Reservation Rewards Monthly Billing of $12 from simple offer of rebate during checkout on an otherwise reputable site. Internet

Reservation Rewards somehow used the checkout process for Tiger Direct, a computer and electronics retailer, to offer a $20 coupon towards the next purchase. They make it look like the offer is from Tiger Direct and when you say yes to the $20 coupon for your next visit; they use that as their method to legitimize their theft of the information you provided to the host retailer (Tiger Direct); and then claim you authorized the use.

When I called the company to complain, the auto-answer system has the FIRST choice as "if you are calling for a billing complaint, please press one". It's obviously their number one reason for customer service. Step 2 and again the FIRST choice is "Please key in the credit card number that was used for your billing".

If it isn't obvious yet, this so-called "company" is playing the numbers game. They must bill at least a million people a month this $12 fee. They probably get 200,000 people calling to get their money back each month. So they hire dozens of people to handle the customer service complaints. Still, it takes 30 minutes or more to wait for the first available CSR (Customer service rep) and when you finally get through they instantly offer to stop billing you. You must demand a refund of all previous billing and within a minute or so they agree. No forms to fill out, nothing. They then send you an email - instantly - with a confirmation code claiming that the full refund has been issued and you will see a credit on your credit card statement within 3-5 business days.

As I said, this is a numbers game - quite brilliant really. Since no-one is willing to step up to the plate and force credit card companies to deny these companies from using their services, they will flourish on the 80-20 rule.

Joe
Sarnia, Ontario
Canada