Comments on: Bizrate – Fraud is Never a Good Deal

By: Deborah

Deborah — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:30:34 +0000

Thanks to the power of surf, I was not a victim of this scam. I happily filled out their questionaire because I was very pleased with my online purchase. And hey, the opportunity to get $100, possibly in the form of coupons, gift card etc was very appealing. However, the $2 charge for the FREE magazine tipped me off. Since I work for a bank, I hear and see this kind of thing everyday and this magazine freebie for $2, made me do a quick surf for Bizrate magazine scam. And well the rest is history. I loved the posting regarding the virtual number with $2 limit. Wish my bank had that capability. Perhaps someday. Oh and a message to Bizrate >:P

By: NancyLee

NancyLee — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:59:13 +0000

Pick me, I’m the Bozo on the bus this time! Scammed by Scum. I wish I had found this site before doing any shopping online. I fell for the “free” subscription bit also through Bizrate only to discover a $2.01 debit to my account this morning from TWX Magazine. After finally reaching someone at the toll free #800-773-3142 I was told they were “testing my account to see if it was still active” and the pending charge would be dropped in 24 hours! The rep actually wanted to argue about the legality of accessing my account without my knowledge & said that’s how internet business is run. I thanked him for the info, called my bank, they cancelled my debit card as we spoke and referred me to their abuse department. Upon further review, my account had apparently been “tested” last month and the charge dropped. The transaction doesn’t appear when I access my account, since they dropped the pending charge within the 24 hour period, but it was retained by the banks computer. My stomach has been in knots since this morning but being a little wiser now and with my banks help I’ll participate in their Shop Safe program.

By: Selling Pc Strategy

Selling Pc Strategy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:47:56 +0000

How To Sell On Ebay: Pricing Strategy

Many new Ebay sellers make one of two mistakes: either they overprice items to an unsellable extreme; or they lose money on every transaction by setting low starting prices with no restrictions.

By: Judy

Judy — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:10:15 +0000

Thanks. My order was through Bath and Body Works which took me to the BizRate survey. Being a skeptic, I googled the site for information and came across your postings. Needless to say, you saved me from being caught up in their scam.

By: Rocky

Rocky — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:40:37 +0000

I regularly buy jewelry from szul.com whom I have ussed over the last 3 years and when I finished the order they sent me over to bizrate and before I realized I was not on szul.com any longer I had already given up my email address. I didn’t opt in for the magazines (than god!) I sent an email to szul asking them why they would partner with someone who would want my information on how much I just spent on their site and asked so many questions about my purchasing habits. They said bizrate reviews them so they ca get a good online reputation. I read the bizrate Terms of Service and came to this part :
http://www.bizrate.com/content/privacy.html

In certain areas or features on our Web site or other Services, we may work with a reputable third-party source of specialized information or other content and services to provide you with some information or service (”joint services”). You authorize us to share with such party any information you provide in connection with your use of those joint services, and such party’s handling and use of any shared information shall be governed by their own privacy policies and terms of use.

Sure enough, it’s a month later and I got my first piece of spam from an online jeweler who is almost identical to szu (but prices are half as much.) Of course at the bottom they say I’ve opted in.

What blows me away is how stupid szul.com is to partner with bizrate!!!! Why would they refer me to someone who blatently is going to sell my information to a competitor? I literally gave them the credit card number and they automatically kicked me over to bizrate! “Hey bizrate, this guy just gave us a credit card number to buy jewelry online, feel free to quiz him about his purchase habits and contact information.”

What did szul honestly think that htey were going to do with my information? Jackasses!

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:59:54 +0000

Thank you Thank you! I am so happy I found this page. I clicked yes and chose my 4 magazines, and have been living in fear the last month (since I first got an issue) that I am going to be charged for them for the rest of my life! I followed the advice I found here. This number: 1.877.543.9578 and kept hitting 0 until I got to a human being. I then asked when I need to cancel before getting charged for the next year. I now have the number and date on my fridge and I am going to enjoy the 4 magzines I will be getting till then (I did pay the $2 each, I might as well keep getting them right!) Thanks for putthing this blog up, it is SO IMPORTANT!
Thanks again….

By: Deb

Deb — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:26:51 +0000

after making a purchase on JTV the little box popped up. I took the survey and filled out everthing until they wanted my bank account information. I don’t give that out unless it is a site that I’ve done business with before or I know is legit. I just closed the window and ran all the necessary diagnostics to make sure I didn’t get a virus or spyware. Now today I get an e-mail from BizRate wanting to know if I received my JTV order of 3/3/08. So, if they don’t get you one way, they try to another. I forwarded the e-mail to JTV and will contact FTC. Thanks for the good info.

By: Evie

Evie — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:14:36 +0000

Re: “OK, here is what I did…I called People to see if they could give me the Bizrate phone number. They gave me 1-877-543-7564 and told me to keep pushing 0 0 0 until you get a operator and it works!”

Thanks so much for the advice! The number still works! I got a hold of someone right away. They are very friendly and will cancel subscriptions without hassle. I think it’s a deal, and knowing how to get in touch with these people gives me piece of mind.

By: Mila

Mila — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:12:16 +0000

I just got an issue of Western Interiors magazine and have no idea how I got it. When I called the number Western magazine gave me (1-800-321-6247) for NewSub Magazine Services LLC, it was an automated system… (Developing)

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:43:16 +0000

You can cancel the renewals on-line.

Go to http://www.magcustomerservice.com

You need to click on “Other Services” (as I recall) to get a list of choices, one of which is “Cancel a renewal”

I filled in the on-line form (an hour ago) and pressed Submit.

This should work.

(I did this because, after waiting for a real person to answer, I got a recording that the call center is open only from 8 AM to midnight Eastern time.)