Very unethical company
Companies like what I am going to tell you about have always existed and always will, but hopefully I can help a few people avoid paying for something they don't want.
I signed up for a free home business eBay toolkit (or at least I thought) on March 7th and was charged a $1.95 fee from a company called PW Eauction which has a real company name of Pacific Webworks. Two weeks later I was charged $59.90 from the same company. I never received any email confirmation about what it was I was charged for so I called the company.
When I spoke to Customer Service, I was told that when you sign up for the "free" product for $1.95 you are joining their Pacific Webworks product site, have access to their "Visual tools" (whatever those are), and get all this without really knowing it for $59.90 per month. Of course, how is it possible that anyone could miss clicking on the small link under "terms and conditions" and know that in fourteen days after being charged $1.95 you would get charged 30 times that amount?
I asked Customer Service if I was given an email confirmation and was told "yes", but he couldn't provide me with the email address it was sent to. I asked if it could be re-sent and he said no because it was computer generated. Finally, I asked for my refund which I was oh so surprised he said he couldn't give me.
I'm no lawyer, but I suppose if the terms state someone will be charged in fourteen days, no matter how ambiguous or "inconveniently" presented they are, then there is nothing that can be done. I have sent a dispute form to my credit card company and am hopeful they can do a chargeback.
Having now looked up this company on the internet, apparently there are countless cases of their unethical behavior and people not being able to get their money back. It must be nice that they can get at least a one time $60 payment from possibly thousands of people, the majority of which probably never access their website or use their services even one time. Easy money is why scumbag companies continue to exist.
So if anyone sees a site with "Profits Made Easy With eBay" or "eauctionsuccess", or anything with a harmless little form on the right side to get your "free" toolkit, make sure you read the terms, and follow them exactly as stated, or you'll just be another victim of a company that doesn't care if you don't know what you are buying so long as their cash register is going "ching, ching, ching."
Lastly, I know it's common sense, but we should always remember (especially me) that we first need to check out the companies we are giving our credit information, personal information, etc. online. I've signed up for even small seemingly harmless traffic exchanges, and have seen attempts to login into my Paypal account as a result of some of these companies being a tad on the shady side!
Victory!!!
I received this letter from my credit card company:
Found another name for this business!
You will sometimes come across an ad for the "Yahoo Success Center" which will bring you to a form page with titles like "Search Success Center" and "Yahoo Search Marketing." This is the same company, and you will get charged after the fourteen days if you're not careful and cancel quickly. I'm surprised Yahoo hasn't sued them yet for misleading people that they are somehow affiliated with them...
I haven't heard back yet from my credit company regarding reversing the charges, but will update when available.
4/10/08
I got an email today from Panda Research which is a survey company I had signed up for. They were going to pay me $16 to do a survey for the Search Success Center. The title was "Your Financial Freedom is Just a Click Away." It should say "Your financial loss is a click away!" This is another way this sneaky company gets victims --- partnering with legitimate companies.
4/14/08
Yet another incarnation!!!
Got an email ad for the QuickBooks Home Business Kit. Headline is "Big Solution, Big Opportunity! Simple Start Business Kit." These are the terms if you click their barely visible link:
By submitting this form I authorize Pacific WebWorks, Inc. to immediately charge my credit card $1.95 for the shipment of the QuickBooks Home Business Kit. I hereby request that Pacific WebWorks, Inc. activate my account and authorize them to advance funds as indicated. Monthly Service fees will commence 14 days from the date of this purchase, and will be billed monthly thereafter. After the 14 day trial you will be billed $49.90 monthly for the continued service of the website, website software and for the membership to the TradeWorks product club. No refunds will be given for failure to use the requested and provided services.
Update from Credit Card Company!
I received a letter today that stated they are investigating the charge and that I wouldn't be responsible for interest or paying it until their investigation was complete. They stated it could take 30 - 60 days! My fingers are crossed....Feedback
Has anyone had experience dealing with this company?
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shine_get
I've had atleast two charges from this company, but I had no idea what I was being charged for in the first place. When I read the bottom of your page that had "QuickBooks Home Business Kit" I realized what it was (typical that the product says nothing about eAuction). Posted April 26, 2008 |
Another Company doing the same thing: The Seller's Lounge
I wonder if this company is related to Pacific Webworks...
Oh, no, another site doing the same garbage called "The Seller's Lounge." I got a spam email about an eBay starter kit from them. For a "Limited Time Only" it is free. Their website is www.thesellerslounge.net, at least until it is taken down for fraud.
Do these terms and conditions look familiar: As more fully described below, after your risk-free 10 day trial, you'll be charged the monthly subscription fee of $49.95
Hmmmm.....as we know Pacific Webworks is based in Utah, and we know about their wonderful track record in the state. The Seller's Lounge provides this address for updating billing information:
If you would like to change or update your credit card or billing information, please call our Customer Service Team using our online 'contact us' form. You may give notice to us by certified U.S. Mail postage prepaid or by nationally recognized overnight courier to the following address:
The Sellers Lounge
Attn: General Counsel
831 E. 340 S.
Suite 200
American Fork, UT 84003
Is their any doubt who they are affiliated with? Why attn: General Counsel and not Billing Dept. or something.
The scariest thing of all is their chargeback terms which states if you initiate and win chargeback procedures with your credit card company, they will start chargeback reversal procedures. If they lose this, you will have an administrative fee of $500!
Holy cowburgers! Wake up Utah! You cannot have companies like this doing business in your state!!!!!
