fraudulent withdrawals from my account
Complaint
IRENE HUFF
Country: United States
I had never heard of WC *BUDGET SAVERS MNTH until it showed up as an automatic withdrawel from my account. As bad timing would have it, I became preoccupied with family illness and subsequent funeral. When I again found the time and energy to address this problem, I found out it's a company I NEVER heard of and they say I authorized it. I NEVER authorize automatic withdrawels and I don't even use coupons, why would I request the services of a coupon clipping website? I am reporting this to our local police for fraud and theft and any other agency I can locate. I believe this may have been triggered by an internet purchase I made for "Aquabulbs" who, by the way, also ripped me off.
WC *BUDGET SAVERS MNTH broke into my account and stole 19.99 from me for 9 months.
WC *BUDGET SAVERS MNTH broke into my account and stole 19.99 from me for 9 months.
Comments
First, in my case, the got my information because of a $4.95 purchase I made last night on the website People Finders to determine who owned a phone number that was called by a girl who is trying to steal a friend of mine's identidy and she stole several belongings, including a phone, which she used, hense my purchase.
Budget Savers is actually administered, or owned and operated by a company called PROVELL, INC based on the terms in conditions section of their website but if you attempt to go to a website for Provell, it is literally one page that just includes an address. That should be an immediate red flag to people.
Per their terms and conditions anyone wishing to cancel their membership can call Customer Service, at 1-800-475-1942. I tested the number and it was a valid phone number.
But to all those concerned about signing up, my recommendation is not to. First most legitimate membership clubs will understand since your on a trial period you only have a limited amount of days to use their services so if you sign up, they will allow you to print a temporary membership card until the actual card and paperwork arrives by mail. Budget Savers does not offer this yet admitted your membership period starts the day you sign up and will make no guarantee how long it will even take to receive your membership card. In addition, their terms and conditions are quite concerning with the fact it states they can choose at any time to limit your membership benefits.
Also concerning, under their liability section it states "PROVELL assumes no liability for any products or services provided by a PROVELL vendor or marketing partner. You agree that any claim shall be made against the vendor of such products or services and not PROVELL." In the section right below again it states " From time to time We make portions of Our customer list available to carefully screened companies and organizations whose products or services may be of interest to you."
So I can guarantee you will be getting calls, services and god knows what else from third party companies by signing up for their membership.
Please remember people, all companies are in it to make money. The portion of people who keep trial memberships is very low, so assuming they are truly giving those who sign up $100 in gas vouchers they still need to make their money back somehow - and it's obvious they do that by selling your information to other companies who will then charge your credit card, since you signed up, and in a legal sense, their terms and conditions warn you of this so they can't be held at fault.
Coming from the industry I do, I recommend to those who find this website in the future to always ask for a companies website if they contact you and attempt to sell you a service. You should never sign up for anything without reading the terms and conditions on a website.
In addition, I also recommend always reading a companies privacy policy as well. I have seen several business names mentioned in these posts, and when I talked to them, they did not state they were owned by Provell, I was told they were representing a company called "Quality Resources."
But under their privacy agreement is clearly states:
The following policies are in effect for the domains, sub-domains and Web pages owned and operated by Provell, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, ("Provell"). The Provell network includes numerous membership marketing Web sites (the "Sites").
Provell may share your information with the following entities:
- Carefully selected third parties for marketing purposes;
- Third-party vendors who provide services or functions on our behalf, including credit card processing, business analytics, customer service, marketing, distribution of surveys or sweepstakes programs, and fraud prevention;
- Business partners with whom we may jointly offer products or services;
- Other companies within the Provell network.
Also, to all those under the assumption they will sign up and get $100 in gas vouchers in the mail, I was too told this however after reviewing their site found the vouchers are not mailed to you and must be printed off their site, and according to their FAQ it is $60 in vouchers, not $100 and since many state they never receive the paperwork at all, from what I gather without it, you are unable to ever create an account therefore you will never receive the gas vouchers anyways.
Read here for more information:
http://www.budgetsaversonline.com/section/543/page/2759
Regardless, to sum everything up, there are complaints everywhere on the internet about this company. It is my recommendation you do not accept their offer and still check your debit/credit card to make sure they don't still attempt to withdraw funds from your account.
If you read this and still sign up, if you get screwed, don't say you weren't warned
Your membership has been canceled and your account will be refunded.
Thank you,
Membership Services
The refund takes 3-5 days to appear on your account.
-----Original Message-----
From: rogle44@gmail.com
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2012 1:18 PM
To: membership@budgetsaversonline.com
Subject: RE: budgetsaversonline.com feedback
I didn't sign up for it. How id you get my card info and when will my account be refunded?
being billed for something I did not purcase, gave them my name and zip code (that's all)
and I received the same response the next day and my money was refunded the next day also.
Thanks for the info Rleigh.
Even the way they respond to e-mails are unprincipled and unethical. Make sure and block your credit card that they used. I filed a complaint with the BBB as well as the Affinion Group.
Truly a scam, so be very wary!
The phone # was 800-475-1942.
Budget Savers