Interactive Brands, Adaware-ib.com Rip-off, overcharged for downloads, fraudulent billing St-Laurent Quebec H4l 4v5 Internet

Do NOT use the website www.adaware-ib.com if you are looking for the free download program Ad-Aware SE program offered by Lavasoft.

I wanted to download a anti-spyware program and decided on Ad-Aware SE by Lavasoft because they were recommended by PC Magazine. I did a google search on Ad-Aware and found a listing which said Lavasoft.Adaware-ib.com. Since it said Lavasoft in the name I assumed this was the correct site to get the free download from. I was wrong.

I clicked on the link and it to me to the site (http://www.adaware-ib.com) where I found they were offering Ad-Aware SE by Lavasoft, P C Confidential from Winferno Software and Error Doctor from Software Doctor as a package/suite deal for $11.98 per year for three years of unlimited software downloads. It sounded like a good deal since P C Confidential normally sells for $39.95 and Error Doctor normally sells for $19.95. The website stated that the three years would be a total of $35.94 so I agreed to pay that amount. I entered my name and address information and it said my invoice total was $35.94 so I entered my Visa debit card information and it processed my order. "After" it processed my order it came back and said the total charged to my Visa debit card had been $65.77. I had been overcharged $29.83 without my authorization.

The invoice shown on the web page which I had agreed to pay prior to entering my debit card info, stated the total as $35.94. Nothing was mentioned about any other charges. There were two check boxes on the original order page under the suite package. One said "Get one year Blazing Fast Download with DownloadAccelerator and free unlimited technical support and unlimited updates for only $1.49/month, and the other which said "Don't risk losing all your data. For only $9.95, e-Backup will allow you to backup all your files and information on any hard disk or external media".

I don't know where the My XP Tools program came from because it is not even listed on the page at all. Regardless, I did not check either of the two boxes shown and therefore should not have incurred the additional charges.

The $29.83 difference was because of the additional $17.88 for the Download Accelerator program and $11.95 for the My XP Tools program for three years, neither of which I had ordered nor did I want. Neither of these two programs showed up on my original invoice page. I downloaded the three initial programs which I wanted, Ad-Aware SE, P C Confidential and Error Doctor, but did not download the other two programs.

After I downloaded the three programs I immediately went and checked my bank account and the $65.77 charge was already showing as a pending transaction made by CSDetails.com. They certainly did not waste anytime in charging my account.

I sent an email to their Customer Support asking for a refund of the unauthorized $29.83 overcharge. They state that they will get back to you within 4 hours. Well 4 hours have come and gone and I do not have a reply from them.

I attempted to contact CSDetails.com through the reference phone number listed on the bank transaction (888-846-9590) but it says they are closed for the Easter holiday. I guess I will try again Monday. I also contacted my bank and was told that I could not put a stop payment on the debit charge because it was already showing as a pending transaction. I was told that "after" it was processed and the money deducted from my account that I could try and dispute the charges at that time. I am hoping that I will be able to get my money back at some point but I won't hold my breath waiting on it.

This whole experience has left me with a bad taste in my mouth for Interactive Brands and I will not be buying anything else through their company. I don't mind paying for things I want but I very much mind being charged for things I never ordered or agreed to pay for to begin with.

Melanie
Woodstock, Georgia
U.S.A.