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Stonepounder

(4,033 posts)
Mon Sep 23, 2019, 02:18 PM Sep 2019

Scam warning

For some reason that I can't remember back at the end of Sept I paid $1.00 for a 'free trial' of a credit monitoring firm. I discovered that it was even less helpful than the free monitoring of Credit Karma, so didn't do anything to extend the service after the '7 day free trial'. Imagin my shock and awe when a $39.99 charge from them just showed up on my bank account. Evidently, buried somewhere where they assumed you wouldn't see it was the little factoid that if you didn't cancel after the free trial, you would end up paying $40.00 a month for something you can get for free elsewhere. Caveat Emptor! The firm is:

YourScoreAndMore, 866-752-5004, CA

14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Control-Z

(15,684 posts)
2. My husband got scammed last month.
Mon Sep 23, 2019, 02:25 PM
Sep 2019

It was for a 7 day trial size of a supplement he wanted to try.

He was charged $139 for not cancelling before the 7th day.

He's fighting it but it doesn't look promising to me. Ugh.

I'm sorry it happened to you.

MontanaMama

(23,898 posts)
3. Kick and yikes!!
Mon Sep 23, 2019, 02:26 PM
Sep 2019

Just an FYI - If you have a Capital One credit card, you get your credit score for free every month as well as a report explaining any changes to your score.

Wounded Bear

(60,206 posts)
12. I have too many cards, but...
Mon Sep 23, 2019, 08:25 PM
Sep 2019

I get credit reports from several of them.

Just a click away.

Oh, and that's how those scams go. I'm reminded of the old 60's sitcom F Troop. In the bar in town there was a sign on the bar:

Free Lunch
5 cents

TANSTAAFL--there ain't no such thing as a free lunch

 

Dr Hobbitstein

(6,568 posts)
4. That's not a scam, that's how trials have always work.
Mon Sep 23, 2019, 02:28 PM
Sep 2019

You have to cancel so as not to get charged. This is how Netflix, Hulu, Prime, Spotify, magazine sales, newspaper subscriptions, et al operate as well. Definitely not a scam.

Fla Dem

(25,361 posts)
5. That's pretty standard for all "Free Trials".
Mon Sep 23, 2019, 02:30 PM
Sep 2019

If you don't cancel before the free trial ends they'll enroll/charge you for whatever service/product they're offering. Lots of people don't realize that and get charged just like you. Most reputable companies will reverse the charge.

Stonepounder

(4,033 posts)
7. Yes, 'Free Trials' usually work this way. But:
Mon Sep 23, 2019, 04:41 PM
Sep 2019

The way the offer was presented it was 'try it for 7 days with no obligation' not 'try it for 7 days then we will bill you for (undetermined period of time, undetermined amount) if you don't call this 800 number and listen so our automated sales pitch and tell the robot on the phone 4 or 5 times that Yes you really do want to cancel.

LisaL

(46,151 posts)
13. And if they didn't ask you for your credit card number, you could have believed it.
Mon Sep 23, 2019, 08:31 PM
Sep 2019

That's why I never sign up for free trials. If you don't cancel in time, and give them your credit card number, they will charge you.

FakeNoose

(35,080 posts)
8. Once they get your credit card number, it's clear sailing for them
Mon Sep 23, 2019, 04:44 PM
Sep 2019

Don't ever give out your credit card number, especially on a "try it for free" offer.

Stonepounder

(4,033 posts)
10. Yeah, I goofed on that one for sure. I'm usually more cautious.
Mon Sep 23, 2019, 05:48 PM
Sep 2019

However, some 'try it for free offers' are good and reasonable. We subscribe to several Cable TV channels that we used their 'try for free' and continued with the subscription, and a few others that we canceled before the free time was up, so not all 'try it for free' are scam artists.

FakeNoose

(35,080 posts)
11. The solution is a Visa debit card, with only 20 or 30 bucks on it
Mon Sep 23, 2019, 06:46 PM
Sep 2019

A Visa debit card is only good for as long there's funds on the card. Once the money is gone, the shyster can't get into your bank account or your credit card and do some real damage. Of course you can decide you like the service they're selling and you're willing to pay for it on a regular basis. Once you've reached that point, you can give them your regular credit card number.

By the way that Visa debit card can be recharged with more funds, or cashed in at any time. I used to get them at the service counter of Walmart, but I think many banks have them too.

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