Care2, Inc. Charter Membership Rip-off!!! Redwood City California

I've been a loyal member of Care2 for probably six years. I would visit daily and participate in their "click-to-donate" program and through that I discovered Children International where I sponsered a child that I still have today - about two years and going. I've been a huge fan of Care2, felt that they were a reputable company and told everyone about them... until now.

On 2/25/2008 I finally decided to become a "Charter Member" which entails making a donation and receiving a Charter Membership with certain benefits. The level I choose was "Siberian Tiger" which costs $75 and is *supposed* to give you all the following benefits:

-Charter Membership
-Member Recognition on Home Page
-E-Card Charter Member Stamp
-Charter Screen Saver
-Double Clicks in Click-to-Donate Races
-Email with POP Account
-Care2 T-Shirt of Your Choice
-1000 Race Clicks to Save the Rainforest

My account with hit almost INSTANTLY with the $75 donation, but a week later I'd still not noticed any of the membership benefits at all. So, I sent an email via their website as they instruct a member to do when they have questions. I received an acknowledgement of my question and that would someone would follow-up within a few days or something. I never received a follow up. So, maybe a week or two later I sent another inquiry in via their website and again received the acknowledgement, but no follow-up. About another week or two later I received two responses, both automated, telling me they were "too busy" to handle my request, but if I REALLY needed their assistance, to reply to THAT email. So, I replied to BOTH. That was several weeks ago and I have yet to receive any form of communication despite the fact I threatened to report them to the BBB and go to my bank about getting my money back.

So... yesterday I decide to try one more time and low and behold I go to their website and now they no longer offer the Charter Memberships - CONVENIENT!!! I am a member for like, 6 years, and then I finally take a plunge and make a SIZABLE donation for a single Mother living paycheck to paycheck and then all of a sudden - POOF! They end the program! Now, I have credit card files to prove I was charged for this but it's clear upon visiting the website I am NOT a Charter Member.

I have now filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and tommorow I will be calling Care2 by phone to notify them of this action and also that I will be calling my bank to take the necessary steps to report their scam. I am hoping these actions will cause them to wake up and do something about this. I am so upset, I cannot put into appropriate words how angry I am. I have a sponsered child I could have sent this money to!

If this company wants to make things right, they need to refund my money. I literally got NOTHING for it and it wasn't just a donation - it was a payment to get a Charter Membership. I no longer want part of this Charter Membership because I no longer have any respect for this company and I believe them to be scam. I want my money back and that's it. If they refund my money I will consider not spreading the world EVERYWHERE I GO about their little scam. If not, I will make sure every person I meet knows what they are all about.

Lamia_amorist
Victoria, Texas
U.S.A.