I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one taken in by this scam of all scams that, unchecked, may cost you thousands of dollars.
I was recently contacted by a telemarketer and informed that as a preferred credit card holder at my bank I had been entered in a drawing for as much as $50,000. I would also be receiving a free watch and two magazine subscriptions. I was made to believe that this was a service of my credit card company. The catch was that I was asked to "help them out" with a subscription to a years worth of Sports Illustrated and Entertainment Weekly for $58-odd dollars. Know that these companies hire multi-billion-dollar consulting firms to create telemarketing scripts to trap listeners into a legal verbal contract by saying "yes" before they even know what is going on. This is what happened to me, and apparently many other victims of this ripoff. What I did not realize was that I would be charged $58 every month for the next year. I was told, quote, "Your credit card will be billed the next twelve months for a total of $58." If it sounds too good to be true, it definitely is. Rather than be charged a *grand total* of $58, as I understood it from the CMS representative, I am being charged a total of $58 every month. Furthermore, once you say "yes," the sale is legal and binding, as by the time you receive your information, it is likely too late to cancel. I have received some magazines two-months later, but not yet all, and neither have I received my free watch.
While extremely pissed at both myself and CMS, unlike many of those filing complaints, as long as all my magazines do get delivered, I will read them. I am troubled, however, by CMS divulging information to tens, perhaps hundreds of other companies regarding my telephone, address, and credit card number. This was never discussed with me by any CMS representative I spoke with. CMS's refusal to disclose this information as part of our contractural agreement has resulted in numerous charges to my credit card for services I never had agreed with independently, nor knew I would ever be receiving. It may ultimately cost me several thousand dollars. Furthermore, some representatives of these companies, which I had never made independent agreements with, told me that I was bound to their service because of my agreement with CMS and would be charged no matter what!!! Most of these representatives are extremely rude, refuse to cooperate, and tell you are a member of their service even if you tell them you don't want it.
I have currently submitted a request for documentation from CMS disclosing the manner in which my personal information is being distributed to other companies with which I have not consented, as well as transcriptions of conversations that took place between myself and CMS representatives. Unfortunately, I have been told that it is unlikely anything can be done to reclaim money that has been lost because of CMS's spending on my credit card.
Be WARNED: These peope, more than lawyers, investment bankers, and the IRS, are the scum of the Earth.
Brian
Union City, New Jersey