What to Do When You Get Ripped Off by Smart Savings Center
Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2009
by Mogama
http://www.mogama.info
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."
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.
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."
This Article has been viewed 5,349 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
More commentsI too have been scammed by this company, somehow they stole my name, billing address, and debit card info. They sent me a Billy Blanks Taebo video (which I did not order, nor had ever heard of the company), then began charging my card $19.95, then $7.26, then another $19.95. I contacted them to no avail and they would not cancel my membership, and simply stated contact your credit card company.
I have filed with the washington attorney general and the internet crime authority ic3.gov.
I also have been scammed by this company. Not long ago actually Friday to be exact. I had purchased a Dvd from Hot move sale. It was a great deal so I figured wow, okay. I purchased it and didn't find anything out of the ordinary. I never gotten E-mail's telling me I was even signed up for a membership. Hell I got 3 kids and bills, I don't have Money to afford a Membership. I did in fact get a E mail from Smart's Saving Center just to let me know I was awarded to receive 2 free dvds only be charged Shipping for being a wonderful Customer and first time buyer on hot movie sale. I did in fact go for that cause I didn't at the time thought it was fishy plus I had ordered from Hot Movie Sale and I didn't think anything about it. Well Friday 8/14/09 that Evening.. I had added exactly 20 on my cc but I had over drawn 4 something which I knew I had.. and It left me with exactly 14.70. I was using that money to pay a bill on line for my own personal use.Well I found it and was Submit to buying it when It wouldn't let me. So I go on my cc site and notice exactly 20.95 was took from my cc from Smart Saving Center. Which over Drawn another 6.25 I was very mad , since I had no idea why they took out. When I realized they had charged me for a Membership fee. And I even filed a complaint with a fraud over the internet on them. I also , am filing a dispute on them with my cc company. I think this is so sad they do this too so many innocent people for no reason. And I have notice everyone is being charged differently. I wish I had known this sooner I would of never ever bought anything from that site. They should be stopped!.I'm so sorry, Heather, for all the headache these crooks have put you through. Hopefully, this open discussion we're having here will help to put them out of business, or get the authorities to shut them down. That's our desire. I hope you get some of your money back, or don't lose any more money because of these fraudsters. ~mogama~
if you were smart, after ANY online purchase, get a new bank card!!! a new # means no unexpected charges because they wont have the new #!! ive learned this from dealing with smart savings center and other scamming scammers like them... so et your books for cheap and scam them :)Won't that result in lots of new numbers? And at what point will your bank start charging you for each new card? I guess that's better than losing money to crooks... Fighting fire with fire and beating the scammers at their own game... Good for you, my friend. ~mogama~
All I did was buy a book too. I told them within four days that I did not want the membership. I luckily used a prepaid visa so I add just enough to cover what bill I need to pay. They have tried to charge me $19.95 on 08/30, 08/31, 09/01, and now today 09/03. Of course it was declined because I didn't have any money on the card. I use the same login information on everything so I don't forget. I tried to login to cancel the membership again and it said it was an invalid login. They don't even have me as a member yet they have tried charging me in the last four days. I sent a very irate email to them to stop trying to charge me. Lets hope it works otherwise I will have find out my next step.
I've been charged by 19.99 by these jerks. Is there any possibility that I could get my money back?
I too was charged $19.95 by these crooks. PLEASE FILE AN ONLINE COMPLAINT WITH THE FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL. Here is the address for Smart Savings Center999 W. Yamato Road Suite 100Boca Raton, FL 33431Phone 561-989-7400Palm Beach County FloridaIf enough of us complain the state will shut them dowm.Thanks much for sharing this important information. ~mogama~
This happened to me last spring when I bought a DVD for $6.00! I never got a confirmation email about my membership and was very pleased when the DVD came only 2 days later with the free shipping! Luckily I am a meticulous person with my monetary transactions....I noticed RIGHT AWAY when an added charge was posted to my bank account. I immediately began searching the net and saw that many people had suffered from the same problem. I then canceled my account and looked up their customer service number. I tried calling and speaking to someone in person, but to no avail. I woke up the next morning, extra early, to call the customer service right when I knew their office would probably open. A man answered. I told him, "I did not sign up for this membership I am being charged for. I never authorized this membership fee to be taken from my account. This is illegal and I want the money placed back into my account immediately." The man was surprisingly polite and responsive; The money was completely refunded within a week. I'm sorry that you have all suffered too. My advice is to be clear and concise, simply state that it is illegal and that you did not authorize those charges. They will refund you no questions asked.
Don't buy the previous comment. I just discovered I've been getting ripped off by SmartSavings for at least six months(on a credit card I had stopped using and put away some time ago) and tried calling the number listed here about 10 minutes ago. A recording said "the number cannot be completed as dialed or has been disconnected". I've filed a fraud complaint with my credit card company and will be contacting the Florida Attorney General's office ASAP. These people will NOT get away with this!!!!!!
I am so glad I saw this page. I was considering buying an item from them but i did a search on the company before because i didn't know them. You saved me from making a huge mistake! Thank you!Well, you are so much smarter than the rest of us who did not do our DD before getting ripped by these crooks. Kudos... ~mogama~
I too ordered 2 books for what I thought was a great price. I noticed the charges on my c/c and called to find out what they were for. They told me it was a membership to a SmartSavings Club that I could cancel at any time.So then I realized i had already paid 2 months charges an was about to pay a third, so this is what I did...I ordered 23 books (several separate orders) using my membership to order for the holidays and other upcoming celebratory events in my life. I got everything at the "huge discounts" and then 2 days after receiving my final order I called and canceled my membership. They even gave me a refund for one of the months charges! (so even better savings on the books now) I also kept checking my c/c statement to verify that they were not going to charge the next month and they didn't.So in the end I really did get very discounted products.... I guess i was one of the lucky ones.Well, good for you, Rene! You beat them at their own game. Great move! ~mogama~
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