[comp.sys.ibm.pc] A warning about PC Pursuit

rwp@cup.portal.com (Roger William Preisendefer) (11/14/89)

A word of warning to all current and potential PC Pursuit
subscribers.  I cancelled my account as of May 31, in writing
over a month in advance, and they are STILL billing me!

The account was definitely cancelled.  I tried it two weeks into
June, and it was closed.  However, the bills kept coming.  When
PC Pursuit raised the rates, they sent out a card for everyone to
sign, authorizing them to bill a credit card account.  I did not
return this card.  I specifically withdrew authorization to debit
my credit card when I cancelled my account (also in writing.)  I
gave them until two months after the cancellation date to clear
up any outstanding charges.  The date passed, but the bills keep
coming!  I sent them a registered letter explaining the
situation, and again denied them authorization to debit my
account.  They ignored the letter.  This month, I got my account
statement, and lo and behold, another $30 charge from PC Pursuit!

The credit card company marked the first two charges as disputed,
and I assume they will so mark the third when I notify them
tomorrow.  I am also going to have them treat it as a stolen card
and change the account number.  This will not get the $90 back
from Telenet, however.

Making charges to a credit card account without the owners
consent is theft through credit card fraud.  After all of the
correspondence (registered and otherwise) I can only assume that
it is deliberate, with criminal intent, or a result of extreme
incompetence.  Are the savings in connect charges (much less
after the rate hike and cap) worth giving your credit card number
to thieves or, at best, incompetents?  I doubt it.

Before you sign up for PC Pursuit or recommend it to someone,
consider the risks.  You may end up paying more in the long run!

Roger Preisendefer

leoh@hardy.harris.com (Leo Hinds) (11/15/89)

I also had a hard time trying to cancel PC-Pursuit, but after the first couple 
of letters gave up and used the phone instead.  While talking to them on the 
phone they "suggested" that I log on and go to one of the menus relating to 
personal info, and that burried in there somewhere, I would find the way to 
cancel online.  When I pointed out that I could no longer sign on, the person 
on the phone did it for me, while I was still on hold ... that did not work the 
first time, but by the third attempt, it finally worked.  Good luck

Leo Hinds

khenry@umaxc.weeg.uiowa.edu (Ken Henry,18 LC,335-5531,3546389) (11/16/89)

From article <24036@cup.portal.com>, by rwp@cup.portal.com (Roger William Preisendefer):
> A word of warning to all current and potential PC Pursuit
> subscribers.  I cancelled my account as of May 31, in writing
> over a month in advance, and they are STILL billing me!
> ...........
> ...........
> Roger Preisendefer

I would also like to send out a word of warning to anyone thinking of
or currently subscribed to PC Pursuit.  I have had the exact same
problem happen to me except they set up two accounts under my name and
I have tried for about a month now to kill off the account that is not
being used.  They have already billed the non-used account to my credit
card and charged for a month service on the non-used account.  I have
sent requests to have my other account cancelled, I know I will have
trouble with that one too.  I am sure there are others out there too,
I'm going through other access methods now, and will never use PC Pursuit
again.  

Ken Henry
khenry@umaxc.weeg.uiowa.edu
--
| Ken Henry          | Disclaimer:  "you are getting my opinion for free, so
| Weeg Comp Center   | INTERNET: khenry@umaxc.weeg.uiowa.edu | I always say
| University of Iowa | BITNET:   bptkenpb@uiamvs.bitnet      | that you get 
| Iowa City, IA 52242| Phone:    319-335-5531 or 319-335-5484| what you pay"

karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Karl Denninger) (11/20/89)

>Item 6869 (0 resps) by rwp at cup.portal.com on Sun 19 Nov 89 09:42
>[Roger William Preisendefer]    Subject: A warning about PC Pursuit
>(35 lines)
>
>A word of warning to all current and potential PC Pursuit
>subscribers.  I cancelled my account as of May 31, in writing
>over a month in advance, and they are STILL billing me!
>

I have to agree.  They are doing the same thing to me, and I cancelled at
the time they required renewed authorization.

We're  still being billed, my ID is NOT functional, and I haven't used the
service since the changeover.  They did NOT get the authorization back in
the mail as they required.

Needless to say, I've disputed the charges.

Anyone for a class-action suit?

--
Karl Denninger (karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM, <well-connected>!ddsw1!karl)
Public Access Data Line: [+1 708 566-8911], Voice: [+1 708 566-8910]
Macro Computer Solutions, Inc.  "Quality Solutions at a Fair Price"