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Report: #306182

Complaint Review: Emusic - Internet

  • Submitted:
  • Updated:
  • Reported By: Nitro West Virginia
  • Author Confirmed What's this?
  • Why?
  • Emusic http://www.emusic.com Internet U.S.A.

Emusic charges ME for my 12-yr old daughter's 35 "free" download trial New York New York Internet *EDitor's Suggestions on how to get your money back into your bank account!

*Author of original report: Looks like Emusic.com has stopped billing me

*Author of original report: More info - Credit Union & Debit Card

*Consumer Comment: Why the bank and not Emusic?

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Watch out for $9.99 monthly bills from Emusic.com after your allegedly "free" trial period.

As near as I can tell, my 12-year old daughter signed up for the 35-song free download offer from emusic.com that came with the MP3 player that she got for Christmas. She swears that she did NOT enter credit card information in the registration process. Neither my wife nor I provided credit card information. It took me 4 tries to even figure out which email account emusic.com thought I had.

Now, somehow, a $9.99 charge has shown up on my checking account. I attempted to call the number shown on the statement, but there is NO WAY to cancel by phone - pressing option 3 merely goes to a recorded message explaining how to use email or the post office to send a cancellation request - that includes the last 8 digits of the credit card used to set up the account.

Based on the sudden flood of complaints I found against emusic.com in January 2008, my guess is that this is a new, widespread scam designed to make it as difficult as possible to cancel a subscription you never intended to start.

Greg
Nitro, West Virginia
U.S.A.

EDitor's Suggestions on how to get your money back!

HERE IS WHAT RIP-OFF REPORT SUGGESTS YOU DO:

Go to your bank within 60 days of the charge, or as soon as you know about the charge, don't delay, and tell them that there has been fraudulent activity within your account. Explain that you wish to file a dispute, and demand that they assist you in accordance with Federal Regulation E.

According to the majority of victims interviewed by Rip-off Report, those who immediately called their banks to dispute the charges did not get very far. Many victims got the following responses from their banks: we could not do anything for you or you waited too long; it has been more than 60 days.

If the bank is says that you have waited too long, explain to them how you called their 800 number as soon as the charges were found, and were told by the bank that nothing could be done. Remind the bank that they failed to assist you properly at the 800 #, and instead, provided you with an inadequate explanation of your right to dispute. Tell the bank that it's their fault time has expired, and since they gave you the wrong info to begin with, they will just have to deal with it, take the loss and reverse the charges.

Tell them the truth; this was unauthorized and your account was NOT to be charged! Keep emphasizing how you never authorized anything! Direct them to the hundreds of victims reports that were filed on Rip-off Report.com. And if you're at the bank, walk them over to their computer and make them go to this site! If you are on the phone with them, tell them you will wait while they access this site! Either way, be persistent!

DO NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!

Let them know nicely, that you were advised to Report them (the Bank) and this situation to the Banking Commission in your state. Since each state has a different name for the agency/controller over banks, find that name before you call or get to the bank so you can throw it in their face. The more knowledgeable you appear to be, the further you will get.

And just continue to demand the Federal Regulation E form! The bank CAN, MUST and WILL reverse the charge! But, you must be persistent; ask to speak to the supervisor or the area manager for all the branches in the state.

Let the bank personnel know you are meeting with the media later in the day, that you would much rather they do the right thing (as most other banks have) by looking at the complaints and immediately reversing the charge(s) to your account; no matter how long ago it was. Be sure to call the Media if necessary so you are telling the truth.

If you have to, be loud (but nice) in front of other customers. If you are just calling by phone, the above tactics should still work. The bank can easily fax or mail to you the Federal Regulation E dispute form.

CHARGES TO YOUR CREDIT CARD

If the charge was to your credit card (not debit card, check card, or checking account), contact the credit card company as soon as possible to request a dispute form. Consumers usually have a little longer to dispute fraudulent credit card charges (up to 6 months), but it is better to act right away. In this type of situation, credit card disputes are usually successful since fraudulent companies often won't contest the disputed charge. In rare cases, credit card companies will review disputes, but refuse to reverse the charges. If this occurs, complain to a manager and let them know you will be filing a report here.

Remember Don't let them get away with it! Make sure they make the Rip-off Report .. The more Reports filed on a Company or individual, the more likely it is that the authorities, media and attorneys will want to take action.

And good luck Let us know how you do!

ED Magedson Founder, Rip-off Report.com & Author of www.ripoffrevenge.com
EDitor@RipoffReport.com
badbusinessbureau.com
www.ripoffreport.com

Don't let them get away with it.
Make sure they make the Rip-off Report!

We are not lawyers.
We are not a collection agency.

We are Consumer Advocates.
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WE are Civil and Human Rights Activists

We are a Worldwide Consumer Reporting News Agency
...by consumers, for consumers

CLICK HERE to read about Credit Card Scams... find out how to get your money back. *Rip-off Report Investigation provides valuable information.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 02/04/2008 08:17 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/emusic/internet/emusic-charges-me-for-my-12-yr-old-daughters-35-free-download-trial-new-york-new-york-i-306182. 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. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
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#3 Author of original report

Looks like Emusic.com has stopped billing me

AUTHOR: Rhyled - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, March 11, 2008

I've been watching my bank statement carefully for the past month, and no additional emusic.com charges have come through. It looks like cancelling both the music and talking book accounts did the trick. I just wish cancelling these types of accounts was as easy as getting tricked into them in the first place.

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#2 Author of original report

More info - Credit Union & Debit Card

AUTHOR: Rhyled - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, February 12, 2008

I trotted down to my credit union the next day and asked about the charge. The credit union employee was able to identify the charge was against my wife's debit card. They told me to take the issue up with the merchant (emusic.com).

Neither my wife nor my daughter are as skeptical or cynical about online purchases as I am, so I suppose it's possible that the debit card # was entered even tho neither remembers entering a credit card #. I was able to guess which email account my daughter used to set up the trial, request a new password to get access to her account and cancelled BOTH the audio book and music subscription trials. Hopefully that will end the charges. For a $9.99 ripoff, I'm not willing to expend too many hours of effort, assuming the charges stop.

If I see the bill again, my plan is to contact my state's Attorney General who has a reputation for taking on consumer ripoffs. I carefully captured the cancellation displayed on the web page, just in case. Before finding ripoffreport, I tried the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org, but it doesn't look like they've had much luck resolving emusic.com complaints.

In answer to the 2/12 comment - I would have loved to contact emusic.com about cancelling and refunding my charge. Googling "emusic.com" and "scam" showed me my experience was all too typical. I quickly figured out that it was impossible to reach a real person via their 800# (Pressing 3 to cancel via phone simply gives the web and us-mail addresses). Obviously customer service is NOT a priority for this company.

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#1 Consumer Comment

Why the bank and not Emusic?

AUTHOR: Cynthia - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Nearly the same exact situation happened to me. Charges since December that every way Emusic suggests to cancel is ineffective........

Why is your only suggestion through the bank?
Is it possible to remedy this situation directly with Emusic?

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