MWI Connections Complaint webpage

[DMRick]

http://www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/...scomplaint.html

Am I reading this right? Is this form 1998? And Sears was involved with them?

 

[hulabird]

Just to help calm the fears of some of you that are considering using Connections for Disney tickets and meal vouchers....I used Connections two years in a row and spent well over $3,000.00 with them, buying Universal 2 day passes, WDW park hoppers, Sea World Passes and of course many food vouchers, I had absolutely no problems with any of it and saved alot of money. Everything came within 2 business days. Also, 2 years ago when I first bought PHP's we used all but 1 day on each pass and also still had a day at the water parks left on the passes, plus a full day on our Universal passes....last year I took all our passes and used them at WDW and Universal with absolutely no problem. I will be using Connections again for our 2004 trip. It's a great deal.

 

[DMRick]

Hula..I don't get my tickets throught them (we have AP's this year and buy through GE in the past), so I dont' spend as much as you..but with the gift certs, I'm climbing up there. Those are great!!

I do think the Lillian Vernon is the way to go...especially since you pay monthly, so no surprises. I'll just keep it for this second month, and once they credit my gc's, I'll quit for this time around. My cost would be less than zero, since I made so much on the cg's.

 

[vhoffman]

How can they bill your credit card if you never gave them the number? Are they connected with the Psychic Hotline?

 

[hulabird]

LOL!!!!

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

I signed up with Connections for the 1 month trial last year and had a large dose of their ineptitude on the phone. I also had a problem that my antivirus protection interfered with my accessing the Disney offerings on their site, and non of the Connections reps could give me a clue what was up (one lovely individual offered to READ the entire site to me). It was a long thread on this board that finally yielded the solution.

I ordered my Q&C and Breakfast vouchers and cancelled my membership, and swore never to use them again! My conclusion was that they simply were not worth the trouble.

That was, until I got to WDW & actually USED the vouchers, and saved a ton of money plus enjoyed the convenience of having some meals already paid for. What we saved on B&C lunches and several buffet breakfasts was well worth the effort, in retrospect.

Well... I'm getting ready for 3 trips in the upcoming year, and I decided to give them another shot through LV. I have to say that the LV sign up and then the subsequent call to Connections to obtain my user ID was MUCH improved over last year's experience. They have also apparenty resolved the online access issues, as I ordered my vouchers painlessly through their website.

Lewis, I appreciate your warnings and the info you have shared. Last year during the time between buying the vouchers and actually using them, I wanted to tell everybody to "RUN AWAY & don't use this service!", and I swore I'd never do it again. But they really do have a great product and if you are cautious and informed, I do think they are worth a try. JMHO!

 

[vhoffman]

How do you sign up through Lillian Vernon? I went to their website and found nothing about the vouchers. Is there a different website/tollfree number?

 

[goofy!]

I AM a person who was overbilled by Connections, to the tune of 5x a rather large original order, so I can vouch for their unsavory business tactics. To top it off, several months after I cancelled my membership, they billed me again for another years worth.

It was quite the hassle to get my cc reimbursed. Luckily, my cc company is also very helpful in getting disputes resolved.

I would not recommend them to anybody. And if you cancel your membership, keep an eye on your credit card bills for at least a year to make sure they don't "reinstate" your membership.

-goofy!

 

[DMRick]

You have to call them to sign up. I think their number is on their site.

Wow Goofy..I can see you really had a big problem. I can bet you would not be a happy camper. Just curious, did you call in your order, or use the web? Most seem to have no problems if they use the web..no idea why.
Lucky for me, so far I have never been billed again each time I have cancelled. I always keep a close eye on my credit card. We go often to DW, and for some reason we are always charged several times when we buy our souveniers. It seems to only happen at the downtown stores, that I've noticed. I've written to ask why and been called back, but haven't had a good answer yet, beyond them saying they do always remove it..which is true enough.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I was also wondering how a CC can be charged when you don't provide a CC number. That's a new one on me. If that's the case then we are all in trouble.

Connections doesn't pay me to defend them and all I can do is report my experience. When I hit the submit button I don't hit it twice or three times just once and I have never been double billed.

Many of the sites have difficulty with certain browsers. Mary's site had a problem with getting AOL users their newsletter for months. She recently fixed this, but I don't see how that's her responsibility to make sure you can access the site. The reps are Customer Service not Technical Service so I would not expect them to be able to walk me through a browser issue.

My most recent exp. with Connections CSR was in July, where I returned an expired VKL (may 2003) that they sent me with my order in May. I wrote them a note explaining how I did not think they should have sent me the voucher with the exp. so near.

My last CC statement had a substantial Credit that included the cost of the Voucher and the Certified Mail Costs also. I called to verify that the credit I received was correct and it was. The credit was posted within 2 days of them signing my return receipt.

I am in my second year as a Connections Member and I use them so much that LV would cost me more than my yearly fee. I use them every month for something.

We just had our Tax Free Weekend for back to school shopping, so I combined the GC's at 20% off along with the no sales tax and the end of season sales and really saved alot!

I have friends/family that I would not recommend anything to as if they have a bad experience they would hold me responsible. Mary deals with all kinds of people and I understand her not recommending a service that people openly complain about.

I'm sure Connections is not hurting for anyone's business as they have a niche and I was able to feed my family of four very well for a week at WDW for less than $200 and that included RFC, BC, and Chef Mickey's.

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Many of the sites have difficulty with certain browsers. Mary's site had a problem with getting AOL users their newsletter for months. She recently fixed this, but I don't see how that's her responsibility to make sure you can access the site. The reps are Customer Service not Technical Service so I would not expect them to be able to walk me through a browser issue.

I have to disagree with this. If a company is selling me (even during a "free" trial period) a package of services which include online access, I expect that company to provide AT LEAST basic system compatability information. But, they've fixed it, so it doesn't really matter anymore.

 

[goofy!]

Originally posted by DMRick
Wow Goofy..I can see you really had a big problem. I can bet you would not be a happy camper. Just curious, did you call in your order, or use the web? Most seem to have no problems if they use the web..no idea why.

DMRick,

I used the internet and still had a major problem with them.

Originally posted by LIFERBABE
Connections doesn't pay me to defend them and all I can do is report my experience. When I hit the submit button I don't hit it twice or three times just once and I have never been double billed.

Liferbabe,

I can assure you I only hit the submit button once. Actually, I am glad I used the internet as I had all my on-line receipts printed out. The receipts are what I used to defend my position of what I ordered vs. what I was charged. I was able to fax my receipts to Connections to verify what I was saying. I think a telephone order would have been much more difficult as it would have been my word against the sales person of what I ordered. Of course, finding the right person to whom I needed to fax the receipts was an absolute nightmare.

I do want to say that after some major persistence and nagging, I did find the right person to talk to (who was nice and helpful) and after that the credits appeared promptly. But it was a hassle and you had to be very, very, very persistent. Guess they realized I was not going to go away.

For me, I just take note of the fact that several state Attorney generals are involved in investigating MWI's business practices. They don't spend the time and energy going after a business if they think the business just made some mistakes or have an insignificant number of complaints to number of sales. They are pretty sure the business is shady before they go after it. There is a difference between buying a product from a business where that product has some complaints about it vs. buying a product from a business that has gone so far as to invoke the wrath of the state attorney general.

I think the old saying "Caveat Emptor" really applies here.

I know I will never do business with them again.

 

[DMRick]

There is a difference between buying a product from a business where that product has some complaints about it vs. buying a product from a business that has gone so far as to invoke the wrath of the state attorney general.

Not that you care, I'm sure..I just don't agree with this statement. Here in NY sooo many people are investigated.it just takes one complaint. I happened to look out my window and saw the Terminex truck outside..so I put in NY Attorney General and their name..and sure enough, they too have been investigated. I put a few other names..they all pop up as being investigated..thy it out.


http://www.syix.com/emu/

I do agree with you, that it's buyer aware..but it is for a lot of products and companies. Becasue I have had nothing but positive experiences, for now I'll go by that.

Doris

 

[sln88]

I've joined connections several times. I've never had a problem when I canceled my memberships or with any of my orders. I've used a debit card for all of my orders. I think the $4.50 movie tickets are a better deal than the disney vouchers

DJ- be careful using your debit card. You have MUCH more protection using a credit card. You can always dispute a charge on your credit card, and will have a good chance of having the charge reversed if it is invalid(trust me-I was ripped off big time from a company in New York and managed to get my $ back through my credit card). Your debit card offers very little protection for these kinds of problems.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by sln88
I've joined connections several times. I've never had a problem when I canceled my memberships or with any of my orders. I've used a debit card for all of my orders. I think the $4.50 movie tickets are a better deal than the disney vouchers

DJ- be careful using your debit card. You have MUCH more protection using a credit card. You can always dispute a charge on your credit card, and will have a good chance of having the charge reversed if it is invalid(trust me-I was ripped off big time from a company in New York and managed to get my $ back through my credit card). Your debit card offers very little protection for these kinds of problems.

Before I started using it to buy things online, I called my bank to see how they would handle a dispute. Their debit cards and regular CC have the same potection.

I had a major problem with earth link last summer. I disputed the charges and the bank took care of everything.

 

[Lewisc]

Several banks gave their credit card customer list to Connections for telemarketing purposes. The telemarketers were telling people they didn't have their credit card numbers. That was literally true in that the telemarketer didn't personally have access to the number BUT the credit card number was in the system and the telemarketer didn't need to get the number to make the sale. People were agreeing to a free trial and didn't give their credit card number. There was evidence that the telemarketers lied about the program. Sorry but I used to think that my cc couldn't be charged unless I gave my number. THAT'S NOT TRUE.

People didn't give their credit card numbers, didn't see anything in writing and were lied to by the telemarketers. In some cases the first charges were a year or more later. The facts were not in dispute, Connections settled up. Not sure if what they did got to the point of fraud but certainly deceptive business practices.

NOT SURE HOW MUCH CONNECTIONS CLEANED up their act BUT when a disboard member says he was charged twice I'll believe the member and not the company.

Originally posted by LIFERBABE
I was also wondering how a CC can be charged when you don't provide a CC number. That's a new one on me. If that's the case then we are all in trouble.
.

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Originally posted by Lewisc
Several banks gave their credit card customer list to Connections for telemarketing purposes. The telemarketers were telling people they didn't have their credit card numbers. That was literally true in that the telemarketer didn't personally have access to the number BUT the credit card number was in the system and the telemarketer didn't need to get the number to make the sale. People were agreeing to a free trial and didn't give their credit card number. There was evidence that the telemarketers lied about the program. Sorry but I used to think that my cc couldn't be charged unless I gave my number. THAT'S NOT TRUE.

Wow, that is pretty scary! Thanks for elaborating.

 

[vhoffman]

I ordered some Connections meal vouchers. So far as I can tell, they haven't played any funny business with my credit card. However, I'm giving up hope of ever seeing those @#% vouchers.

Connections delivered them promptly--in about 3 business days. They came by priority UPS. Very nice. However, one little catch--they had to be signed for in person. They couldn't just leave a note on the door for me to sign and pick up when the deliver the next day. Well, I work--I'm not at home during the day!! I called UPS and asked them if they could be delivered in the evening--they can't guarantee a time. Ups tried to deliver them 3 times, then took them to their local office where I could pick them up at "my convenience". Their local office is about a 50 mile round-trip. Again, I work during the day. I can't jerk around my job to run get a package. I asked if they could be delivered to my office. Well, the nice lady on the phone told me that could have been an option if I had requested it before they made three delivery attempts and now are holding it at their local office. Seems once a package is held at the local office that's the last stop. If you don't pick them up, they're returned to sender. I don't know what will happen once Connections gets them back. My credit card has already been charged, so probably they could care less. Maybe I can fight with AMEX to have the item removed from my bill. I got my income tax refund just plain snail mail, but Connections has to do it the hard way. I'm cancelling my membership. They're a pain in the behind to deal with and the savings aren't worth it!!!

 

[DMRick]

but Connections has to do it the hard way. I'm cancelling my membership.

I don't think this is Connections fault. They delivered (and within three days), and gave you three tries..or you could pick them up (they have no control over how far your home is from UPS..and if you had called UPS after the first or second miss, they would have redirected them). A lot of sales over higher amounts comes needing a signature. Perhaps YOU should have asked if they needed to be signed for. Now they have to pay the shipping, and the return shipping..I'm sure they are more upset than you, that they weren't delivered..you can do a charge-back on your card..they are out the shipping fees.

You mentioned they came Priority..Priority is the Post Office..since mine always come signed UPS, I assume you mean UPS.

Just one more thing..your income tax refund is a check..and can't be cashed by anyone except you..the vouchers are the same as sending cash money..anyone could use them, and there would be no proof they had been delivered.

 

[vhoffman]

Yes, I realize the Connections vouchers are, in essence, bearer paper, and can be used by anyone. So I can see Connections wanting a signature. However, they told me at UPS that any adult could sign for them, it didn't have to be the adressee. They attempted to leave them with a neighbor, who wasn't home. Well, that doesn't protect me much, does it? My point is, Connections should make people aware of the restrictions on mailing, not let them find out the hard way. sure, they don't know, nor have any control, over how far I live from the nearest UPS office. But that's not my point. If I had known before ordering I could have had the vouchers delivered to my workplace, avoiding the hassle. And the note said they tried to deliver them 3 times, but that's the first note I received. According to UPS, once a package is sent in this manner, you can't change the delivery location. I'm sure this is for security purposes. However, If I just knew in advance all the delivery restrictions, I could have avoided all the hassle by having them delivered to my office. I'm just in a bind at work right now and can't leave to get them before they're returned. And I really have my doubts I can get the charge off my cc (although I'll sure try!) because they did make a good faith effort to deliver them and I didn't pick them up.

The purpose of my post is not so much to vent (although that is a part of it), but to let others learn from my experience not to have them delivered somewhere there isn't a person just waiting all day to sign for them.