Unauthorized Charges
Complaint
Wendy Wood
Country: United States
WC Vaule Plus and SEM Valus Plus have been charging my credit card on a regular basis since June 2010. I did not authorize these charges and want the money refunded to my credit card
Comments
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/_EHl ... LWQALHQjMaQ7uEA
Because their fraudulent charges have been going on for more than 60 days, you may find your bank only reverses the last 60 days of charges.
Disputing under FRB Reg. E (for checking accounts), or FCBA (for credit cards) is normally your best protection against unauthorized charges, but the dispute periods under these regulations is only 60 days from the statement date of the statement showing the charges. That may get your money back through your bank for 2 or 3 months. Statute of limitations for unauthorized charges may be 1 year however, so in theory you could sue, but that is seldom of practical value for small charges fraud.
The Senate Commerce Committee has been investigating deceptive practices in connection with this and similar companies. Some complaints indicate that these companies have refunded amounts back beyond 60 days, if the complaints are made through channels that might make them publicly visible. They are taking heat for deceptive marketing, and may be trying to limit damage to their image to forestall legislative action. As a result, they may be subject to pressure for refunds of the total amount of unauthorized charging.
First dispute through your bank immediately to get back what you can, and close your account due to fraud to block additional losses. Then raise up the heat.
Both VISA and MasterCard are aware of high rates of disputed charges involving this and similar "discount club" scams. Their merchant partners were passing account information following other purchases. VISA now requires that the card number be separately entered to authorize signing up for such "discounts" (which seldom result in any saving to the consumer). If this was a VISA card, those rules would have been in effect at the time your card number was obtained to produce your first unauthorized charge, but the merchant might not have been complying with them.
To apply pressure to get the rest, file fraud complaints through BBB, FTC, and your state Attorney General, and contact the offices of Sen. Jay Rockefeller.
Thanks