TLC Looking into Allegations of Couponing Fraud

[FergieTCat]

Did anyone else see this?

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/04/14/tlc-coupon-fraud-extreme-couponing/

 

[Belle0101]

I've been following the story on a blog. They have screenshots of the alleged fraud. I'll get the link and edit my post to include it here.

ETA: http://www.jillcataldo.com/node/16258

 

[hipchickie]

interesting, but honestly, what is TLC investigating going to do?
She knowingly and purposefully committed fraud - police should be investigating, not TLC

 

[okeydokey]

Well if the allegations are true, that woman is not only mentally ill, she's a thief.

 

[sydneysmom]

I think it's good they're doing that. Maybe it'll shut down someone who was going to use her example to try to rip off the stores. And if they find out it was fraud, they're covering themselves by exposing her instead of holding her up as an example of good couponing. Who needs that as an example?

 

[MaleficentRN]

interesting, but honestly, what is TLC investigating going to do?
She knowingly and purposefully committed fraud - police should be investigating, not TLC

Right? What can they do? Ban her from watching Kate Plus 8??

 

[sydneysmom]

Right? What can they do? Ban her from watching Kate Plus 8??

can they ban us ?? PLEASE ???

 

[Kycha]

This woman was involved in coupon fraud last year. She posted a youtube video of one of her shopping trips where she used fraudulent coupons in a Target. Some of the coupons she used were printable coupons for P&G products. Well, any couponer knows that P&G does not issue printable coupons for their products. I didn't actually see the video because she pulled it when she started getting heat about it on her own blog and facebook page.

I am on many couponing sites and when it was found out that she was going to be featured on Extreme Couponing, many of the bloggers and posters contacted TLC with the information that they had about her previous fraud.

She's a stupid woman and she gives all of us couponers a bad name.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

How in the world did she do that? Was the cashier so overwhelmed that she didn't look at the coupons?

I know when we were shopping at Walmart, the register wouldn't take a coupon if the product wasn't an exact match, because DH or I would have grabbed the wrong size or something.

Now, some places don't care, as long as it is the same product, I get coupons for a pasta salad, you have to buy 2, at Walmart, you have to buy 2 seperate packages, other places you can buy the ones that have 2 in the same package.

Our Commissary, when they have their case sales, will hand out coupons with the product and it doesn't always match exactly. I have questioned them, to make sure and they said it was. And they allow you to use multiple coupons for 1 item then as well. Example, they had boxes of cereal for $1.99 a couple of weeks ago and they were handing out coupons that made them $0.49 a box, you should have seen those women snatching and grabbing boxes of cereal. I looked pitiful with my 1 box of cereal.

I'm thrilled when I have $20 worth of coupons in one visit.

She sounds like a real whackadoodle!

Suzanne

 

[FergieTCat]

Right? What can they do? Ban her from watching Kate Plus 8??

Well ... I found this ...

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-72121305.html

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

All these idiots are going to ruin couponing for the rest of us. I don't usually have that many anyway, but I would still like to have what I do get.

Suzanne

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

This woman was involved in coupon fraud last year. She posted a youtube video of one of her shopping trips where she used fraudulent coupons in a Target. Some of the coupons she used were printable coupons for P&G products. Well, any couponer knows that P&G does not issue printable coupons for their products. I didn't actually see the video because she pulled it when she started getting heat about it on her own blog and facebook page.

I saw the video... besides bogus printables she used coupons on the wrong products. $4 off Secret coupon on regular Secret, the $4 off is always the Clinical Strength which is more expensive. She also had $5 off Windex which is for one of the cleaning kits (outdoor window kit maybe) and used it for a regular windex product. Her thing is using it on the correct brand but a less expensive prouduct. I guess there is a way you can look at the barcode on the coupon and on the product to see if it is going to take at the register even if it shouldn't- supposedly she taught this in her couponing classes.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

All these idiots are going to ruin couponing for the rest of us. I don't usually have that many anyway, but I would still like to have what I do get.

Suzanne

Seriously . I already feel like I have to do back-flips and give vials of blood to use coupons at certain places (especially printable ones).

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Seriously . I already feel like I have to do back-flips and give vials of blood to use coupons at certain places (especially printable ones).

Yeah, I know, I found it to be a major problem at Walmart, but DH is back in the Reserves, so I have access to the Commissary and have alot more coupons available to me, they even hang coupons in front of products for you to pull and use. Not sure if they take printed coupons or not, but we don't have a printer.

 

[JB2K]

How in the world did she do that? Was the cashier so overwhelmed that she didn't look at the coupons?

I don't think that was the case -- at Target, those cashiers live and die by how fast they can get a person checked-out. If cashiers take too long ringing-up a customer, it results in a lower score, which can ultimately work against the cashier.

I think the coupon lady knows this and plans for the Target cashier to do a quick "override" for the sake of checkout speed.

I know when we were shopping at Walmart, the register wouldn't take a coupon if the product wasn't an exact match, because DH or I would have grabbed the wrong size or something.

Walmart is, IMO, a bit more aggressive about this sort of thing (in a way that works against the improper use of a coupon).

 

[MaleficentRN]

Well ... I found this ...

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-72121305.html

Yeah, but it's TLC investigating, not the FBI. Are they going to turn over their info to the Feds? It might make them look like idiots. Or stool pigeons.

 

[FergieTCat]

Yeah, but it's TLC investigating, not the FBI. Are they going to turn over their info to the Feds? It might make them look like idiots. Or stool pigeons.

All I was pointing out is that "coupon misredemption" is considered a crime.

TLC is covering themselves. I am sure they spoke to their lawyers by now.
If the FBI takes it seriously enough, they can subpoena TLC for the unedited tape of J'aime's shopping expedition.

Personally, I think J'aime is an idiot for showcasing her method on national television.

 

[marmalade]

I've been following the story on a blog. They have screenshots of the alleged fraud. I'll get the link and edit my post to include it here.

ETA: http://www.jillcataldo.com/node/16258

Reading this makes me feel better about my couponing efforts. I can get a few things for pennies or possible free but nothing like these people do. I feel better knowing it's because I am doing it the legal and morally correct way.

I couldn't understand how they were getting free large packages of toilet paper, until I saw on the blog posted above the illegal $5.00 off coupons and such that were being circulating around. It is all making more sense to me now.

 

[C.Ann]

Did anyone else see this?

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/04/14/tlc-coupon-fraud-extreme-couponing/

All it takes is one bad apple to spoil the whole bunch.. A couple of days ago I picked up a few items - using coupons I had printed off the internet - and they were scrutinized very carefully.. (It was kind of embarrassing..)

Since I've just recently signed up to all the various sites - and I'm finding many coupons I can use - I'm afraid that the fraudulent couponers will make it extremely difficult for those of us who are using them responsibly to make our purchases..

 

[SaraJayne]

Ahhh yes. She's the one that had to be all made up and "pretty" so people would think she had lots of money.



I'm guessing she didn't look too closely in the mirror.

I hope she gets prosecuted. The greed and mental illness on that show made me so disgusted, I had to turn it off.

Here's an idea about saving money ~ only buy what you'll use/need in the next couple months, then you don't have to pay for unnecessary crap that will only go to waste.

Voila! Look, I just saved everyone hundreds of dollars!