- Report: #999444
Complaint Review: STAMPS.COM
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| STAMPS.COM 1990 E. Grand Ave
EL SEGUNDO, California United States of America |
|
STAMPS.COM 2013 Class Action Lawsuit EL SEGUNDO, California
*Consumer Comment: Charlene
*Consumer Comment: Well..
*Author of original report: Class action never benefits victims...ever
*Consumer Comment: Authorization?
*Author of original report: Authorization explicitly required by VISA
*UPDATE Employee: Stamps.com Response
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Four months ago I made the mistake of giving stamps.com my credit card for on line postage services.
During the checkout process their was no shopping cart showing what you were purchase nor was there any authorization option for future recurring billing. This was fraudulent, deceptive and intentional by design. I am the first to admit that I don't check my monthly bank statements as closely as I should. A few days ago, I had the necessity of scrutinizing my bank statements for an unrelated reason. In so doing, I noticed that I had a recurring charge of $15.99 for the past 4 months. I was quite shocked, because I never consented to stamps.com monthly charge.
Upon further inspection of the checkout process, I confirmed that there is in fact no express authorization for recurring fees. A check of the Terms of Service did not reveal any monetary recurring monthly charges either. When I contacted stamps.com they said the charges can be found in the "learn more" section of their website. They also provided me with a screen shot of a small blurb on the same page as the credit card submission. The blurb was off to the side and not in the flow of the checkout proceedure. In any case, the blurb was titled "Are you wondering why we want your credit card information?" Since I was not wondering, and assuming that the credit card was to pay for purchased postage...I had no reason to read further. So in effect, anyone that doesnt wonder why they are asking for your credit card, will find themselves blind sided months down the road.
I believe stamps.com has tricked many people since 1999. I base this belief on the numerous complaints on many different websites. I recently read that there was a class action lawsuit that ended in 2009. The case was resolved out of court and can be seen here
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/finance/899402/. I intend to initiate another class action against a business that apparently cares nothing about honesty and transparency. I have posted a petition for anyone who has felt victimized by this hidden monthly fee to sign. It can be found here and I hope you will participate. http://www.scanmyid.com/stamps-com-class-action-lawsuit-petition/
During the checkout process their was no shopping cart showing what you were purchase nor was there any authorization option for future recurring billing. This was fraudulent, deceptive and intentional by design. I am the first to admit that I don't check my monthly bank statements as closely as I should. A few days ago, I had the necessity of scrutinizing my bank statements for an unrelated reason. In so doing, I noticed that I had a recurring charge of $15.99 for the past 4 months. I was quite shocked, because I never consented to stamps.com monthly charge.
Upon further inspection of the checkout process, I confirmed that there is in fact no express authorization for recurring fees. A check of the Terms of Service did not reveal any monetary recurring monthly charges either. When I contacted stamps.com they said the charges can be found in the "learn more" section of their website. They also provided me with a screen shot of a small blurb on the same page as the credit card submission. The blurb was off to the side and not in the flow of the checkout proceedure. In any case, the blurb was titled "Are you wondering why we want your credit card information?" Since I was not wondering, and assuming that the credit card was to pay for purchased postage...I had no reason to read further. So in effect, anyone that doesnt wonder why they are asking for your credit card, will find themselves blind sided months down the road.
I believe stamps.com has tricked many people since 1999. I base this belief on the numerous complaints on many different websites. I recently read that there was a class action lawsuit that ended in 2009. The case was resolved out of court and can be seen here
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/finance/899402/. I intend to initiate another class action against a business that apparently cares nothing about honesty and transparency. I have posted a petition for anyone who has felt victimized by this hidden monthly fee to sign. It can be found here and I hope you will participate. http://www.scanmyid.com/stamps-com-class-action-lawsuit-petition/
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 01/18/2013 05:35 PM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/STAMPSCOM/EL-SEGUNDO-California-90245/STAMPSCOM-2013-Class-Action-Lawsuit-EL-SEGUNDO-California-999444. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
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Regarding Stamps.com. I personally know for a fact that Stamps.com is NOT a fraudlegent company, I have been signed up with them ever since 2008. You pick a plan that fits your regularly monthly postal needs, mine is the $9.99 per month plan.
THey bill me this $9.99 each month, whether I use postage or not. Then YOU deposit lets say $20.00 into your account with Stamps.com and that is what you PRINT your postage from, the Money you deposited in your personal account with them.
Just deposit your money, and then print. When you have used up your $20.00 then you have to make another deposit of whatever amount you want, to have to print from. THat is it.
However, this SCI Stamps-com...evidently that is NOT the real Stamps.com company, and I don't know anything about that. All I know is my experiecne with them....and they are for REAL, and are NOT a Crooked company at all. Hope this helps.
THey bill me this $9.99 each month, whether I use postage or not. Then YOU deposit lets say $20.00 into your account with Stamps.com and that is what you PRINT your postage from, the Money you deposited in your personal account with them.
Just deposit your money, and then print. When you have used up your $20.00 then you have to make another deposit of whatever amount you want, to have to print from. THat is it.
However, this SCI Stamps-com...evidently that is NOT the real Stamps.com company, and I don't know anything about that. All I know is my experiecne with them....and they are for REAL, and are NOT a Crooked company at all. Hope this helps.
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What's this?
It seems we at least agree on some points. Such as the lawyers getting the lion's share of the settlement. But you seem to have glossed over the other point that the lead plantiff also gets a nice chunk of change. That is unless you think that excessive hold time and not being prorated for their last month of service is worth $5,000. If so then I guess we disagree on that.
Also, to say you are not interested in the money, but more than willing to be the lead plaintiff seems to go against that. That is unless you are willing to post on this public web site that I am sure Stamps.com will be monitoring that if you go through with it and prevail with any money you would donate it to a charity..then you may have some weight. Or you don't really care because you know are just blowing "hot air" and know how valid your claims actually may be.
As for having a dog in this fight. I had Stamps.com many years ago, and cancelled them because I didn't do enough postage to make it worth while. I may have even been a member of that other "class" but since I moved several times I am sure that my notice got lost in the mail. So personally I could care less about if you file a suit or not.
I just think it is easier to actually read all of the fine print anytime I give my credit card number(or any financial information) to anyone before I do anything. Then on top of that to monitor my accounts every month. So I wouldn't have gotten to the point where it was 4 months even IF something like this happened. I would have caught it month one.
As for the rest. Still waiting on the VISA Requirement that specifically states that a web site must have a check-box in order to be valid for a recurring charge.
Also, to say you are not interested in the money, but more than willing to be the lead plaintiff seems to go against that. That is unless you are willing to post on this public web site that I am sure Stamps.com will be monitoring that if you go through with it and prevail with any money you would donate it to a charity..then you may have some weight. Or you don't really care because you know are just blowing "hot air" and know how valid your claims actually may be.
As for having a dog in this fight. I had Stamps.com many years ago, and cancelled them because I didn't do enough postage to make it worth while. I may have even been a member of that other "class" but since I moved several times I am sure that my notice got lost in the mail. So personally I could care less about if you file a suit or not.
I just think it is easier to actually read all of the fine print anytime I give my credit card number(or any financial information) to anyone before I do anything. Then on top of that to monitor my accounts every month. So I wouldn't have gotten to the point where it was 4 months even IF something like this happened. I would have caught it month one.
As for the rest. Still waiting on the VISA Requirement that specifically states that a web site must have a check-box in order to be valid for a recurring charge.
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What's this? #3 Author of original report
Class action never benefits victims...ever
AUTHOR: Pixelpadre - (USA)
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, February 06, 2013
Did you hear me say the previous class action was related to my issue? I merely mentioned it to highlight the fact that Stamps.com is anti consumer and will only act when there hands are held to the fire.
I have no interest in the money. Really? $60 I'm out and I am spending how many hours to get to the bottom of this. If you can't see that consumers are being ripped off by predatory actions of stamps.com then you obviously have a dog in this fight.
The lawyers always get the lions share of class action. And I speak from experience having been part of several class action lawsuits in my 59 years of life.
I still have a check around here somewhere made out to me for 3 cents.
Point is if Stamps.com has to pay attorney fees plus refunds for all effected parties, then they will surely change their policy. And I have already posted the VISA requirements. But I am happy to post them again.
The Visa International defines a recurring transaction as:
Multiple transactions processed at predetermined intervals,
not to exceed one year between transactions, representing
an agreement between a Cardholder and Merchant to
purchase goods or services provided over a period of time.
Key components to this definition include:
I have no interest in the money. Really? $60 I'm out and I am spending how many hours to get to the bottom of this. If you can't see that consumers are being ripped off by predatory actions of stamps.com then you obviously have a dog in this fight.
The lawyers always get the lions share of class action. And I speak from experience having been part of several class action lawsuits in my 59 years of life.
I still have a check around here somewhere made out to me for 3 cents.
Point is if Stamps.com has to pay attorney fees plus refunds for all effected parties, then they will surely change their policy. And I have already posted the VISA requirements. But I am happy to post them again.
The Visa International defines a recurring transaction as:
Multiple transactions processed at predetermined intervals,
not to exceed one year between transactions, representing
an agreement between a Cardholder and Merchant to
purchase goods or services provided over a period of time.
Key components to this definition include:
- Cardholder establishes a relationship with a merchant to receive ongoing services or goods until the contractual arrangement is cancelled
- Cardholder gives permission to the merchant to bill his account on a recurring basis
- Transaction amount may be a fixed amount or may vary with each billing
- Payment relationship consists of more than the initial transaction, with future payments occurring on a regular cycle not to exceed twelve months
and can be found here...for starters. More detailed rules can be found elsewhere.
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What's this? #4 Consumer Comment
Authorization?
AUTHOR: Robert - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, February 06, 2013
To the OP...can you post this "requirement" from VISA International that requires any web site to have a person check a checkbox when ever there is going to be a recurring charge.
Also, as to your magical all powerful "Class Action Lawsuit"..Lawsuit..Lawsuit(Add echo effect). You either haven't the slightest clue what a Class Action is, or you know exactly what it is and are using it to your advantage.
Did you even take 2 minutes to read about the suit you posted? That had to do with people not being pro-rated when they cancelled and what was felt to be too long phone "hold" times.
What did the lawyers get...well they got $450,000. The person who was the lead plaintiff got $5,000. So what did every other member of the class get? Did they get $5,000...nope..how about $500..nope...well how about at least $100...nope. Did they at least get the difference in the prorated amount..nope. They got the opportunity to get 2 free months of service of a service they had previously cancelled. Great deal...right.
Now, had each of those people actually taken the initiative and filed the case in Small Claims they would have been able to probably get the difference they were owed as well as court costs.
So if you do know exactly who benefits from a Class Action, of course you want people to join yours..because if you prevail you will get many times more in a settlement than you could have gotten on your own. And the members of the class you rope into your case..well they may get another 2 free months of service.
This of course is not even going into the requirements it takes to have a case become a "Class Action".
Also, as to your magical all powerful "Class Action Lawsuit"..Lawsuit..Lawsuit(Add echo effect). You either haven't the slightest clue what a Class Action is, or you know exactly what it is and are using it to your advantage.
Did you even take 2 minutes to read about the suit you posted? That had to do with people not being pro-rated when they cancelled and what was felt to be too long phone "hold" times.
What did the lawyers get...well they got $450,000. The person who was the lead plaintiff got $5,000. So what did every other member of the class get? Did they get $5,000...nope..how about $500..nope...well how about at least $100...nope. Did they at least get the difference in the prorated amount..nope. They got the opportunity to get 2 free months of service of a service they had previously cancelled. Great deal...right.
Now, had each of those people actually taken the initiative and filed the case in Small Claims they would have been able to probably get the difference they were owed as well as court costs.
So if you do know exactly who benefits from a Class Action, of course you want people to join yours..because if you prevail you will get many times more in a settlement than you could have gotten on your own. And the members of the class you rope into your case..well they may get another 2 free months of service.
This of course is not even going into the requirements it takes to have a case become a "Class Action".
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What's this? #5 Author of original report
Authorization explicitly required by VISA
AUTHOR: Pixelpadre - (USA)
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, February 05, 2013
There you go again.....pants on fire.
Putting a FAQ on the same page as your credit card checkout page does not comply with VISA internationals requirements for explicit authorization for recurring debits. Putting a checkbox indicating that you agree to recurring payments would. Including the fee in the Terms and condtions would also. But it does not appear there either.
Your obvious deception is working well in snagging victims. But when enough people come forward and we see a class action suit on a television commercial, it will no longer work so well.
I find it very interesting that you never contested the class action lawsuit that you lost in 2009.
Keep up the deceipt, we need more victims.
Putting a FAQ on the same page as your credit card checkout page does not comply with VISA internationals requirements for explicit authorization for recurring debits. Putting a checkbox indicating that you agree to recurring payments would. Including the fee in the Terms and condtions would also. But it does not appear there either.
Your obvious deception is working well in snagging victims. But when enough people come forward and we see a class action suit on a television commercial, it will no longer work so well.
I find it very interesting that you never contested the class action lawsuit that you lost in 2009.
Keep up the deceipt, we need more victims.
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What's this? #6 UPDATE Employee
Stamps.com Response
AUTHOR: StampsComCorp - (United States of America)
SUBMITTED: Monday, February 04, 2013
Hi Pixelpadre,
Stamps.com appreciates your feedback, and apologizes for any misunderstanding. We offer a four week no-risk trial so that you may use our online postage service and determine if the service fits your mailing and shipping needs. Please note that we do not offer a "free trial" -- our trial is labeled as "no risk trial."
If you do not like the Stamps.com service, you may cancel at any time during the four week trial period and you will not be charged any subscription fee for using the service. However if you do not cancel the Stamps.com service and go past your four week trial period, you will be charged $15.99 for using the service during that first "trial" month. After you pass the four week trial period and become a regular customer, you will be charged $15.99 each month moving forward. You may cancel at any time -- there is no long term agreement.
Some of the information stated in your comment is incorrect. During the registration process for Stamps.com and before a customer's account has been created, (on the page called Postage Account Credit Card Authentication) all prospective customers will see the following text:
Why do you need my credit card information?
Your credit card is required by the USPS to set up your USPS postage account. Your credit card will not be charged unless you buy additional postage or Stamps.com products, or if you continue past the NO-RISK 4-week trial period.
We provide and disclose terms that we do expect all potential customers to read, review, and agree to before they create their accounts. Accounts cannot be created without customers indicating that they have read the terms by clicking on the I Agree box.
We apologize for any misunderstanding and would be happy to further review your account. Could you e-mail us your full name and phone number to social@stamps.com?
Thanks!
Divya
Stamps.com
Stamps.com appreciates your feedback, and apologizes for any misunderstanding. We offer a four week no-risk trial so that you may use our online postage service and determine if the service fits your mailing and shipping needs. Please note that we do not offer a "free trial" -- our trial is labeled as "no risk trial."
If you do not like the Stamps.com service, you may cancel at any time during the four week trial period and you will not be charged any subscription fee for using the service. However if you do not cancel the Stamps.com service and go past your four week trial period, you will be charged $15.99 for using the service during that first "trial" month. After you pass the four week trial period and become a regular customer, you will be charged $15.99 each month moving forward. You may cancel at any time -- there is no long term agreement.
Some of the information stated in your comment is incorrect. During the registration process for Stamps.com and before a customer's account has been created, (on the page called Postage Account Credit Card Authentication) all prospective customers will see the following text:
Why do you need my credit card information?
Your credit card is required by the USPS to set up your USPS postage account. Your credit card will not be charged unless you buy additional postage or Stamps.com products, or if you continue past the NO-RISK 4-week trial period.
We provide and disclose terms that we do expect all potential customers to read, review, and agree to before they create their accounts. Accounts cannot be created without customers indicating that they have read the terms by clicking on the I Agree box.
We apologize for any misunderstanding and would be happy to further review your account. Could you e-mail us your full name and phone number to social@stamps.com?
Thanks!
Divya
Stamps.com
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