Buyer's (dis)Advantage

[Slartibartfast]

Are any of you familiar with Buyer's Advantage?

If you aren't, then you're lucky.

Let me explain how their 'business' works.

You suddenly find a charge for 79.99 on your credit card. It comes from somehow having been enrolled in this program called Buyer's Advantage.

Maybe you cashed a check that was really an enrollment form, or maybe you signed somewhere on your credit card bill that you wanted to be enrolled, or maybe they've 'slammed' you the way long distance companies used to enroll you without you knowing.

The end result is that if you don't call them to cancel this plan, you are enrolled in it for life and they will bill you every year to your credit card.

Both my parents are elderly, and while I try to watch what they do financially, but it's not always easy.

Somehow my mother got this charge on her credit card, and I know she didn't willingly enroll in it, but maybe she signed something without knowing it, I really have no immidiate way of finding out, but I'm going to try to find out how she got enrolled in this. What I do know is that I am making a phone call to cancel it tomorrow.

A few years ago, I had to call them and get them to pay back the 79.99 charge from my dad's credit card, so this is my second time at least with this company. I think I got some papers for it from my credit card company, but I am very careful with those.

The upside is that if you cancel this plan, they do retract the bill. The downside is if you don't notice the charge and don't do anything.

I swear, this company (and others like it) ranks lower than telemarketers, and that is way way fucking low.

[elSicomoro]

My suspicion in your parents' case is that they probably got a call through one of their credit card companies, didn't think twice about signing up or got caught up in the telemarketer's spiel, then forgot to cancel.

From my experience, they usually call you (mine have come through my Citi Cards account). Though I believe I've also received $3-10 checks that, when cashed, activate your membership. (I can't specifically recall getting something like this for Buyers Advantage, but have for similar programs.)

Are you an authorized user on their accounts, Slarti? If so, I would contact the credit card companies with whom they have accounts, and ask each of them to put you/your parents on their "do not call" lists, and ask for a confirmation letter to be sent to you (IIRC, both requests must be fulfilled by law).

[Sun_Sparkz]

what troubles me is that these companies actually get hundreds of people to work FOR them. some ppl have no concience. hope it all gets sorted for you Syc.

[Sun_Sparkz]

no, i dont mean slarti. i dont know what slarti means.

[Sun_Sparkz]

hahaha. ok i just saw what i just did.

duh.

everybody point and laugh...

[elSicomoro]

Slartibartfast is the person who is taking issue with this company (and is the creator of this thread). I was merely stating my theory as to what might have happened with his parents and offering examples of how the company might operate.

I had a problem with them one time. I took them up on their offer in the late 90s, decided I wasn't interested and called to cancel. I got a lot of lip from the person I spoke to, got hung up on and called back and ripped the supervisor a new asshole. The initial person I spoke to was dumb enough to give me his full name.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I keep getting a check for $2.50 with my credit card bills. The very fine print says if I cash it, I'm enrolled in this bullshit Slarti described.

[Slartibartfast]

I really think it had to be something they signed or cashed, because I know they ignore all telemarketers. Its really easy for them, someone calls in english, and they just claim not to speak it, then hang up on them.

I'm going to demand to ask what it was my mom did to become enrolled.
They have to have something, and if they don't have anything, I'm ticked off enough to look into per-se-qeutin or li-tu-gate-in, and cancelling the credit card, and mailing them a dead kitten or a rotting salmon or something.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Look for a bank deposit of a couple bucks.

[OnyxCougar]

Better Business Bureau at Fort Worth
101 Summit Ave., Suite 707
Fort Worth, TX 76102

BBB Reliability Report

PRIVACY GUARD
P O BOX 1288
ARLINGTON, TX 76004
(203) 956-1000
Phone Number: (203) 956-1000
Type-of-Business Classification(s): OTHER SERVICES
File Open Date: March 27, 1996

The information in this report has either been provided by the company, or has been compiled by the Bureau from other sources.

Customer Experience

According to information in BBB files, the firm first came to our attention 03.27.96. The firm offers membership services as a part of Cendant Membership Svcs Inc, a membership based discount service co. The company for a fee will provide information on how to obtain your credit report.

Complaints brought to the firm's attention by the BBB concern selling practices and length of time for promised refunds when the service is cancelled. Specifically, complaints allege the firm made an unauthorized debit to the customers credit card or checking account. The company has responded by stating, "We generally offer a trial membership designed to encourage members to try the service for a few months with no obligation to continue. We always process any cancellation request promptly. If a customer is dissatisfied with the services under the program, the company will refund the full purchase price at anytime during the annual membership."

On Sept. 8, 1999, the BBB met with Privacy Guard to discuss the pattern of complaints. The company has agreed to work with the BBB to eliminate the basic cause of their complaints. The company has asked that customers with a complaint first contact Stephanie Splawn at 757-687-2913. The company also stated to the BBB "We are in the process of reviewing and changing our customer service procedures."

If you have questions concerning your credit report, you may wish to contact a credit reporting agency. A credit reporting agency may charge you up to $8.00 for a copy of your report. Three credit reporting agencies are; Experian, 800.682.7654, Equifax, 800.685.1111 and Trans Union, 800.916.8800.

Additional Information

Additional Doing-Business-As Names: BUYERS ADVANTAGE
CENDANT CORPORATION
SHOPPERS ADVANTAGE
Additional Phone Numbers: 817-652-8002

Report as of 01/12/2004

Copyright 2004 Better Business Bureau at Fort Worth

As a matter of policy, the Better Business Bureau does not endorse any product, service or company. BBB reports generally cover a three-year reporting period, and are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Information contained herein is believed reliable but not guaranteed as to accuracy. Reports are subject to change at any time.

[hot_pastrami]

This kind of business is slimy. They give you a few month's service for "FREE!," and tell you that you can cancel at any time during the "FREE!" trial, and never be charged. They then take a low profile so you'll forget they even exist, and on the off chance you notice the discreet annual charge to your account, they make it exceedingly difficult to cancel service. Every time I talk to someone at the credit card company, they try to peddle this "Account Guard" type of bullshit, and they don't want to take No for an answer. Luckily I have no qualms about being firm about my negative answer.

CC rep: "But sir! It's free! And it's a great service to protect you against fraudulent use of your credit card!"
Me: "In my eyes, that 'service' IS fraudulent use of my credit card"
CC rep: "Oh no, it's a valuable service which can save you thousands of dollars! There's no obligation... if you're not satisfied, you can cancel anytime! So can we get you signed up today?"
Me: "I'm already not satisfied with it, so cancel it now."
CC rep: "But sir...!"
Me: "Nothing that you can possibly say will EVER convince me to even consider signing up for this borderline criminal service."
CC rep: "Well, if you change your mind, just call 1-800..."
Me: Click

My grandmother started signing up for garbage like this, as well as sending her life savings to sweepstakes companies (legitimate and otherwise). Nobody could tell her it was bullshit, and nobody could tell her that you don't have to buy anything to be entered in a sweepstakes, by law. So eventually my pop just started intercepting her mail, and weeding out the crap before she could see it. Maybe you'll have to take a similar approach. I'm assuming your parents are elderly. If not, then I'd just tell them that semi-legal and illegal scamming is at epidemic proportions, and to say No to ANY deal with a "free trial, cancel anytime" format. Also, if they don't know WHY they got a check in the mail, they need to look at it VERY closely.

[wolf]

I have a friend who falls for this shit ALL The time.

She has at least one Buyer's Advantage membership ... yes, there could be multiples. "Oooh," she says, "look at all this stuff in their catalog. And it's only the highest of quality at the lowest of prices."

"Oh. Hey, see this DVD player in here?"

"Yes, wow, that's a great price. I ordered it."

"They're $39.95 at the Walmart. Same model."

"Yeah, but it's $36.99 in there. That's lower. And they quality tested all the stuff they sell, so you get GOOD stuff at lower prices."

"Yet again, you have fallen for salesmanship. Their quality standards, I suspect, are not as rigid as those of Consumer's Union. Also, you're paying shipping on the DVD player, and handling, and state tax, since they set this up so that each state gets to take their slice. Oh and don't forget to add the $80 you paid for your membership. You have paid $140 for a $40 DVD player. No, your average is not going to improve the more stuff you buy from them."

This woman also has multiple memberships in multiple timeshares. She is a salesperson's dream. EVERYTHING is a great deal to her.

[Riddil]

I actually had something somewhat similar happen to me back in college. I was your typical broke-as-a-joke college kid, and there were mobs of guys w/ credit card applications canvasing the campus. Fill out an app... get a free T-shirt. Or backpack. Or sunglasses. Whatever.

So just fill out the app, get free gear, and then when the card arrives just never activate it, cut it up and forget about it. Easy, right?

Not quite. I received the cards, I cut them up... and since I'm a college kid I'm moving all over campus. I'm in one dorm, then another, then an apartment, then another, then a house, etc etc. Problem is those guys sent a card that already had a charge on it. I cut it up, threw it away... since I still had all my "real mail" going to my parents house, I never filled out mail-forwarding with the USPS. So when late bills started coming to my OLD addresses, I never knew about them.

So then I graduate, go to buy a car... and my credit report shows that I have 3 cards that are black-listed, the company wrote them off as "unrecoverable expenses", and it crushed my credit rating. I start digging, and eventually I turn up these cards with like $10-20 dollar "service" charges.

Gya. Bastards. Thanks for the free T-shirt. Now I have a 12% rate on my car instead of a 3% rate. Fan-fucking-tastic.

After wrangling with those companies for damn near a year I've just about gotten my credit patched up... but it's amazing how ppl try to take advantage of young kids/old people.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Well Riddel, sounds to me like you outsmarted yourself.

[OnyxCougar]

I used to work at a Credit Card Company, and it's amazing how many people don't read the application. It clearly states (and in size 12 font) we will charge you this, this and this, and that leaves you little or no credit on the card when you receive it.

However, over 250 people called in every day,
"I didn't know you'd be charging it."
"Did you read the application?"
"Yes."
"Did you read the part where it says we're charging it?"
"No, it was in little letters or something."
"Sir, it was in regular typeface directly over your signature."
"No it wasn't."
"Would you like me to send you a copy of the signed application, showing where it was? I can highlight that for you for your convenience."
*click*