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Home » Categories » Business » Business Ethics » What to Do When You Get Ripped Off by Smart Savings Center » Printer Friendly

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What to Do When You Get Ripped Off by Smart Savings Center

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Submitted Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Mogama (14,610)
Mogama

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All you wanted to do was buy a book or some other item on the Internet. You see a great price, and you jump on it. Then the deal gets sweeter, as you compare prices, using one of those price comparison sites. Along with the deep discount, you're getting free shipping too, and that's because you are a first-time buyer. Yes! Unlike your less informed peers, you are that tech savvy online shopper that pays $6 for a $19 book.

Perhaps you decided to to the transaction at Amazon dot com, or Hot Book Sale dot com, or another site, where Smart Savings Center lurks behind the screen. Approximately 8 days or more after the deal, you'll be sounding like one of these folks who got ripped off by Smart Savings Center, not to mention me and my wife who fell victim to Smart Savings Center's sneaky scheme.

If you want to read the complaints of others who have been ripped off like this, just type into your browser's search box the words, "smart savings center scam" or something like that (without the quotation marks).

I read of one victim whose membership fee was later increased from $9.99 per month to $14.95. This person was charged for several months; he reported his experience to the Complaints Board. Another lady, charged $12.95 per month, thought the fee came from her credit card company. Months later she called to be sure, and the credit card issuer referred her to a purchase she had made on Amazon dot com; it was for an XBox. Smart Savings Center had signed her up automatically.

For my wife and me, Smart Savings Center charged each of us $29.95 for the membership we didn't know about. My charge appeared on January 12, even before they have posted the charge for the book that I actually bought from a different website that was not called Smart Savings dot whatever.

Have you noticed that Smart Savings Center charges different amounts to different victims? That first victim mentioned above was charged $9.95 per month. The next person was charged $12.95. I was charged $29.95. They may be charging the victim based on his or her credit score, or something odd like that. If I'm right, then the higher your credit score, the more Smart Savings Center will take from you.

Then I found out that they sent me a Welcome Email after my purchase. That email instructed me to cancel my membership within 7 days, or be charged the first one-month membership fee.

"What membership?" I asked out loud. "I just wanted to buy a book at a good price, not join a savings club!"

I called the toll-free number, 1-800-511-6538, two days in a roll, and get the same recording over and again. Each time the machine tells me I'm caller #4 or #11. Seconds later, I am caller #1, "waiting to speak with a customer service representative". OK, I'm eager to speak with a customer representative. That's when I hear that the volume of call is high, and I can press 1 to leave a voice message to be called back. Dead end. Time wasted.

Next, I call my bank to report the fraudulent charge, telling the lady on the line that I had used my debit card to purchase a book online, but was charged a membership fee, while the charge for the book has not yet shown up on my online transaction record. The bank lady instructs me to open a dispute by writing and faxing a letter to the Dispute Department. In the letter, I should include my contact information plus phone number. I must also mention my debit card number, transaction date, amount of the charge, reason for the dispute, and my signature.

The reason for this letter to the bank is to reverse the current Smart Savings Center $29.95 charge. It will take at least 10 business days after the bank receives my letter to process the dispute.

I signed in to my forced Smart Savings account. At the bottom of the page, I click on Support to submit a Support Ticket, asking them to refund my money and that of my wife's. We'll probably have to do a separate Support Ticket for my wife, using her Smart Savings Center account.

In reply to the Support Ticket, I get an auto response from Smart Savings Center, saying they'll address my issue in 3 business days.

Learning from another victim's complaint, I return to the Support page of Smart Savings Center. On the left panel, I click Cancel Membership. This is necessary to prevent future charges. I receive another auto email that says my membership has been canceled. I remain hopeful that Smart Savings Center will not charge me again.

Important: If you buy anything online and receive a Welcome Email from Smart Savings Center, find your login ID, and us it to log in to your account. Then proceed to the Support link and use the Cancel Membership tab as discussed above to cancel your forced membership with these crooks before the 7 days of free membership are over .

Geez! And I thought I just wanted to buy a book! It's businesses like these that will make people gun-shy about shopping online, especially if such dubious businesses are using supposedly reputable sites like Amazon dot com to dig their dirt. Based on this experience, there's no way I'm buying anything from Amazon, unless I learn otherwise. Unless Amazon dot com cuts all ties with Smart Savings Center, consumers can't help but conclude that the two entities are in cahoot.

PS: Just to emphasize how determined these thieves are, on March 27, 2009, I received this email from Smart Savings Center, which continues to charge my account a $1 monthly membership fee, regardless of the fact that I asked them over 2 months ago to cancel my membership, and they replied to confirm the account had been canceled:

"Our goal is to ensure you have the best discounts on 1,000's of brand name
products and services. We strive to provide the highest level of quality and
customer service. We've continued to meet and exceed the expectations of our members thanks to great customers like you. Effective immediately, your $1 Program membership will increase from $1.00 monthly to $1.00 semimonthly. We wish to thank you for your
valued account and know that you will understand the necessity for this price
increase. If you have any questions regarding this increase or any other matters, please
feel free to contact us by sending a Support Ticket at http://www.smartsavingscenter.com/esg/support_ticket.aspx. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you!"

I emailed them this reply: "It's been at least 2 months ago since I asked Smart Savings Center to cancel my membership. But you continue to charge me your $1 monthly fee. And now you want to increase it to $2 per month? Please stop stealing my money. CANCEL MY MEMBERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. I do not need or want your service, so stop charging me every month for service I do not use or need. Thank you."


Born in Liberia, West Africa. Migrated to America in 1991. Motivational speaker. Spiritual leader. Life Coach. Writer/Author. Blogger. Founder of Church For All. Website, mogama.com.
       
 


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Comments on this article:


» left by Regina Chea from United kingdom, London (168 days 21 hours ago.)
well this is what the world has come, everybody want's to make something out of another. I was dupe out of (£800) eight hundred pounds last August. The so call billioneers are desprate, we just have to be careful with whom we  share our details with, it is now we are going to fine out who's the real thief.

Respond to this comment
» left by Mogama (14,646)
Mogama
(168 days 20 hours ago.)

Happy New Year, Regina. Sorry about your financial loss there. You have expressed yourself very by your comments. ~mogama~
Respond to this comment

» left by Anonymous (160 days 17 hours ago.)
hello, I too got scammed trying to save some money on textbooks on 1/12/09. I canceled my "membership" on 1/13/09 after I realized from the email that they sent to me that I had become a member. I was never charged the 29.00 fee but, there are now two charges of $1 each to my credit card, one from 1/12 and another on 1/17! after I thought I had canceled. I called them today to see why I was still being charged and they told me I had to both cancel over the phone and on line as you did. My point being, if I were you I would try to call them and cancel over the phone as well and get cancellation number. I too hope that there are no more mystery charges, because I really don't want to cancel my credit card as my bank is telling me. Good luck!
 
Crista Y.

Respond to this comment
» left by Mogama (14,646)
Mogama
(160 days 15 hours ago.)

I envy you, Crista, because you actually reached them by phone! Wow! That's an achievement you should be proud of, because I never could get anyone on the phone. Good thing is they have finally refunded the membership fee, and I have contacted my bank to block any future charges from these crooks. I'm watching to see if they've still got a rabbit in their hat, in which case I may consider unleashing a Pitt Bull on them. Thanks for sharing your experience; it helps. ~mogama~
Respond to this comment

» left by Anonymous (158 days 23 hours ago.)
We had this happene, however we canceled the account prior to the 7 days and have been charge $1 for the two month since. We called after the first $1 charge and they said they canceled the account--even have a cancelation email. And now we have another charge. Have tried to contact the company and they will "call us back". Have contacted the bank to open a dispute.

Respond to this comment
» left by Mogama (14,646)
Mogama
(158 days 20 hours ago.)

Sorry about your trouble. It'll be great when the authorities shut down Smart Savings Center. This is not a business; it's a scam. ~mogama~
Respond to this comment

» left by Anonymous (154 days 1 hour ago.)
Reader Rating: 5 out of 5
I've had the same problems everyone else has. Luckily I caught the $1 charge before the 7 day membership was over. I canceled online AND I canceled on the phone and got a cancellation number from the customer service rep.
 
HOWEVER... I had to insist on talking to a customer service rep. They kept asking me if someone could call me back because of the high amount of callers. I repeatedly had to say that they CANNOT call me back, and that I would wait on the phone until a customer service rep was available.
 
DO NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER! DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION IMMEDIATELY AND GET A CANCELLATION CONFIRMATION NUMBER AS WELL AS CANCELING ONLINE!

Respond to this comment
» left by Mogama (14,646)
Mogama
(131 days 18 hours ago.)

Good for you for being so brutal on the scam artists! ~mogama~
Respond to this comment

» left by Julie from Scranton, PA (131 days 19 hours ago.)
Fought with them, got our money back ( you must insist) We filed a report with the Better Business Bureau in West Palm Beach FL - I would suggest you do the same.

Respond to this comment
» left by Mogama (14,646)
Mogama
(131 days 18 hours ago.)

With determined actions like yours, it is possible we can shut down some of the Internet scammers. Thanks for doing your part. ~mogama~
Respond to this comment

» left by Anonymous (120 days 21 hours ago.)
you people are ignorant....read disclosure and terms and agreement....it is on there!

Respond to this comment
» left by Mogama (14,646)
Mogama
(120 days 14 hours ago.)

Oh, dear intelligent one! I guess it's also in the agreement to keep charging me the monthly $1 fee even after Smart Savings Center has confirmed canceling my account, ahn? These guys are crooks, and I hope the authorities will do their job to shut down this scam, so the world can have one less bunch of thieves on the Internet. ~mogama~

Respond to this comment
» left by Brian K. Dube from East Waterboro, Maine (114 days ago.)
Anonymous, How long have you been on Smart Savings payroll ?? I went back and nowhere does it mention a monetary fee amount of any such kind. Why does the credit card charge change per individual as Mogama says ?  My rip off was 29.95. You make me sick. Next time,  get a name. 
Respond to this comment

» left by Ron from OKC (107 days 23 hours ago.)
Reader Rating: 4.5 out of 5
I wish I had seen these comment sooner! I have been fighting with smart savings for over 2 weeks all over a damn $5.00 DVD that they was trying to charge me $19.95 for membership and $1.00 a month! I got my cancellation numbers and now looks like I am going to cancel my card!

Respond to this comment
» left by Mogama (14,646)
Mogama
(107 days 20 hours ago.)

Hopefully you won't lose any money to these scam artists. ~mogama~
Respond to this comment

» left by Anonymous (106 days 16 hours ago.)
Reader Rating: 4 out of 5
I too have been a victim of Smart Savings Center. I ordered a simple book online and they began charging my credit card. I got the same phone run around and eventually filed a complaint with the Florida Attorney General's office. I received the paperwork today with a cover letter saying the office is conducting an investigation into the company pursuant to Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. I really wish every victim would file an online complaint to Florida's AG office.

Respond to this comment
» left by Mogama (14,646)
Mogama
(106 days 5 hours ago.)

I applaud you for taking the bold action of filing a complaint with the attorney general's office. You could help put these guys out of business. Thanks for the move, and I wish you success. ~mogama~
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