With All The Hoopla About Connections....

[cindala]

Is anyone still considering joining for the trial month?

I've looked around, and they still have the best prices for the tickets I need, plus the added bonus of buying some of the vouchers.

Is anyone still going to take the risk and join for the trial period for $1.? I am still considering.

 

[mom2of2]

Have you checked www.travelinternational.com ? I got my passes there and they BEAT Connections. I was also able to buy someone's unused Q&C vouchers from these boards. Beats having to deal with a company that is quickly gaining a bad rep. That's just MHO


oops the web site is www.paramountinternationaltravel.com

 

[mad4themouse]

After reading about all the problems that people have had with them, I would be reluctant to join using my bank debit card or a regular credit card.

Instead, I would probably get a one-time use card that would have enough to pay for the trial period ($1) and any passes or vouchers that I would care to purchase. That way, they would not be able to double-bill me or charge me for a membership that I cancelled.

Since it will be a while before my next visit to WDW, I'm really not considering joining right now. I'm hoping that Mary Waring finds another source for vouchers and posts it on MouseSavers or in the newsletter.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by mad4themouse
After reading about all the problems that people have had with them, I would be reluctant to join using my bank debit card or a regular credit card.

Instead, I would probably get a one-time use card that would have enough to pay for the trial period ($1) and any passes or vouchers that I would care to purchase. That way, they would not be able to double-bill me or charge me for a membership that I cancelled.

That's a great idea! I'd like to get one for all of my internet purchases. Do you know how one would go about getting one of these? Do you know if there is a way to "recharge" them?

Since it will be a while before my next visit to WDW, I'm really not considering joining right now. I'm hoping that Mary Waring finds another source for vouchers and posts it on MouseSavers or in the newsletter.

Me, too!

I could never bring myself to join Connections as I hate hassles and there were just far too many reports of things going wrong for me to take the chance!

 

[mad4themouse]

Originally posted by CarolMN
That's a great idea! I'd like to get one for all of my internet purchases. Do you know how one would go about getting one of these? Do you know if there is a way to "recharge" them?

Just about any bank that offers credit cards also offers one-time use and rechargeable cards. I bought a one-time use Visa for my DD12 for X-mas from Bank of America. They had no age limits on who can use them and she's at the age where she would like to do some shopping on her own. The card cost me an additional $5.95 over the actual dollar amount but it was worth it to see how thrilled she was to have her own "credit" card.

CitiBank offers the Citi CashCard which is a rechargeable MasterCard (minimum age is 13). There is a $25 annual fee for the card. What's great about these cards is that if there is no money in the account, a sale or service charge will not go thru. You cannot carry a negative balance and there is no overdraft fee. For someone who makes online purchases and is concerned about the security of online transactions, this is a big plus.

 

[macs4us]

While I didn't have a problem with my Connections trial, if you have an AMEX, I would use that. They are great about any problems, and when I have had to dispute charges, I have been able to do so online - and have always had the problems resolved within 2 weeks. Just another option to consider...

 

[TY31088]

I'm thinking about joining Connection to buy some Q&C Vouchers. I have been miss-billed before buy a couple of merchants and the credit card backed me up.

I'm going to check out travelinternational.com first.

Ty

 

[4greatboys]

Im a member of Simple Escapes and Galleria ( I got enough gift cards when I signed up plus the utilities vouches each cost me little to nothing to join). I really like it. We buy restuarant vouchers and gift cards for Toys R US and other stores so that when I buy something or go out to eat we are saving money. For our Sept trip I bought $60 worth of Planet Hollywood food vouchers (cost me $48 after rebate) and then I used my DC card to an additional 10% off of our meal. I have not had any problems being overcharged or them not rebating my money back.

 

[patsal]

I just used Connections again last week. While I agree that the customer service is really poor. I have never seen such incompetant customer service reps in my life. However, I was again pleased with my order, no double billing, all items arrived as promised within three days, and the rebates from last months purchases were credited as I expected.

 

[MCazer]

I have used Connections for over a year. I even kept it after the year was up. They gave me a $25 Target Gift card too.

I use them for everything. When my husband wanted to get X-Box, I bought the gift cards for Toys-R-Us. I got $300 in gift cards for $240. We used our Toys R Us visa to pay for them and got the extra 1% back to the credit card in Jeffrey Money.

For my kids teachers, I bought movie passes as x-mas gifts. For my husbands co-workers, we bough Blockbuster cards. For every $10 card, it only costs $8.

We also use it for Restaurants.

They ship everything free, and I have never had a double billing. If there is every a problem, then I will cancel, but for now, it is so handy to just click online and have the stuff within days!

 

[cindala]

Mom20f2,

I did check Paramount, but they no longer offer the 6 day hopper. Connections has the best price ($265) by far of all the other ticket brokers.

mad4themouse,

Using a debit card is a great idea, and one that I had thought of to avoid getting double billed. Maybe I'll try that if I decide to join.


I think if I decide to take the plunge, I may just call the customer service department of my credit card, and ask them in advance their policy on such problems. Maybe I can alert them to put a red flag out on Connections before anything happens.

 

[Lewisc]

The purpose of the trial membership is so that prospective members have time to review the program and see if it is of value to them. It's not intended for people who intend to to buy all the vouchers they need and then cancel. Connections makes their money with the annual fee. Some customers are trying to "beat the system" (cheat the system may be a better term). Connections is going to make it difficult to cancel. For example you can only cancel on the phone.

 

[mad4themouse]

I think it is a little harsh to imply that people are "cheating the system" if they sign up for a trial program, use what they want from it and then cancel during the trial period. Businesses make that kind of offer knowing that there will be people who chose not to stay with them. No one is cheating if they are playing by the rules that the company itself has established.

One might also say that Connections and its parent company have questionable business practices. They do not divulge what types of "discounts" or "rebates" are available to their prospective members until they have signed up for the trial period. You really do not know if there's anything to interest you in the program until you are a member.

My own membership kit was not mailed to me within the 30-day cancellation period, in spite of repeated requests for it during that time. That alone would have prevented me from making an informed decision as to whether I would remain with them or not. I chose not to, especially because of this.

Others have posted that they kept their membership for the first year only to have the membership renewal costs billed to their credit card before the end of the one-year period. But, if you decide to beat them to it by quitting before they can apply that automatic charge early, they cancel your membership effective immediately.

 

[cindala]

Originally posted by mad4themouse
I think it is a little harsh to imply that people are "cheating the system" if they sign up for a trial program, use what they want from it and then cancel during the trial period. Businesses make that kind of offer knowing that there will be people who chose not to stay with them. No one is cheating if they are playing by the rules that the company itself has established.

One might also say that Connections and its parent company have questionable business practices. They do not divulge what types of "discounts" or "rebates" are available to their prospective members until they have signed up for the trial period. You really do not know if there's anything to interest you in the program until you are a member.

Well said mad4themouse!!

Why would someone want to buy membership into anything without first knowing all the details and benefits. It's deceptive marketing to have the membership packet, (with all those details),arrive after the 30 day trial period! The only place where I found detailed info on Connections was on Mousesavers. (Glad I printed it out before Mary pulled it.)

Anyhow, I don't always go by the book. Life would be too boring!

 

[Lewisc]

I agree Connections is a poor organization. Long history of BBB complaints, attorney general investigations, over-billing, delays in providing membership information....the list is long. Mary was aware of that when she listed them but thought they had straightened out their act.

I still maintain that people who KNOW when they join that they are going to cancel but buy thousands of dollars worth of tickets and vouchers are using (or even cheating) the system. A trail offer is to give you a chance to review the progam not for people who HAVE DECIDED IN ADVANCE they are going to cancel. Connections makes money from their annual fees.

That said it is up to Connections to close the loophole. All they really have to do is require the return of all vouchers if you want to cancel. I suspect Connections is happy making their money by ripping people off.

IMHO Connections isn't really worth the potential problems. I don't see any huge pass savings over using places like Ticketmania. The vouchers only give you real savings in a few places and Disney seems to be closing some of those loopholes. Does anyone really believe the kitchen sink is a desert that's intended to be eaten by one customer?

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I'm bummed.

I signed up to get vouchers, then realized I couldn't get them in time for my trip (after calling to ask if they could ship to my resort room or SOMETHING to help me get them faster), didn't buy any vouchers... and have tried for 3 days now to get through to cancel my membership.

30 days was up on the 12th. Now I'm probably going to get charged and I did not know about all these problems before I signed up and I used my BANK CREDIT CARD!

I sure hope they don't charge me duplicate/etc. As it stands now I feel like I blew the membership amount ($89.95 right?) because I really don't see any need to use the membership. MAYBE later for my next trip if they still have vouchers then or with later expiration dates soon. But it won't be saving me enough to pay for the membership- I would only need a few Q&C vouchers.

I didn't get the 4 free AMC tickets yet either- I just NOW the other day got my membership info and it had coupons for movie tickets for $5 each. That's only a $1 savings here where I live.

*sigh*
I hope they don't rip off my bank account.

 

[wdwfam]

I signed up yesterday for the Connections program, ordered four 6-day hoppers plus, 12 Q&C and 2 VKL certificates. Less than 24 hours later, Fed Ex is at my door waiting for my signature. When I get my membership info, I'll review whether or not I want to keep it for the year.

 

[cindala]

BibbidyBobbidyBoo,
Sorry for your troubles. I definitely think the debit card is the way to go to make sure you don't get double billed. Has anyone used a debit card with Connections?

wdwfam,
What is the expiration date on the Q&C vouchers you just received?

 

[wdwfam]

The expiration dates are still May 31, 2003.

 

[DMRick]

Now I'm probably going to get charged and I did not know about all these problems before I signed up and I used my BANK CREDIT CARD!

That has been on Mousesavers site for some time..not to use a bank debit card, since you don't have the same protection when they double bill you..but you should be alright with a bank credit card..except, you didn't quit within the 30 days, so I'm not sure on what grounds you could contest it : (

Did they just not answer the phone? I cancelled a few days ago and was lucky enough to get right through. They gave me no problems cancelling. Even if you do cancel, hold onto your membership number for a few weeks..that's how long it will take, once you mail in for it (the postcard you need to mail in, is in your membership packet), for you to get the certificate to send back in for the free tickets. You need your membership number for that. Was it you that wasn't charged the $1 fee? Maybe you actually have more time than you thought, since they go by the day they charge the $1 fee in the past.
As far as the trial period. Lewis..they are gambling you will stay..you are gambling you won't. Just like gifts for visiting a time share, or test driving a car....each of those offers are enticements. When you call to cancel Connections, they offer you enough goodies to make the membership cost moot. They are not making money just on the membership..they earn money on each voucher you buy...they want to "get you on the hook" to stay..not because of the $79, since they offer that back to you by giving you bonus', but because of the amount they clear on each voucher. I think it's been a great company..the only problem we've had, was when they sent us twice as many vouchers as we ordered one time and when I called, I realized they had charged us also (I didn't know when I called..just wanted to see about returning them). Once I realized they had charged me, I decided to keep them.