Classmates.com Charged my account without my knowing I had subscribed Renton WASHINGTON

I noticed a charge on my debt card of $15.00 from classmates.com. I have no idea how I "subscribed" to their service. My experience with them is that I first visited their site, probably 4-5 years ago. I thought it was an interesting idea and thinking they were a reputable company, entered my billing information that was required for their "free" service. I occasionally received emails from them that someone from my school wanted to contact me or had joined. A few times I clicked on their link which took me to their site only to tell me that I would have to join to read their messages, which I never did. I found this extremely annoying and started deleting their emails when they arrived. I had no interest in paying for their services.

Recently a high school friend sent an invite for a get-together. I clicked on the link in her email which took me to classmates.com and I clicked that I would come to the gathering. This is the only activity I have engaged in for months besides the dead-end notifications I indicated above.

The next thing I know I am a "Gold Member" and they are charging my debt card! Wow, I'd love to see that small print. I am furious that I am being billed for something that I did not knowingly sign up for. I have canceled my "subscription" but it was very difficult getting to a contact email on their site where I could file my complaint and request a refund. I found one page to cancel but it stated that if you cancel you waive all rights to a refund or rebuttal!

I finally replied to one of the email notices they had sent me about people from my school and got a bounce back email with contact information. I clicked on the "cancel" option and finally got to a page on their site where I could file a complaint. I got a reply to cancel my "automated" subscription so that no more charges would happen and now I am on a "manual" subscription. What does that mean?

It all seems very fishy. You cannot easily contact them and if you do find a way, you can only change your status to a "manual" subscription. Does that mean it wasn't really real in the first place?

Will I get a reply from a real person there? Will I get a refund?

THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL!!!

C.****
Shoreview, Minnesota
U.S.A.