Website Pros practices creditcard fraud through third party billing of you merchant banking services Jacksonville Florida

I recently learned from Misty at CardService (12/20/07) that I was being billed on my merchantcard account for something called Visability Online $59.95 It took her awhile to figure out what it was. I would never pay for anything that way. She gave me the phone number of the billing company. I called them and questioned them as to what it was! I was told I had signed up for a website building service in November 2006 for a trial period. And they let me listen to my recorded authorization. I make notes on my calendar of anything I purchase over phone or the net. I checked my records and found that I had in fact talked with someone about designing a new website. I was to be contacted within 10 days by phone to go over the design elements. I never heard from them by phone or e-mail (even though they claimed they e-mailed me) and after three weeks I called their customer service number several time in December and January. I was put on hold each time for over 15 minutes. I don't hold for anyone for that amount of time. So on 2/14/07 I held for over 33 minutes to make sure I got ahold of a human being to resolve this once and for all. I finally reached a young man named James, who told me his computer was down and he was unable to help me. I insisted on speaking to his supervisor or manager. He told me he was the only person there at that time. It apparently was evening wherever he was. I told him that was unsatisfactory and insisted he write a note to let them know I was not going to pay for such horrible follow-up. He told me to call back and leave a voice mail to make sure someone got my demand. I did that immediately following the call.

I did not think about it again until, my bookkeeper was going over our cardservice charges and questioned the unusually high billings. That is when I called Misty on 12/20/07. So I contacted Website Pros on the same day by e-mail as I was instructed to do by customer service at Website Pros. I was also told I would be contacted within 72 hours. It took 7 days. They told me I would be credited $59.95 for January 08, but it might take two billing cycles. I responded with my rebuttle the same day. 8 days later, I got a response that basically said too bad, no credit would be made. So I responded again to them with my documentation and my conversations with three of your employees, all agreeing that "third party billing" is unusual and inappropriate.

I contacted the BBB of Florida and Website pros responded quite quickly but only offered two months refund. I demanded at least a refund of 9 of the 12 months I was billed for. They refused that offer and closed the compaint. I responded with a negative report at BBB and the Attorney general's office. They are arrogant and will continue this practice until they are stopped legally.

I also think that "third party billing" should be re-evaluated by all merchant bankcard services such as Cardservice or at the very least please make sure your clients are truly aware of this practice.

Chris
Seattle, Washington
U.S.A.