In Dec. 2003, I received an e-mail from memolink.com stating that I would receive a $75.00 gift card by just signing up for a credit card. I proceeded to sign up for a credit card from USA Gold. When I realized this was no ordinary credit card, that it was only to purchase from their catalog and there was a $149.00 fee, I tried to back out of it. I did not hit the accept button. I was immediately accepted and I had to call the next business day and have them cancel.
The very next day, I started receiving e-mails from everywhere because memolink had sold my e-mail address. Within a week, I was receiving 300 or more e-mails a day. I have a single telephone line and dial-up networking, so this made it impossible for me to send or receive personal e-mail. If I did not delete the e-mails daily, it was totally unmanageable. I received e-mails from females saying they wanted to meet me (I am not a lesbian), e-mails offering nude pictures and all kinds of profanity and much more. I never opened any e-mails and deleted them. I realized that I was not going to get a $75.00 gift card, but I wanted all the e-mails to stop.
I contacted memolink about all the e-mails and the fact that their offer was misleading. They would reply that I had not earned enough points to get a gift card, but would not mention the e-mails. I contacted the Attorney General of my state and they contacted memolink, but they denied any wrong doing. The Attorney Generals office could go no further as formal enforcement action by their office is not warrented and informal mediation had failed.
After 5 months, I have finally got the e-mails down to a managable number by ignoring and deleting. Memolink says I was deleted from their e-mail list on Jan. 13, 04, but on 4/23/04 I received a MemolinkLotto daily reminder and I have tried to unsubscribe from this, but have been unable to. It is companies like this that give the internet a bad name. I am almost afraid to visit any site now for fear I'll be signed up for more e-mails. I don't expect anything from Memolink. I just want other people to beware of them.
Willa
Carlinville, Illinois
U.S.A.
Click here to find out about How to deal with phony credit cards. *Rip-off Report Investigation