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Smart Savings Center review: hidden membership charge 29

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1:33 pm EST
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on dec 17, 2008 we signed on to amazon.com to search for and order a dvd. the title was located and an order placed. turns out order was through smartsavinscenter. they charged us for dvd ($14.92 plus $1.00, plus $3.24) i assume for handling and shipping. the dvd arrived as agreed before christmas. today dec 26, 2008 my credit card bill arrived with an additional charge of $29.95. we called and after a long wait (over 15 min) talked to a rep. she said it was for a membership. we told her we did not want a membership and she said we could cancel it but the 29.95 could not be refunded because it was over 7 days. we were never told about this fee on the order form. we want a refund and will file all necessary complaints with bbb and atty generals office etc.
al sanflippo, magnolia, nj 08049 email to:[protected]@aol.com

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29 comments
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newyorker upset
, US
Mar 31, 2009 4:55 pm EDT

What a total rip off scam company i recently purchased some tools from a web site called best buyer discounts .com in which i did receive the tools i ordered from them no problem saw the statement for this transaction . then just 2 days ago got my next statement from my bank with a $1.00 fee from a company that i never did business with, this was on 3/10/09 then i saw on the same statement another withdrawal fee of $29.95 from the same smart savings center .So i called this company inquiring about this withdrawal, they said that i signed up for a membership and that i did not cancel the membership within 7 days i told them first of all i just ordered from another web site for my tools and that i never signed up for no membership the guy told me that i did i told him that i know that i did not i keep a record of all my transaction, then i told him to cancel my unsuspecting and tricked membership he said he would, also i told him i want back my refund of my money he said he does not have access on his computer to refund me back my money . He then gave me the address of the rip off company and said that i have to notify them in writing so they can review and then refund me back my money .I then decided to call the website that i orderded the tools from and questioned them on smart savings center seems that they are affiliated with each other i told the lady over the phone my predicament she then decided to refund me back my money stating that i would get back my $1.00 first i would see this on my next statement and that the next request was sent for the $29.95 to the refund dept and that i should receive an email within the next 5 to 7 business days i'll wait to see the result

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Mary E. Kiefer
St. Albans, US
Mar 06, 2009 6:01 pm EST

Unauthorized charges of $169.65 were made to my credit card from 8/28/08 through 2/27/09. I bought a book in Aug. 0f 2008, and when my Visa statement came it showed charges of $19.95 by this company I had never heard of. That charge continued for 4 mo., and then the charges were $29.95 for the next 3 mo. I spoke on the phone and was told my "membership" would be canceled, but only the last charge of $29.95 would be refunded. I received an e-mail today stating that my membership was canceled; however, no CONFIRMATION NUMBER was given. Please help me!

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Leslie Bryan
,
Oct 16, 2008 8:24 am EDT

I purchased a book for about $4 dollars and change. When I checked my bank account there were 2 charges, one for the amount of the book, and a seperate charge for $1.00. No explaination. It wasn't tax, because that was in the first charge. I stumbled onto this complaint blog while trying to look them up again, online. There, I saw many complaints about smart savings center. I will be more careful who I give my banking info to in the future!

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Jud Donaldson
Bellingham, US
Jun 22, 2009 3:41 pm EDT

Folks,

I received a charge of $19.95 from Smart Savings Center dated 5/7 on my Master Card account. I have no idea what this charge is for.

Please advise.

Thanks,
ejdonaldson

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yvette
Dallas, US
Apr 18, 2009 6:06 pm EDT

was charged for a unauthorized membership

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Jud Donaldson
Bellingham, US
Jul 19, 2009 9:53 pm EDT

Folks,

I received another charge of $19.95 from Smart Savings Center dated 6/7 on my Master Card account. This is the second month in a row that amount has been charged. I have no idea what these charges are for. Please cancel this charge and please stop any future charges to my account.

Thanks,
ejdonaldson

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Marisol77
Los Angeles, US
Nov 04, 2009 1:29 am EST

I order a book for 6.00 dollar on July. Then when I received my bank statement there was the charge. I called and they told me that was a membership.This representative told me that if I want to cancelled I could do it but without credit back. well I cancelled but they keep charging me. I called again they told me that was one membership but ours wasn't cancelled back on July. Oh my God this company it's really bad. Please shop with caution because the book I ordered it cost me more than a hundred with those hidden charges. I

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Robert Tedrick
, US
Sep 21, 2009 4:12 pm EDT

I ordered a DVD on line in February of 2009 from HOt Video and the billing went through Smart Savings. Occasionally I saw a charge on my Discover card but thought my wife must be ordering videos for a ministry that she is involved in. Shame on me for not asking her if she was making the purchases and not scrutinizing my Discover bill more closely. It turns out Smart Savings has billed my Discover card for $153.68 since February. I orginally thought I ordered a movie for the cost of $7.93. I called the toll free number on my Discover card and found out it was Smart Savings. I spoke with a rep. on September 8 and was told he could cancel my membership but could not refund money. I told him to cancel immediately and that I had never applied for a membership and would like to know why they thought I had. I was told Corporate management would contact me within 5 days. They did not. I called them again on 9-21-09 and was transferred to a manager which flatly said I did join and they would not refund any amount of money. I told the manager there was not way I subscribed and he basically said I did even though I had just told him I never did. I am going to contact Discover again to see if there is anything they can do. I hope anybody thinking about doing businhess with Hot Videos or Smart Savings thinks twice before being scammed like apparently so many.

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stolen from in Texas
Dallas, US
Sep 09, 2009 10:41 pm EDT

I agree with the other complaintants. I recently purchased books on Amazon and just discovered that I was being charged for a monthly book club which I did not sign up for and did not want. When I called the number on my charge card, the call center representative argued with me, refused to let me speak with a supervisor, refused to cancel my account and refund my money! When I asked for the corporate office information, he said he did not know it until I pushed and finally he gave it to me. I pulled the company name up on the Internet and saw all of the complaints. I would never recommend anyone do business with any of their companies and run if you see anything related to Smart Savings Center or www.discountbooksale.com. THEY ARE THIEVES, just as the previous person said.

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tplan2112
, US
Aug 24, 2009 1:36 pm EDT

Sam with me . Got me an overdraft charge that I had to negotiate with my bank. They got me fot three months before I noticed.

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JYCN
, US
Jul 02, 2009 1:40 am EDT

I ordered a used book for my daughter from Amazon.com 2 weeks ago. The seller is called Bookstores from Texas. The book hasn't come yet and now I know why after reading this complaint board. At first, I didn't make the connection when we had four separate unauthorized $1 charges on our visa card bill last month. This evening my visa card company questioned me about the charge of $9.95 to smartsavings.com, I told them I have never heard of that and wondered how it got hold of my credit card number. Now I realize I have been scammed by the online bookstore.

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yvette
Dallas, US
Apr 18, 2009 6:09 pm EDT

I dont recommend this web site

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SydZ
, US
Mar 01, 2009 8:25 pm EST

I too ordered a book for a Christmas gift from hotbooksales.com, , and even though I thought I was being careful by canceling my membership for both hotbooks and smartsavingscenter.com (which I had never actually signed up for) within the 7 days, I still kept getting these 1 dollar charges. I looked at the site and realized that I would be charged 29.95 if I didn't cancel right away, so I thought everything would be fine. It's now March 1st and I've had 4 of these dollar charges, well after I canceled the membership. I called the 1 800 number for smart savings and got the guy to cancel my membership again, and give me the conformation number...I asked him why I was still being charged and he said that after you cancel your membership you are automatically signed up for a 2nd one...what?!?! Ridiculous. So I hope it's settled now and I'll stop getting charged. I can't help with getting money refunded, but I will say make sure you cancel online and on the phone, and I even canceled online a second time. Jerks.

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tvt911
Westminster, US
Feb 25, 2009 1:45 pm EST

to clarify: you have to your bank account on line and when you see "smartsavingscenter.com", as a "PENDING" debit, then cancel your debit card before the transaction clears your account.

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tvt911
Westminster, US
Feb 25, 2009 1:42 pm EST

ALWAYS check you bank account DAILY on line if you do any online shopping. As soon as you see anything from "smartsavingscenter.com", call your bank and cancel your debit card immediately. They will reissue you a new one with a new number and you'll receive the new card in about 5 days. This will prevent the $29.95 and $1.00 charges from going thru and no money will be lost if you catch it right away before the amount is actually deducted from your account.
Trust me, it's the only good fix. You can dispute the charges from your bank for 30-90 days and it will still not get refunded back to you if your debit card was used.

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Nancy
Rochester, US
Feb 23, 2009 11:16 pm EST

I just noticed a second charge of $1.oo on my charge, also, after purchasing a book for $7.50. My question is, has anyone noticed any MORE charges since then?

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Koalabay52
Spring Grove, US
Feb 19, 2009 5:06 pm EST

I also ordered an old Disney movie - not on a dvd but got the tape for a Christmas present. I thought it was only $4.00 but when I got my Visa bill they not only charged me 4.00, but 29.95 and 1.00! I called them beginning of Jan and told them I did not click on membership. She said I would receive a refund. NOT! I tried calling them and their answering service said to call back after 8pm or before 8am next morning. I called back Jan 29 in the morning and they were to cancel membership. I just received my Visa bill and another $1.00 is there. I just called them again and they said call back in 30 minutes that their computer down. How convenient of them! I will call back and maybe write to Visa even if it is only 1.00 and have them refund me. But that is how this company makes millions. I think I will write to the BBB. I did this years ago and the company refunded me and they went bankrupt because of lying to the public.

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arnabors
Wausau, US
Feb 15, 2009 9:53 am EST

I am also trying to get refunded 3, 29.00 charges and 3, 1.00 charges on my credit card after my Daughter bought a 10.00 book online. They are a bunch of crooks and if I find out Amazon has anything to do with it I will never buy anything from them again. I also thought my credit card company tacked it on there for one of there insurances. I cancelled my card and disputed the charges. I got a new card # I called the # on my bill and happened to get some one without good English. I told Him I was not going to pay Him and That He better cancel those charges. I am so glad to see that I wasn't wrong about this. Thank You. arnabors

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Dieter Klarmann
Hollywood, US
Feb 14, 2009 8:14 pm EST

When is this going to stop refund my $ 1.00 that you illlegally took from my account Now

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Dieter Klarmann
Hollywood, US
Feb 14, 2009 8:13 pm EST

What is this now.

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Dieter Klarmann
Hollywood, US
Feb 14, 2009 8:12 pm EST

See my first Text I wrote you.

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Dieter Klarmann
Hollywood, US
Feb 14, 2009 8:11 pm EST

charge of $ 1.00 Was assessed against my Credit Card I purchaed the secret of roan inish. But I did not agree to Pay a Dollar Fee for What. Remove this Dolloar now by giving me credit on my account which you had no right to do so without my Permission. I want an answer now by the end of the Day or I will report this scam to the Federal Trade Commission.

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GMyrkle
Bangor, US
Feb 08, 2009 5:25 am EST

I had the same problem. Am I at any risk by just not paying the bill. I gotta call credit card company on Monday.

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halley
Oceanside, US
Jan 25, 2009 9:06 pm EST

Same issues as above. Ripoff site of discountbooksale.com. I supposedly got a cancellation number on the same day as I ordered the book. Considering the comments, I'm thinking that I should probably cancel the credit card. Linda

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Barbara
Cleveland, US
Jan 25, 2009 5:20 pm EST

I also got scammed by DISCOUNTED BOOK SALE.COM.
After I orderd a book for $ 8.17, I was charged the $29.95
for a membership fee that I did not ask for.
When I CALLED to check why I WAS CHARGED; I was told that
I checked a box accepting the membership terms.

Never checked to accept anything! All I wanted to order a book.
This scams are the perfect examples of why the economy is in
the shape it is in! GREED!

SMART SAVINGSCENTER SHOULD BE INVESTAGATED
BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

Barbara

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ariel
Wickliffe, US
Jan 18, 2009 12:31 pm EST

I got scammed through https://www.discountbooksale.com
DISCOUNT BOOKS SALE . COM - i got an email telling me of these hidden fees from smartsavingscenter.com but neglected to read the whole service agreement - will dispute the $29.95 fee with my cc

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angela martin
George West, US
Jan 17, 2009 6:36 pm EST

I also had the same expience with fraudulent charges from SMARTSAVINGSCENTER.COM that was a result of an order placed with HOTBOOKSALE.COM . I had four extra charges in one month and two one dollar charges the next month. after being sent in circles by the automated customer service number on my credit card statement listed for SMARTSAVINGS i finally resigned myself to leaving a voicemail, guess what, the account was full. I immediately called my credit card company fraud department, they have closed my account and are issueing a new card and will credit me back for the charges. I would not have know the origin of this fraud if it was not for this complaint board and caution anyone ordering from HOTBOOKSALES.COM to beware.

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Anna
Old Bethpage, US
Jan 06, 2009 4:04 pm EST

Same here. Ordered 2 books through hotbooksale.com. a month ago. One book showed up, the other didnt although it states clearly on their website that the book is available for shipping in 2 days. yeaa right. My cc got charged for the book i received +$1 + $29.95..whaaaat? All the charges where made from smartsavingscenter.com and the $29.95 fee for some kind of monthly membership that i never even sign up for or it was sooo hidden i didnt see. I contacted my bank first, canceled my card, called hotbooksale.com customer service, canceled this invisible membership +requested refund in not so pleasant voice. It worked, refund will be made( so the rep said)within 90 days..wow. I also requested cancellation # that everybody should have in case you have to go through this bs again. I will never.. ever purchase from either of the companies.

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Bill Byrd
Largo, US
Jan 06, 2009 12:55 pm EST

As noted before... I, too, ordered a book through Smartsavingscenter.com. On my Discover bill, I got the extra $1.00 charge, then the mysterious $29.95 charge. I tried to call, but got into the phone loop. Tried again and got the same results. Then, after the fact, I loged into the website and got the complaint list. This is very unfair and I am hoping Discover can help me. There was no mentions of a "membership fee" that I can recall. This will be my last purchase from this company.