Vinesse 5 Seasons Wine Club - Lawrence Dutra unauthorized billing of checking account using check coding only Westlake Village California

 In January I reponded to a wine club trial offer and sent a check, so in case this was a bait and switch, they would not be able to continue charging my credit card. After the trial of 12 bottles of wine, all mediocre, we did not contact the company to join their wine club.

However, three months later, a box of wine arrives at our door and an unauthorized charge appears on our bank statement.  Apparently, if a vendor has your check coding, they have access to your account just as if you had given them a credit card - very scary. We contacted our bank and were told that our only recourse was to file the bank's fraud form and that they will contact the company on our behalf for re-imbursement.

Apparently Vinesse 5Seasons Wine Club Founder and President Lawrence Dutra who writes letters on stationary with no return address or phone number is a scam artist who uses several wine club names (see other Rip Off Reports) to perpetuate this fraud. Not sure why American Airlines, Omaha Steaks and other incentives are offered with the wine deal, but then never fulfilled. I will wait and see if my bank can recover my funds and if not will try directly, although others indicate that is futile. I will call each winery whose wine they ship to be sure that they understand the fallout from using this form of distribution.