1-800FLOWERS.COM PROVIDED LINK FOR $15 CASH BACK ON PURCHASE - LINK IS TO LIVEWELL AUTO $39 MEMBERSHIP Carle Place, New York Internet

Duped into believing I was getting a $15 money back as stated in their email to me. Clicked the link and was taken to a site that asked two questions. Password and Town of birth. Input that and entered 'Yes I thought I was getting my $15 cash back' and like magic... ALL MY PERSONAL info, including my Debit card information was transferred to LiveWell and by clicking the 'yes' for money back as I thought - I had apparently was duped into a subscription that would be charged to my debit card for $39!!!!! And no $15 cash back.

I called flowers.com and was told I needed to call LiveWell. I was like huh? and asked 'where's my $15 cash back' I was told that I would need to call another number at 1800flowers.com member rewards to claim my reward. I found this very confusing and turning into a nightmare for having clicked on a link that stated I could get money back.

By this time my head was spinning but I called LiveWell to cancel the membership that I had apparently signed up for by clicking the 'yes' link and felt sick as they had ALL my personal information that I had given to complete the order through 1800flowers.com and LiveWell told me that they would cancel, that I wouldn't be charged. How nice of them.

I complained to customer service at 1800flowers.com and used some choice words to express my thoughts on being duped by them.

I received a response that was basically patronizing. Apparently I should have known I was being taken to a 3rd party site.

In 1800flowers.com e-mail that invited me to save $15, the link that was in the body of the e-mail stated:

'Your purchase is complete.
Click here to claim $15.00 Cash Back on this purchase'

(This was copied from the e-mail I received from them; their version referencing the link stated below is false)

So, did I read wrong and was I supposed to know that this would take me to a 3rd party site... it was so completely obscure or I am probably just a complete idiot. In other words, customer support is saying that I should have read the fine print. Well - we all know about fine print eh? And that just proves that they trick others by including that link to a 3rd party site in their e-mail passing it off as a money back offer - how disgraceful is that.

Here is some of the e-mail I received from 1800flowers.com customer service in response to my complaint:

It is important to know that our customers must choose to become a member of the LiveWell family and approve the transfer of personal information for billing purposes.

The LiveWell offer explains that our customers are entitled to a free trial membership in the program and that they will be billed a monthly membership fee after the trial offer ends.

Specifically, when you placed an order online with our brand in there was a banner on the checkout page that read: Your Purchase is completeClick here to claim $15 Cash Back on this Purchase!CLICK FOR DETAILS! When you click on this link, it directs you to a new browser window on the LiveWell site, endorsed by our brand, where the benefits of our service are explained.

*** my comment here: This was not the case... I received an e-mail from them with the $15 cash back offer. Further patronizing language from their customer service suggestion it was clear that I was voluntarily signing up for LiveWell.. ***

The language there advises you that to enroll, you must assign a password to access the website, www.LiveWell.net and enter a piece of personal information, in this case, your City of Birth, to join the program. You much also then click YES, I accept! to complete your enrollment or No Thanks! to close the window.

Our Order Confirmation page resides in the background and if you were to close the window (opting to not join the program) then you would continue to view your Order Confirmation detail which again, sits unaffected under the LiveWell program offer.

*** again - this was not the way they duped me, I was duped through e-mail and now this customer service rep is saying - or could this just be a template they send out to everyone who complains.. hmm.. ***


When reviewing the offer (on that page and after you click through the banner) there is information which states that by accepting this offer, you are giving permission to give the credit card information which was used on the order to LiveWell to process your membership. Included in the enrollment language is detail regarding the free trial offer of the program and a notice that you would need to cancel the membership within the first 30 days, or would be billed at $11.99, or the then-current fee, each month thereafter, for as long as you wish to remain a member.

Immediately after accepting your enrollment to the program, you should have received an acknowledgement email from LiveWell with a link to get started using the program. Shortly thereafter, you would have also received a separate Welcome which included the link to get your $15.00 cash back, which is yours to keep, even if you cancel your membership within the first 30 days. Periodically, we also send promotional emails and newsletters to our member base. Thank you for taking the time to share your concern around the program. Please contact LiveWell at 800-793-2318. Again, please be aware that you will be notified when your cancellation and accompanying refund has been processed. Please also note that we do track our program complaints and have duly noted yours. Please contact us again if you need any further assistance, and accept our sincerely apologies for any inconvenience. If you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at the address listed below. Sincerely, Ismelda Liu Sales and Service Specialist custservice@1800flowers.com

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Why does Bernie Madoff spring to mind?

I guess the CEO's of both know that there are stupid idiots like me in this world that click on obscure links that are intentionally obscure to trick you into thinking you are going to get money back on your purchase when in fact you are giving a completely different company ALL YOUR CREDIT/DEBIT CARD INFO, HOME ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER. Disgraceful and immoral business ethics.

Caroline
orlando, Florida
U.S.A.