed to discontinue unauthorized use of the BBB name and logo, a Federally protected trademark.
with the Bureau due to a pattern BBB Definition:
pattern - More than 2 complaints involving the same allegations usually within 12 months that are significant in relation to the company's size and volume of business.
of complaints concerning unauthorized charges to consumer's credit cards.
Complaints reported to the Bureau primarily involve claims of unauthorized charges by the Company's affiliates. In such cases, customers reported no recollection of having agreed to the programs that were billed to their credit card, debit card or bank account. In some of the cases, consumers reported being charged for two or three years.
The company has responded to all complaints offering a full unconditional refund for such unauthorized charges, while also denying that any of its charges were not authorized by the customers. The company has stated that, with the consent of its customers, its practice is to tape record telephone transactions, including the terms of the agreement with the customer. The company asserts that the audio tapes clearly reveal that all customers are fully aware that their credit card, or other forms of payment, will be charged for the program if it is not cancelled within the trial period.
In response to customers who have complained about repeated charges over a period of years, the Company has stated that the terms the customers have agreed to include the automatic renewal of the membership each year at the then current price."
When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.
The BBB processed a total of 2128 complaints about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period.Of the total of 2128 complaints closed in 36 months, 753 were closed in the last year. ..."
Dispute the charge as fraudulent, in writing with your bank or credit card company. Also call your bank and immediately close that account and change account numbers to prevent future charges.
File complaints with FTC, your state AG, NE AG (since that is where they are headquartered), and the CT AG (since that is where the charge was allegedly made from). CT AG sued a similar company, Trilegiant, engaged in similar practices, in 2005.
0
tj
Also file a complaint thru Omaha NE BBB, since they appear to respond to such complaints and cancellation requests, even though they typically deny that the charge was unauthorized. Their unsatisfactory rating is based on a pattern of unfair business practices that they have failed to end.
0
LUISA FRANCO
I WAS CHARGE 29.95 FOR SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T NOT GIVE MY APPROVAL... AND A NOTHER THING HOW DID U GET MY ACCT. # TO DO THE'S THIS WITHDRAWL'S... I WOULD LIKE MY MONEY BACK...
0
Sherry
I was charged $29.95, I did not give may approval for this charge. I am unemployed and presently living in a shelter and trying to get back my life back together, this is a complication that I do not need right now.
0
Michelle Wallach
This is 100% PURE FRAUD. Close your account that the withdrawels are coming from immediately. Don't believe the vendor if they say they are going to issue you a credit. They may but most of the time THEY DON'T. They make all kinds of excuses as to why they haven't gotten around to it. This is a huge scam. Chase Bank is doing an extensive investigation into them. I had to sign an affidavet regarding the fraud charges. There are 1000's of complaints against them to the BBB and Attorney Generals...Help put them out of business - take action!!!
0
Jim
AP9*PRIVACYMATTERS IS A COMPLETE FRAUD. THEIR ON-LINE CREDIT REPORT OFFER IS A SCAM. i WAS CHARGED $19.95 A MONTH WITHOUT PERMISSION AGAINST MY CREDIT CARD FOR A CREDIT REPORT THAT i DID NOT RECEIVE.
0
steph
They did the same thing to me i called the CT 877-993-6264 number and canceled the membership. good thing i looked at my credit card statement.
0
Dianna
I have been charged since october every month twice 1.00, 1.00 and 19.95 and 19.95. I have called the number above every month. Well here it is April now this is adding up to lots of money. I will have to go in and change the account number to get rid of them. Why can't we get our money back? Can we all get together and sue the company?
0
Dianna
Write also to Privacy Matters 9500 West dodge Road Ohio Ne. 68114
This is suppose to be the head office. I have just been charged more money again.
0
daniel
i have had almost $90.00 takin from my bank account within the month of march and cant seem to contact anyone to have the problem resolved this company is a fraud
0
daniel
I have it happen to me also Dianna lots of billed charges for 1.00 and 19.95 but yet cannot contact anyone from the company
0
dan
we received many deductions from this company and many other with close to the same name like AP9* and then the name, when we finally contacted them he lied to us and said they were not from the same company and when we started to name them all off he got real quiet and then said yes they were from the same company some how this is a fraud and we are suppose to get our $90.00 back within 2-3 days for their sake i hope they do
0
carolee
this is total BULL----! I never gave permission to deduct ANY amount from my account! This was supposed to be FREE!!!!!! This puts people who are just trying to get their credit re-built, in worse position than they are already and even furthur behind with NO PROGRESS. I am way past asngry and ready to do something about it!
0
Phillip
OK, who has actually gotten any money back? Everyone is complaining, but has anyone done anything else? Im a soldier in Iraq. Do you think I need this either. I want to find out how to get my money back. Thats it.
0
Raj
I have beed charged the 29.95 USD and 1.00 per every month what i need to do for the cancelllation of this in my credit card statement it is showing the AP9*PRIVACYMATTERS12-V
0
Christina
I've had this same problem also..for about 6 months now..I called the number and cancelled my account, and also got a hold of someone, they said they would put the money back in my account and not take out any further transactions. I advise you all to call and do the same but make sure you get their name and id number..and CALL BACK IF U DONT GET YOUR REFUND!!
0
carl
call 1-877-993-6264 to stop any further charges. got this number from Chase credit card services who happened to have it right at his hand-- ah ha!!!!!
0
xmarine
I had no clue who this company was that took $61.90 out of my account. I checked my bank statement and noticed these charges. I Google(d) their name and got their phone number. I called them and they were going to refund 1 month, but after I told the Supervisor that I was going to call my bank and file fraud charges against them, I was told that I would be given a full refund within 2 days. We'll see
0
anna
Curious about my credit score I signed up to view my score. I cancelled the same month and was still charge a 1.00 plus 29.95 (what happen to the one month for a 1.00?) I notice my January bank statement and there was another charge I figure that the automate system did not process my cancellation. I called. I detail my bank statement again July and there was another unauthorize debit on my account. I called them stated that they were debitting my account without my promission. Stop now and reimburst my monies..as I had before 3-other cancellations. I called my bank for advice they said get a letter stating this. I called back could not get through due to my cancellation. I called my bank and explained. Bank has a different #. She call and we had a conference call documented by the bank of my problem. This rep. promised that I will receive 29.95 x 12 plus 12 x 1.00 Totally $362.99. I had the bank document this conversation and I have cancelled that debit card that they have on file. Wish me luck.
0
RMC
My case is very similar to anna's although I have only been charged twice and I did call and cancel. In fact, at the end of the "free credit score" I opted out but that didn't seem to count. I will send them a letter as well as the BBB and the AG. Talk about being sucker-punched!! Makes me feel pretty dumb about trust. Good luck to all of us in our pusuit of justice.
Comments
Ripoffreport shows 15 similar complaints since the beginning of 2008.
From their BBB report:
"Customer Experience
Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record
BBB Definition:
unsatisfactory record - A company has an "unsatisfactory business performance record" with the BBB is based on the experiences reflected in BBB files. This file condition results when the company has failed to resolve or respond to complaints, repeatedly failed to respond or resolve issues in a timely manner, failed to resolve the underlying issues for a pattern
BBB Definition:
pattern - More than 2 complaints involving the same allegations usually within 12 months that are significant in relation to the company's size and volume of business.
of complaints, failed to honor their commitment to mediate or arbitrate disputes or honor mediated agreements or arbitrated decisions, failed to substantiate, modify or discontinue false advertising claims
BBB Definition:
advertising claims - The BBB reviews business advertising, (newspaper, magazine, TV, radio, internet) routinely to ensure that it is truthful and ethical. Claims in advertising are measured against basic advertising principles of the BBB Code of Advertising
BBB Definition:
BBB Code of Advertising - http://www.bbb.org/membership/codeofad.asp
which was developed to guide advertisers, advertising agencies and advertising media.
that are challenged by the BBB, or failed to discontinue unauthorized use of the BBB name and logo, a Federally protected trademark.
with the Bureau due to a pattern
BBB Definition:
pattern - More than 2 complaints involving the same allegations usually within 12 months that are significant in relation to the company's size and volume of business.
of complaints concerning unauthorized charges to consumer's credit cards.
Complaints reported to the Bureau primarily involve claims of unauthorized charges by the Company's affiliates. In such cases, customers reported no recollection of having agreed to the programs that were billed to their credit card, debit card or bank account. In some of the cases, consumers reported being charged for two or three years.
The company has responded to all complaints offering a full unconditional refund for such unauthorized charges, while also denying that any of its charges were not authorized by the customers. The company has stated that, with the consent of its customers, its practice is to tape record telephone transactions, including the terms of the agreement with the customer. The company asserts that the audio tapes clearly reveal that all customers are fully aware that their credit card, or other forms of payment, will be charged for the program if it is not cancelled within the trial period.
In response to customers who have complained about repeated charges over a period of years, the Company has stated that the terms the customers have agreed to include the automatic renewal of the membership each year at the then current price."
When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.
The BBB processed a total of 2128 complaints about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period.Of the total of 2128 complaints closed in 36 months, 753 were closed in the last year.
..."
Dispute the charge as fraudulent, in writing with your bank or credit card company. Also call your bank and immediately close that account and change account numbers to prevent future charges.
File complaints with FTC, your state AG, NE AG (since that is where they are headquartered), and the CT AG (since that is where the charge was allegedly made from). CT AG sued a similar company, Trilegiant, engaged in similar practices, in 2005.
Can we all get together and sue the company?
Privacy Matters
9500 West dodge Road
Ohio Ne. 68114
This is suppose to be the head office. I have just been charged more money again.