Connections Renewal Nightmare

[Pumbaa_]

I never thought that I would be having to write about a bad experieince with Connections. I joined last January and have had great luck with their service. UNTIL NOW!

I received a renewal notice about a week or so ago. It said if I did not call I would be charged a renwal fee of $139.95. This is $60 MORE than the original membership. (The "better" membership plan allows more gift certificate purchases). I called to not renew this morning.

I have found out through multiple painful conversations, that if you choose not to renew, they cancel your membership immediately. Not at the renewal data. (My anniversary is Jan 4, but they would have charged me effective Dec 4)

You cannot cancel on your renewal date without incurring the new fee a month earlier.

So basically Imy membership was cancelled effective today and I have no recourse unless I want them to reactivate the membership and charge me the $139.95 effective Dec4. (I will be at Disney Dec 4 and I do not want to worry about this)

So what I am going to be forced to do is to join new (through MyPoints) and do it that way. I hate dealing with stuff like this. And I hate spending all this energy talking to stupid people who say the same thing over and over (we cann;t help when it is billed)

I would have happily renewed for the same rate. I feel i truly got my money's worth out of the memebrdship. But an extra $60? No thank you.

 

[SeaWitch]

UGH! So sorry about your ordeal... I wish I could say I was surprised. I joined several months ago and am already dreading the day I need to call them to cancel!

I guess I am surprised though that they didn't offer you anything to stay a member... did they? Still probably not worth the $140 fee. And I thought $89 was pricey!

 

[4greatboys]

If you were already a member of Connections they wont let you cancel and rejoin thru mypoints. I tried this a couple of months back. I joined Connections before I joined mypoints. Then I saw you could join thru mypoints and save $10. So I Canceled my old membership and I tried to join thru mypoints. The computer wouldnt accept any cc I tried to sign up with so I called and they said they could reactivate my old membership but not have a new one. You could though sign up you dh for mypoints and then sign up for Connections thru mypoints that way.
Also I dont know which productions you use but you can also sign up for Galleria or Simple Escapes thru mypoints for $99.
Good Luck!

 

[Kacey]

Me Too!!

Pumbaa-

I had the exact same thing happen to me a month ago--and it made me so angry that I vowed never to join again! It doesn't matter how much I save. I have never had a complaint until now.
I think their customer service reps are trained with stock answers that have nothing to do with your questions! I did learn that you must keep repeating "I want to Cancel my membership!" After the 4th time they do what you say, but up until then they keep offering you obscure rebates (that may or may not be what they say they are) to keep the membership in force.

What made me mad was they charged my credit card for the $139 a full month before my renewal date. I joined for $79 last year. In fairness, they did credit it back within a week, but I did promise to write about it on the internet to convince them that I was serious.

I decided that I did not want a company like this to have my credit card on file.

 

[ceecee]

Strange thing happened here.....I went to order some gift certificates online and it said my account was cancelled (we did not cancel it). Called customer service and they said yes it's cancelled and gave me the date it cancelled...we were in Disney World then and did not cx it. Oh, checked my visa and there was a credit on it.

 

[perd]

I'm so glad I saw this so I am forewarned! I kept my Connections membership and have been buying vouchers for our upcoming trip and so far I have been happy with them. But I was already thinking on the next trip it might be better to just go with the Silver Plan package and use wishes for meals. After planning and buying vouchers for breakfasts, quick and casual lunch and kingdom vacation lunch, the major drawback I see is not being able to use the kingdom vacation lunch vouchers for dinners. I've heard that wishes are worth about $30 each...if that is true, then I am paying $30 for those kingdom vacation vouchers but can only use them at lunchtime when there is usually a different and less expensive menu. If I were using the Silver Plan, I would be able to eat dinner for about the same price. It is a little annoying have to plan late lunches instead of dinners!

And now after what you say has happened to you, I am sure I will be canceling my membership before it renews. It doesn't seem fair that they cancel it immediately, though. I thought the fee was for a one year membership!

 

[kylara]

I do not see how Connections could cancel your membership before the expiration date just because you didn't want to renew. If they did this they are cheating you out of money unless they gave you a prorated refund on the last month. I would think that the membership is like a contract and that they can cancel for abuse but not for non renewal. I would right the BBB.

 

[Pumbaa_]

kylara, i said this exact same thing to them REPEATEDLY! There stock answer is tht they do not have any control over when the cc is billed. I went over this until I was blue in the face. They don't care.

So I sent a complaint letter off and I am thinking about sending a copy of it to my Attorney General. Can;t help but see how this is fraud.

Very frustrating!!!

 

[Pete's Mom]

Thanks for posting. My membership ends 01/23/03 so I will make sure to call and cancel by 12/23/02 to avoid that ridiculous renewal fee.

I am surprised that they did not offer you some kind of incentive to stay with them.

 

[Rpsemont]

Someone I worked with called to cancel at renewal time and when they inquired why, she said she just didnt' think she'd get the $139 value out of it. They offered her a renewl at $39. So she took it!

 

[Rpsemont]

Oops ! I just checked with her and she said the renewal was $139, but she got $100 worth of grocery rebate coupons. The have to be redeemed quarterly.

 

[MCazer]

When I got my renewal form it was for $99. I was mad because I had joined last year for $69. So I called to cancel and they offered me a free $25 gift card to stay. I got a $25 Target Gift Card, and renewed for $99. So, I actually renewed for $74. Not bad.

I am buying movie tickets as gifts for my kids teachers for Christmas. I am boxing them with popcorn and candy. It is so easy and something everyone can use.

Also, I bought alot of Toys R Us cards and paid only $20 for $25 card. This saves you 20% off of everyone $100. So I get $100 worth of toys for $80!

Same for Blockbuster!

I do use it, so I wanted to keep it. Also, the free shipping is a big plus!

 

[Pumbaa_]

Now I would have renewed with an offer like that. They did not offer ANYTHING! Oh well, I can always rejoin under either my hubby or have a family member join. I still think Connections has some great values adn I love the meal vouchers for WDW. Too bad they have some shady practices.

 

[SeaWitch]

Thanks again for posting your experience. I know I will call at least a month before my renewal date to start the cancel process!

Have fun on your trip.... you're almost there!!! (and I'm not far behind! )