Shopping Essentials - Restaurant.com was given my personal information, including credit card, by Restaurant.com Internet

In August I purchased a discount Restaurant Certificate from restaurant.com. Great, no problem using certificate. However, in September my credit card was billed for $14.95 by shopping essentials. I missed it when I checked my statement for that month. On 10/23 I checked my credit card on line and found another billing from shopping essentials for $14.95. I had no idea who/what they were.

After prowling around on the internet, I found this site and my questions were answered. I had been ripped off by shopping essentials and restaurant.com.

First, I emailed restaurant.com and complained, the reply I got was as follows:

"We apologize for any inconvenience. At the end of an order with Restaurant.com there is an offer to receive $10 cash back for becoming a member with ShoppingEssentialsPlus. When entering your email address twice and clicking on the button "Yes," you have authorized Restaurant.com to transfer to ShoppingEssentialsPlus your information, including the credit card information that was used in your order. If you do not wish to continue your membership with ShoppingEssentialsPlus during your 30-day free trial,
you will need to contact ShoppingEssentialsPlus prior to being charged the $14.95 monthly membership fee. The charges will begin 30 days after the completion of your survey. If you would like to cancel you membership, or
have any more questions or concerns ShoppingEssentialsPlus' number is
888-999-0564."

I replied back:

"Madam
You and your business is a fraud. Let me be the first to advise you that I am going to eamil every restaurant in the Baltimore, MD area telling them of the fraud you are and suggesting that if they want to keep business, they should discontinue their association with you. In addition, I intend to go to the State of Maryland Attorney General as well as the FTC and complain.
I will also be checking with the Secretary of State in Maryland to see if you are licensed to do business in Maryland."

I then called shopping essentials. The woman said I had been mailed information and I told her I had received nothing from them. She said she would remove the current charge but I would have to speak to a supervisor to get the other charge removed. I told her I was going to the State Attorney General and she connected me to a supervisor. He came on the line and said this is Scott Mr. ******* what can I do for you. (The woman must have told him I was steamed.) I told him what I wanted and he said the charges would be removed in 2 days. No argument, no nothing and hung up. We shall see.

I still intend to email every restaurant in the area that is affiliated with restaurant.com and tell them what is going on and that restaurant.com is releasing credit card information to their customers.

O. b.
Catonsville, Maryland
U.S.A.