Pimsleur What a SCAM!! How can they get away with this? Credit card company refuses to credit charges (after initial credit from both Pimsleur and cc company)? Internet

there are quite a few complaints about Pimsleur on Rip Off Report and around the net.  It seems to be one of those typical 'fine print' deals where if you are not careful to read all of the terms and conditions you will find that your 'free trial' has signed you up for a super deluxe package.  I dont think it will be $64/month for eternity, but 4-6 months to pay off a big package of cd's.  Check their site for the details.

What amazes is me is that Capital One will not allow you to cancel your credit card -- that is something new that I never heard of before.  I wonder if it goes so far as if you report the card lost or stolen they will only issue you a new card, AND they will transfer the right for Pimsleur to keep charging you on that new card.  Thus a common tool of the consumer to break the cycle of recurring charges -- canceling the card- has now been removed from the table.  That really is not a service to Capital Ones clients, and even smacks of collusion with the retailer in question.  Sort of 'make sure your site has X in the fine print, and we will make sure we collect for you (and us)'.  That really stinks

Finally as a retailer I am amazed at what these big companies get away with on credit cards, esp recurring charges.  Thank God I do not get much in the way of chargebacks or fraud on my site, but when I do as the retailer I always lose.  No matter how clearly unfair.

I think the only way to avoid these types of charges is to NEVER give out your credit card number as part of a 'free trial' or to pay 'shipping charges'.  I got stuff from Pimsleur before, and I know I had to really be careful to make sure what I was getting was  really FREE, and when i did buy stuff from them, what I was buying was free from recurring charges or continuing deals.  I was able to get it done, but I remember it took a bit of internet gymnastics, even to the point of buying some of it on ebay, just to avoid the Pimsleur billing foolishness.