WARNING: don't use connections for vouchers!!!

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Still problems with connections. I joined last year in January but wasn't able to use them in time for my Jan WDW trip so I cancelled within the 30 days with no benefit to me whatsoever.
You guessed it- they charged me the $89.95 annual fee anyway- even though I'd cancelled within the 30 days! (I called and cancelled). They refused to take the charge back off and I'd done it with my bank card (which was very very stupid of me) and couldn't do anything that way either. It came right out of my account and couldn't do anything about it.

So I'd paid for the year- I figured I'd use it. In August I purchased several meal vouchers (to the tune of $296) for our 12 day WDW trip in Nov/Dec.- and once I got them in the mail I called and cancelled again- that way I wouldn't be charged the annual fee again since I knew I'd have no use for connections after that point (no plans to go back to WDW within the next year- no use for any of the other vouchers- and in fact the 4 movie tickets I'd been given when I signed up I couldn't even use! No one will accept them on movies around here until they have been playing for over 3wks- movies don't play here that long! So I never get an opportunity to use those supersavers movie tickets that they so generously gave me when I signed up- sarcasm alert LOL)

Okay- so I cancelled in Sept- and the yearly fee shouldn't have happened until Jan 12th anyway since that's when I signed up a year ago. 12/17 they sent through a $139.95 charge and I'm just now realizing this since yesterday I got the bank statement.

ARGHHHHHHHHH
The bank is saying they can't do anything about it- so I'm going to go in to the bank in awhile and close that account out. Apparently that's the only way I can get connections to stop charging me- cancelling with them is obviously impossible to do! And at this point I've been ripped off over $200 (since the originally $89.95 should not have been charged either). I'm so frustrated! So I had to warn you all- posting it on this board since this (budget board) is where I first learned about connections to sign up with them.
DON'T DO IT.... unless you want to be charged forever increasingly large amounts of money every year regardless of you calling to cancel the membership! I can't even imagine how much money they are scamming off of people in this way- but reading online I see they are doing this to a LOT of people.

 

[marymrg]

It seems to me that your bank should be able to do something about the new debit, since you had clearly cancelled the membership ahead of time. Do you know exactly when you cancelled? Call Connections again and ask to speak to a supervisor right away. Don't even explain your problem to the first person you talk to. I would also write a letter to the Attorney General from the state that Connections does business from.
I cancelled my membership last summer but know that I will have to watch my credit card statement again this year to make sure they don't automatically recharge the fee.

I hope you get it straightened out.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Thanks.... I'm glad someone agrees with me that they think the bank should be able to do something. I totally think they should be able to stop charges if I tell them to stop -in other words not agreeing to it. But they said they can't- they said since the co. (connections in this situation) has the info- it goes through immediately and no way to stop it when they have all the bank info and previous authorization to make charges to that account.
That's why I think I'm going to have to close that account and make a new one just to get it to stop~!

I have called connections again- and they said they cancelled it and will refund me the charge- but we'll see if it really happens. Twice before they have told me they have cancelled the membership yet did not.

 

[pilgrimage]

I cancelled without problem, but this definitely suggests fraud. I'd send a certified letter immediately to Connections, the bank, and Attorney General of your state. There is no reason for you to have to close your account and go through such hassle.

Our state attorney general has a web site to forward complaints.I've been really impressed with reswponses within one week.That's why we pay taxes. You're probably not the only person being treated unfairly.

 

[2disneyagain]

I joined Connections for the 30 days so that I could order meal vouchers and passes a little over a year ago. I ordered my vouchers and passes and was charged twice for the vouchers. I called them to let them know and they said they would check into it. The next day, someone from Connections called me back to make sure everything was straightened out which it was. I then called and cancelled my membership and everything was fine. I have had no problems.

We then were planning another trip, so my husband called and joined so that we could once again order the meal vouchers. This time we decided to keep our membership and everything has been fine.

I have heard both good and bad when it comes to Connections. Unfortunately, yours is one of the bad. I don't understand why your bank can't do something about the charges. I wouldn't let it end without a fight (whether it be with Connections or your bank).

 

[mudnuri]

Im confused.

Why would they refund your original charge when you went ahead and used their service?

I also cant see why the bank cant' do anything about it, seems to me that they could investigate the charge after all, isnt that the point of having a visa logo on a bank card?

I wish I could offer some sympothy, however you knew they charged you once and wouldnt reverse the charges, why did you use their service again??? Thats the part that gets me, if a company burns me for 90 bucks, theres no way im going to give them my money again, especially considering they are not the only company to get vouchers from.

Brandy

 

[ceecee]

We have had nothing but problems with Connections! First time we joined we were to get a $25.00 gas certificate, we did not. This time I joined (only because we could for the monthly rate) never got the dining certifcate either. When we called (DH spent over an hour) he got hung up on one time and 3 other "supervisors" never did help him. It was the principal of the thing at that point. AND after 3 times of trying to cancel we still are getting the $8.95 a month charged to the Visa. We have belonged now for 8 months. So it looks like I'll be calling again. NOT worth the few $$ we saved with the vouchers. The GCs we ordered we did not get the $5.00 credited either.

 

[wdwstar]

ceecee

cant you call your credit card company and tell them that you canceled your membership and if connections trys to charge anything after today that you will not pay for the charges, in otherwords put a block on connections trying to charge the cc

 

[sln88]

Your bank is probably telling you they can't do naything about it in the hopes that you will go away. Don't give up. They should protect you against unauthorized withdrawls. I was involved with an online consumer group a few years ago. Some of us had gotten burned using our CC's and some debit cards. It was much easier for those who had used CC's to dispute the charges, BUT there were some that used debit cards and were persistant and they were able to get their $ back.

Do you have a cancellation number or anything from when you cancelled with Connections? In addition to calling your bank, get something to them in writing. They should protect you against this! If you have a Visa logo, get them involved too.

AND THEN CUT UP THE USELESS DEBIT CARD!!!!

 

[janette]

I used a virtual account number to do all my purchases with Connections that way I knew I didn't have to worry. Several credit card companies offer this service just check their website. You login and they give you a CC number that is good for a one-time use.

 

[DMRick]

No one will accept them on movies around here until they have been playing for over 3wks- movies don't play here that long!

We were able to use ours right away if we paid an extra $1 or $1.50..it was written in small print on our tickets. We find that common on most ticket discounts and freebees.

Although it's annoying to have to call Connections back, I would, and ask as others said, for a supervisor. I do think though I would have done this the first time, when they charged you..then you wouldn't have had the second problem..it sounds as if they didn't cancel you the first time, or maybe once they wouldnt' take off the charge, someone didn't get the message that you cancelled. I got a cancellation number when I cancelled the last time I joined through them..and held onto it in case there was a problem : (
This very last time, I joined through a catalog place and they made it very easy to cancel. I have to admit we feel very lucky, after several join ups, to have not had any problems.

All of connections aside, I would not be happy with your bank..this was an unauthorized charge..how can they say they can't stop it? I'd be as mad at them, as I would be at Connections.
Hope it all works out for you.

 

[Cora]

I feel so bad with what happened to you. Connections really seems slimely.

Regarding your charges to your debit card. Unfortunately debit cards do not afford you the same protections as a credit card. However you can get it resolved but it will take some time. I would again contact your bank and push them. They should have a debit dispute resolution form that you can fill out. Generally it takes 30-60 days before reversal will take place. This is very different than a cc since once you dispute the cc charge you don't have to pay for it.

If your bank will not help you. I would ask them who is their governing regulatory body and get in touch with them. If the bank's regulators call them with a complaint you will see them jump through hoops. Also, sometimes just asking for their regulatory agency will get action. I know this from working over 6 years in the legal department (as a paralegal) of a bank handling dispute resolutions and actions through the bank's regulators.

Good luck...and a word of caution to all...ALWAYS use a credit card. You have many more protections than with a debit card.
Cora

 

[maggiew]

What about if you use your debit card as a credit card?? Will you still be protected as a CC?

Maggie

 

[Cora]

Unfortunately using it as a cc doesn't change a thing.
Cora

 

[Lewisc]

Connections has a history of questionable conduct.
http://www.mousesavers.com/mealvouchers.html
and is currently suspended fom the BBB
http://www.heartlandbbb.org/Reliability_Report.asp?compid=7000028

In the past they were able to charge your credit card without you even giving them your credit card number.

 

[mudnuri]

In the past they were able to charge your credit card without you even giving them your credit card number.

HHUUHHH????

 

[Gillian]

I'm sorry you're having problems!

I've never had a debit card, and after reading many reports here on the boards (and other shopping boards) I never will. Plus I'm not great at record keeping and don't want to bounce anything.

I don't know about charging without your consent, but they will charge for the full membership if you don't cancel before the trial period is up. The memberships also automatically renew, and usually at a higher price.

My mom had a membership for a while and when you ordered online the credit card info was there already with no way to change it. It's different now. That was kind of strange.

 

[Lucky4me]

I guess I've been lucky. I've joined the 30 day trial a few times and always had it cancelled with no problem. Then again I knew there had been problems, so I asked for the name of who I was speaking to and a confirmation number in case they messed it up.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by mudnuri
HHUUHHH????

Fraid so. Credit card companies gave them customer lists for telemarketing. Customers thought they wouldn't be charged since they didn't give a credit card number. Telemarketers assured them they didn't have the credit card number. Literally true in that the telemarketer didn't personally have the NUMBER but the number was in the system and the people were charged.

 

[Nala217]

I am a customer service rep for a company that handles Visa and Master Card products ( credit, debt and gift cards). Everything we have ever been told is that Visa and Master Card protect their customers from fraud. We even tell customers that when their card is stolen and they are worried someone used the card before they called and blocked it. If your debit card has a Visa or Master Card logo on it the bank should have a way to dispute the charge. Connections would've had to process the purchase as a charge. So it would show up as a Visa or MC charge in their systems unless it was run as a debit and then you would have to use your pin number. If your bank won't do anything. Contact Visa or MC directly. They have dispute departments that can investigate and get your money back. If you have any ???s let me know.