Scammed?

Scammed by a so called professional emarketer

[yr1901]

I would like to ask for your advice. I bought (2 months ago) 2 courses and 2 software programs. I asked for a refund on one course when I was told it was still at the printers. It was $197 US plus $198 US for shipping. Since canceling the course I am now unable to access the eBook program I have also paid for. - questions get no replies. I have spent around $1,000 US with this company.

They agreed to refund my money and I am yet to see any of it. When I send them emails I get an auto response that the customer service team are experiencing high traffic and I will be answered in the next 1-2 business days - it's been weeks now with repeated emails sent and this same reply. I have even emailed < the owner's > so called email address. The only thing I am getting in reply is more sales emails...

How do you think I should handle this now?...It leaves a really bad taste in your mouth especially when we are at opposite ends of the world.

Kind thoughts to You

[edited by: tedster at 3:26 am (utc) on Sep. 28, 2007]
[edit reason] remove specifics [/edit]

[jtara]

How do you think I should handle this now?

I don't have any suggestions as to how to handle this now.

I have a suggestion for others, though, before buying ANYTHING online, let alone expensive e-books.

Simply do a search for:

<company name> scam

I also avoid buying anything from sites that use long pages of text with call-outs in red and lots of yellow highlighting.

OK, I do have a suggestion: contact the District Attorney in the city/state where they are located. You're unlikely to get any relief, but at least you will add to the record.

[vincevincevince]

How was your payment taken? If it was a credit card, file a chargeback. If it was PayPal, dispute the payment, etc...

[yr1901]

Credit card...and yes, I know what you mean by the long sales letters - "Toilet roll advertising" - a) Because they are so long
b) because that's all they are useful for
Smiles to you

[vincevincevince]

Credit cards are the safest way to purchase for good reason - it is entirely likely that your company will refund you the fees if you phone them up about it, and the scammer will have the money plus a fee ('fine') deducted from his account.

[jtara]

Good, you used a credit card. I don't think you'll have a problem.

Call your card company, and they will send you a form to fill out. It has to be done in writing. Fill out the form, and attach any documentation you have. Make sure you print out their refund policy.

[raedthakur]

jtara has a good solution there..this should work for you

[bakedbeans12]

If you used a credit card you're fine... Simply contact your card company and initiate a chargeback based off that you didn't receive the goods or something like that.

Credit cards are getting more strict with online chargebacks again, and simply said I don't want it anymore won't be a good enough reason. Saying you didn't receive it and when you requested a refund you got no reply should be a good enough argument to initiate the chargeback.

Then you can rest assured know that you'll have the money back AND that business will have to pay a nice fee for having a chargeback lol

[Corey Bryant]

Call the issuing bank and tell them the services are not as decribed and you want your money back.

The longer you wait - the less of a chance you have of getting your money back. Most issuing banks will have up to 6 months, but debit cards with a card association logo on them, are usually a lot less.

[raedthakur]

yes, i too think you should get this done as early as possible...and post here how it goes :)