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Report: #271461

Complaint Review: Specialty Merchandise Corporation SMC - Simi Vally California

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  • Reported By: ford Virginia
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  • Specialty Merchandise Corporation SMC 996 Flower Glen Street Simi Vally, California U.S.A.

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On July 12 2007 I started a trial membership with SMC with the understanding that I would receive a full refund of my starting costs if I cancelled in 30 days. The agent that talked me into starting my membership told me on the 12th that if I called her she would cancel my membership.

I called Ms Anderson before Aug. 1st. she did not answer the phone so I left a message telling her I wanted to cancel my membership and receive my refund. She never called me back or gave me the refund so I called her again. I called six times and never received a call back from anyone.

SMC never cancelled my membership and they billed my debit card in Aug. without authorization causing my bank accont to be overdrawn.

I called SMC right away to get this problem solved. I was put on hold for 2 hours and never spoke to a person.

I sent SMC an e-mail asking for help. I did get a response after I waited 5 days. In their e-mail to me they told me that all phone calls were recorded and they were going to review the tape of our conversation to see if I was being truthful. If they found that I was telling the truth they were going to extend my 30 days so I could cancel and receive my refund.

After another 5 days had past they sent me another e-mail telling me that the recording device was not working that day and they had no record of my phone call with ms Anderson therefore they could not give me a refund but they could cancel my membership with no further costs to me.

I feel as if I have been scammed. I do not believe that they were ever going to give me a refund.

SMC has the worst customer service I have ever encountered. I never received a call back from anyone and when I was on hold it was for hours. In their e-mails they are rude and threatening.

People need to beware of SMC.

Stephanie
ford, Virginia
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 08/30/2007 05:59 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/specialty-merchandise-corporation-smc/simi-vally-california-93065/specialty-merchandise-corporation-smc-ripped-off-by-smc-simi-vally-california-271461. 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:
0Author
5Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#5 Consumer Comment

they responded to us

AUTHOR: Becca M - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Wednesday, October 10, 2007

We also had a problem with SMC drafting on our bank account for an order that we did not place. It took a while but we not only got our money back but we got to keep the merchandise they sent. Before we even called originally though, we called the Better Business Bureau and they were given a clean bill. The BBB stated that they had never been investigated and that the few times they knew of that there had been a problem, it was resolved satisfactorily. If they do owe you money, just stay after them and before you sign on with any company, always check them with the BBB. That way, you are less likely to get screwed.

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#4 Author of original report

The Final Chapter (Hopefully)

AUTHOR: Stephanie b - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, September 15, 2007

I GOT MY REFUND!!

I could not believe it! I said in a previous update that I had filed a report with the Better Business Bureau and that is what SMC responded to. The BBB was able to get through to them and I received my refund yesterday.

I am happy that this is over but I wish I had not had to go to such lengths to get an answer and to get a measly $25.00 witch is all I wanted in the first place. Of course by the time I got my refund they had to refund me the initial $25.00 plus the unauthorized charge of $39.95. The only thing that I have yet to be refunded is the $35.00 overdraft fee from my band that occurred when they took the $39.95 without authorization. I was told that if I fax my bank statement to SMC I will get that refund as well.

I think it is a shame the way SMC made me jump through hoops in order to get what they told me I would get in the first place. That is bad business. They take advantage of people that are looking for a better life and put you through hell.

I am sure there are some legitimate Work At Home company's out there but I do not know where to find them. If anyone knows of a legitimate work at home opportunity please let me know.

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#3 Author of original report

Still No Contact from SMC

AUTHOR: Stephanie b - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, September 13, 2007

I have sent SMC several e-mails concerning canceling my account. I still have heard nothing from them.

I feel like I must reiterate, SMC has the absolute worst customer service! They are more than willing to call you so they can talk you into spending more money with them but they NEVER return phone calls or e-mails if you have a problem. I still receive phone calls and e-mails from SMC as if I was an active member. They still want me to buy their products and apparently no one there is aware that I canceled my Big Value web site on the same day I tried to cancel my SMC membership because I still get phone calls about that.

The web site it hosted by someone other than SMC and I had no problem canceling that and was never billed after my cancellation. The web site people were actually quite nice and all I did was call and say cancel me and it was done. I spoke to a real person right away and spent no time on hold. I have no complaints about the people that host SMC web sites. Keep in mind that SMC has nothing to do with the web sites. That is a completely different company.

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#2 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Thanx for saving me

AUTHOR: Grateful1 - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Friday, September 07, 2007

I want to thank all of the posters for preventing me from making a horrible mistake with SMC again. I signed up with them in 1996, but never really did anything with the membership, so didn't get dumped on them so much as others have. I signed up with them again last year, and again, got caught up in my regular job with more hours, so again let the membership lapse. I was just about to go online and find out how to be reinstated when I ran across report and started reading, and reading, ..........

Last year I thought it would be a great idea to even try Ebay with smc products, but I noticed many others had the same idea, so many of the same products, different people, same or similar pricing, it was a letdown to see that competition didn't even make that prospect exciting.

I have seen postings where report members have mentioned wholesalers that one can contact themselves....does anyone have leads to legitimate wholesalers, and how can one tell if these companies are s too?

Thanks everyone! :-) :-) :-)

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#1 Author of original report

The Saga Continues

AUTHOR: Stephanie b - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, September 01, 2007

I was told in my last e-mail by SMC that if I responded within 5 days they would cancel my membership. I responded the same day the e-mail was sent and have responded 3 more times since then. I have not received another e-mail from them.

I asked the person sending the e-mails to send me conformation that my membership had been canceled and that no more money would be billed to my bank account. I have still not heard back from her. I am getting a bad feeling about this. I decided to cancel my debit card and get a new one issued so that they could not charge my card again without my authorization.

I have also filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I do not know if this will help but at least I am trying something.

I also called my bank and told them that an unauthorized charge was made to my debit card.

I was lured in by SMC with the promise of starting my own buisness for less than $25.00!! This was a LIE! You start by sending them 24.95 then they will charge you 39.95 a month until you have paid 464.40. I was also told "free web site" this is also a lie. the monthly fee for the web site is 29.95. the "free" web site is something called a "big value web site" this site contains about 100 cheap items that no one will buy. If you would like to upgrade to a full web site this will cost you 1095.00. there is also a yearly fee of 44.95 to be a SMC member. They tell you a coach will call you and work with you to get your business started. The "coach" is nothing more than a sales person that will try to sell you more options that you did not want. You will receive no training and chances are you will see nothing for the money that you invest. They make you jump through hoops to get your refund and chances are you will never get one. Your best bet is to never get involved with SMC.

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