- Report: #276962
Complaint Review: Privacy Matters AKA Adaptive Marketing AKA Vertrue Inc. - Omaha Nebraska
-
Author Confirmed
Why?
Privacy Matters AKA Adaptive Marketing AKA Vertrue Inc.
9500 West Dodge Road Omaha, 68114 Nebraska, U.S.A.
Phone:
402-661-2000
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
Privacy Matters AKA Adaptive Marketing AKA Vertrue Inc. Privacy Matters got my CC# from intelius.com and charged my bank account $14.95 Classmates.com Omaha & Norwalk Nebraska & Connecticut
On 9/18/2007 I ordered a people search report from intelius.com. I have dealt with intelius many times over the past couple of years, and they were a company I thought I could trust.
On 9/18/2007 I received an email from Privacy Matters with the heading: UNLESS YOU CANCEL, YOUR CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT WILL BE CHARGED. I figured it was a phishing email, reported it as spam to the FTC, and forgot about it.
While doing a routine check on my bank account last night, I discovered a charge of $14.95 on 9/27/2007 from MC-PMIDENTITY.CO226627804 888-840-6301. It immediately followed the fee I'd paid to intelius.com. I called my bank and told them this was a fraudulent charge. They advised that I call the Fraud Department today to get it handled, which I did, and the charge will be removed from my account. Unfortunately, this also involves canceling my current card and reissuing a new debit card, which will inconvenience me for at least a week to ten days until it and the PIN arrive under separate cover.
Last night I called the number listed for the Privacy Matters cancellation line, and was quite disturbed that in order to complete the process, you have to key in your credit card number, and you don't even get a live person to yell at. But hell, that CC# wasn't going to be active after today, so what.
Last night I spent researching this company and found many entries here and at consumeraffairs.com (under Vertrue, the parent company). I also filed formal complaints with the FTC and our state's attorney general's office, and on consumeraffairs.com.
Today I called Intelius to ask them how Privacy Matters got my CC# from them, since it was obvious that was the source due to a mention in the Privacy Matters email touting access to Intelius's services. Intelius flat-out told me that there is an additional pop-up menu at the payment submit stage that automatically signs you up for Privacy Matters. I told them they should discontinue this practice as it is underhanded, makes their company look bad, and will lose them customers--like me and anyone else I know.
Vertrue is the the parent company of Adaptive Marketing, which is the parent company of Privacy Matters, Bargain Network, Coverdell, Lavalife, Memberworks Canada, MyChoiceMedical, and NeverBlue Media. They are also associated with a company called Simple Escapes.
___________________
(Source: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/vertrue.html)
MINNESOTA
In their previous incarnation as MemberWorks, in June 1999 Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch sued US Bank, charging it had sold its customers' private financial information to MemberWorks for $4 million, plus a commission on sales to those customers. Hatch also sued MemberWorks, charging it used a deceptive and misleading telemarketing sales pitch to solicit these consumers to join a variety of membership clubs allegedly offering discounts on health products, entertainment and travel.
NEW YORK
In September 2000 MemberWorks reached [an] agreement with the State of New York, settling charges of telemarketing abuses in connection with its sales of lifestyle club memberships which offered consumers alleged savings on a variety of products and services involving entertainment, shopping, home improvement, and health care.
NEBRASKA
In February 2001 MemberWorks reached a settlement with the Nebraska Attorney General's Office over its marketing practices.
CALIFORNIA
Three months later, MemberWorks settled similar consumer complaints with the State of California. This time, MemberWorks and its marketing partner Sears were called to account for the manner in which MemberWorks club memberships were sold.
FLORIDA
In October 2003, following a three year investigation, Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist sued MemberWorks for violations of state consumer protection laws.
...
"Charging customers for products without their knowledge is fraud," said Crist. "These citizens were unknowingly victimized and deserve to be reimbursed."
In late 2002 MemberWorks announced a major marketing agreement with America Online, the once dominate [sic] Internet Service Provider, at that point struggling amidst the dot-com implosion. The agreement gave MemberWorks the opportunity to market its membership clubs to millions of AOL subscribers.
Today, Vertrue markets a number of membership products in partnership with some of the nation's best known retailers and Web sites, including Classmates.com and AOL.
Consumers who find themselves enrolled in Simple Escapes or any other membership program against their will should demand a proof of purchase from their credit card company, who will then be obliged to demand it from the marketing company.
(Source: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/vertrue.html)
________________
I have since terminated my account at Classmates.com and I'm trying to cancel my account at intelius.com but haven't figured out how just yet.
Nik
Southern California, California
U.S.A.
On 9/18/2007 I received an email from Privacy Matters with the heading: UNLESS YOU CANCEL, YOUR CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT WILL BE CHARGED. I figured it was a phishing email, reported it as spam to the FTC, and forgot about it.
While doing a routine check on my bank account last night, I discovered a charge of $14.95 on 9/27/2007 from MC-PMIDENTITY.CO226627804 888-840-6301. It immediately followed the fee I'd paid to intelius.com. I called my bank and told them this was a fraudulent charge. They advised that I call the Fraud Department today to get it handled, which I did, and the charge will be removed from my account. Unfortunately, this also involves canceling my current card and reissuing a new debit card, which will inconvenience me for at least a week to ten days until it and the PIN arrive under separate cover.
Last night I called the number listed for the Privacy Matters cancellation line, and was quite disturbed that in order to complete the process, you have to key in your credit card number, and you don't even get a live person to yell at. But hell, that CC# wasn't going to be active after today, so what.
Last night I spent researching this company and found many entries here and at consumeraffairs.com (under Vertrue, the parent company). I also filed formal complaints with the FTC and our state's attorney general's office, and on consumeraffairs.com.
Today I called Intelius to ask them how Privacy Matters got my CC# from them, since it was obvious that was the source due to a mention in the Privacy Matters email touting access to Intelius's services. Intelius flat-out told me that there is an additional pop-up menu at the payment submit stage that automatically signs you up for Privacy Matters. I told them they should discontinue this practice as it is underhanded, makes their company look bad, and will lose them customers--like me and anyone else I know.
Vertrue is the the parent company of Adaptive Marketing, which is the parent company of Privacy Matters, Bargain Network, Coverdell, Lavalife, Memberworks Canada, MyChoiceMedical, and NeverBlue Media. They are also associated with a company called Simple Escapes.
___________________
(Source: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/vertrue.html)
MINNESOTA
In their previous incarnation as MemberWorks, in June 1999 Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch sued US Bank, charging it had sold its customers' private financial information to MemberWorks for $4 million, plus a commission on sales to those customers. Hatch also sued MemberWorks, charging it used a deceptive and misleading telemarketing sales pitch to solicit these consumers to join a variety of membership clubs allegedly offering discounts on health products, entertainment and travel.
NEW YORK
In September 2000 MemberWorks reached [an] agreement with the State of New York, settling charges of telemarketing abuses in connection with its sales of lifestyle club memberships which offered consumers alleged savings on a variety of products and services involving entertainment, shopping, home improvement, and health care.
NEBRASKA
In February 2001 MemberWorks reached a settlement with the Nebraska Attorney General's Office over its marketing practices.
CALIFORNIA
Three months later, MemberWorks settled similar consumer complaints with the State of California. This time, MemberWorks and its marketing partner Sears were called to account for the manner in which MemberWorks club memberships were sold.
FLORIDA
In October 2003, following a three year investigation, Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist sued MemberWorks for violations of state consumer protection laws.
...
"Charging customers for products without their knowledge is fraud," said Crist. "These citizens were unknowingly victimized and deserve to be reimbursed."
In late 2002 MemberWorks announced a major marketing agreement with America Online, the once dominate [sic] Internet Service Provider, at that point struggling amidst the dot-com implosion. The agreement gave MemberWorks the opportunity to market its membership clubs to millions of AOL subscribers.
Today, Vertrue markets a number of membership products in partnership with some of the nation's best known retailers and Web sites, including Classmates.com and AOL.
Consumers who find themselves enrolled in Simple Escapes or any other membership program against their will should demand a proof of purchase from their credit card company, who will then be obliged to demand it from the marketing company.
(Source: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/vertrue.html)
________________
I have since terminated my account at Classmates.com and I'm trying to cancel my account at intelius.com but haven't figured out how just yet.
Nik
Southern California, California
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Nik
Banning,California,
U.S.A.
Memberworks Lawsuit COMPLAINT ALLEGES VERTRUE ESTABLISHES MEMBERSHIPS WITHOUT CONSUMERS' INFORMED CONSENT
#2Author of original report
Thu, October 04, 2007
http://www.girardgibbs.com/memberworks.html?gclid=CNCxuuTp9I4CFQpfYQodHg2YLQ Memberworks Lawsuit COMPLAINT ALLEGES VERTRUE ESTABLISHES MEMBERSHIPS WITHOUT CONSUMERS' INFORMED CONSENT In June 2006, Girard Gibbs filed an amended class action complaint in United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee against Vertrue, Inc. (formerly known as MemberWorks) on behalf of all consumers in the U.S. whose bank debit cards were charged for one of Vertrues membership programs, and on behalf of all Tennessee residents whose credit cards were charged for a Vertrue membership program. The complaint alleges that Vertrue establishes subscriptions for its membership programs in consumers names without their informed consent, and also impedes consumers ability to cancel these memberships. A few of Vertrues many membership subscription programs include Simply You,Homeworks Plus, Galleria, 24 Assistance,24 Protect Plus, Lifestyle Rewards, Health Plus,Simple Escapes, Passport to Fun, Privacy Plus, and Privacy Matters. We are currently gathering evidence from consumers and from Vertrue for the purpose of filing a motion for an order certifying the class. This motion, if granted, would allow this case to proceed on behalf of everyone who meets the class definition described above. We are also investigating the claims of consumers who reside in states other than Tennessee who were charged on their credit cards for one of Vertrues membership programs. If you have been charged for one of Vertrues membership programs without your authorization, or have tried to unsuccessfully cancel a Vertrue membership established in your name, we would like to hear from you. Please call 1-866-981-4800, or fill in the form below to send us an e mail.
Nik
Banning,California,
U.S.A.
Iowa Sues Vertrue For Consumer Fraud
#3Author of original report
Thu, October 04, 2007
Another state has sued Connecticut-based Vertrue, the fast-growing marketing company that pushes a proliferation of buying club "memberships" through negative option transactions. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller charges the company has engaged in consumer fraud. He said a survey about 400 "members" found not a single one who was satisfied with the service. "The suit concerns a marketing scheme in which consumers' credit cards and bank accounts are charged for memberships in so-called discount buying programs - even though many consumers don't know they are members, are not aware that they are being charged yearly or monthly membership fees, and make no use whatsoever of the so-called membership benefits," Miller said.
