Simple Escapes, MWI*Simple Escapes, MKS Simple Escapes 2, MMI Simple Escapes, RIPOFF! Simple Escapes is a scam con-artist, fraudulent business I found on the internet. They've screwed others, and now they're trying to do it to me. Stamford Connecticut

I found Simple Escapes through another website. I clicked on it because it offered a $25.00 Gift Card to K-Mart. I went to close the window because I wasn't interested, but then got a pop-ip window that said they'd give me 2 $25.00 Gift Cards. I thought, ok, I'll do it, get the information and the Gift Cards. It was for a 30-day trial period anyway so I could always cancel. This was on May 27, 2003.

I never received the membership kit in the mail. I called them on June 18, 2003 to tell them I never received it, and they were going to send another one out to me via US Postal Mail.

I checked my checking account today (June 25, 2003) and learned that they'd already charged the $14.95 monthly membership fee to my account, which made my account become overdrawn.

I called them at 1-877-836-6903 and spoke to a CSR and his supervisor. I was told that they would cancel my account and refund the $14.95, but that as per their policy, they are not responsible for any overdrawn bank charges on memberships that are bought over the Internet. I told her this was not acceptable, and asked to speak to her supervisor. She told me to fax Consumer Affairs at 402-661-2198, which has been trying to go through now for almost 30 minutes.

I will update this as I get more information, but I plan on filing a claim wiht the Better Business Bureau when I'm done here. I'm also thinking of creating a website that will warn others. Contact me if you have anything to add, or can think of anything else I can do. Thanks!

Kelly
Cincinnati, Ohio
U.S.A.