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Privacy Matters 1-2-3

Privacy Matters 1-2-3 review: $1 credit card charge 54

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Author of the review
12:00 am EDT
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This is an internet business called Privacy Matters (www.privacymatters.com). On or around June 26 I tried to get what was called a "free" credit report. I understood that if I enrolled I had a period of time to unenroll if I wanted to. I proceeded to fill out the information. When I clicked the enroll button, I received a message that said we are unable to enroll you, please call this 800 number. I tried 2 or 3 times and got the same message. I gave up and decided it wasn't worth messing around with. When I received my credit card bill, I was charged two different fees, $1 and $29.95. When I called to ask about this they said I had enrolled into their program to receive credit reports. I explained to them what happened when I tried to enroll. They were willing to refund the $29.95, but not the $1 nor the $1 that my credit card charged for each transaction.

Now I realize this is only $1. But if this is done to enough people, they would make quite a nice income. I asked for a supervisor and after a few minutes waiting, got the supervisor. The supervisor informed me the same thing, and said I was sent an email regarding this charge. I never received this email or I would have called right away. I even looked in my spam mail. She refuse to refund the $3 and would not allow me to speak to anyone else. Then she hung up on my when I nicely refused to hang up the phone.

Is there anything one can do about this?

Thank you,
Deborah

54 comments
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janet
Sep 30, 2006 6:32 am EDT

I completely agree with Deborah. The same thing has happened to me. Privacy Matters is still charging my accout for $1.00 even after I cancelled my account after 3 days of enrollment. How can this company get by with this?
If anyone has the answers, please email me with the answer.

Thanks
Janet

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joel atkins
Oct 03, 2006 5:30 pm EDT

I did the same thing. I even cancelled what they call a product? Well all I did was look at my so called "FREE CREDIT REPORT" no it is not free! I paid $79.95 and then $19.95 I spoke to 2 diffrent people one in India, and another one in South Central, Los Angeles. They both tried to sell me more crap, when I want nothing to do with this company. I called my bank and called them thank god my bank is good about this. I also got Privacy matters to give me back my $100 combined for something that is so called free!

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Trisha
Jan 18, 2007 2:52 pm EST

I also was somehow signed up for PrivacyMatters and couldn't get a hold of them through the 1800 number that appeared on my credit card bill next to the recurring charge. 14.95 per month for 3 months.. for nothing! Beware!

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Juan Manuel Martinez
Mar 05, 2007 12:00 am EST

I want PrivacyMatters.com to stop charging 29.95 to my check account. I try to do online but I not unable to. Plz advise smb!

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Ryan Broguiere
Apr 17, 2007 7:49 am EDT

They did the same thing to me, i just called them and they cancelled my account and credited me two months back.

Good luck

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Marianne Rowe
Jul 07, 2007 10:04 am EDT

I too have been receiving the same charges on my account. When I try to cancel my subscription I can't find a link to do so.

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Ruby Morgan
Aug 25, 2007 12:46 pm EDT

I had s a similar experince with this company. I got all my money back. My credit card company worked with me. And I filed a report with the Attorney General of Illinois. All complaints should go to:
Ms. Monica Prandi-Svetogorsky
Citizen's Advocate
Consumer Protection Division
State of Illinois Office of the Attorney General
100 West Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601
My theory is this company is not what it says it is, my personal oppinion is that it a front to collect personal information such as social security number, birth day, mother maiden name, and address and sell off this information

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Rebecca Anderson
Oct 08, 2007 10:54 am EDT

We were also mislead by this company and it has cost us over $100. Which I did not get reimbursed for. I cancelled once I discovered 4 months worth of charges for my membership that I didn't even know I had. But the $1.00 charges are still being taken out to this day. Apparently I not only was enrolled in PrivacyMatters.com but also in smartsavers.com, hence the $1.00 per month charge. Under each charge is a 1-800 number and I have been able to contact both companies and cancel my so-called membership.

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Thomas Blair
Oct 17, 2007 12:00 am EDT

I started to sign up for Privacy Matters on-line, and cancelled out of the subscription. Something I didn't notice until recently is that the company has been charging $29 to my credit card each month. Obviously, it's my fault that I didn't notice this $29 charge until now (six months later), but I find it odd that Privacy Matters doesn't send out a monthly billing statement. If Privacy Matters had sent out a monthly statement, either through an Email or regular mail, I would have cancelled this service the first month, not six months (and approximately $150), later. It's my fault that I didn't check my monthly credit card statement very carefully, but I think the corporation Privacy Matters has a very dodgy way of conducting business.

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Kelly Smith
Nov 02, 2007 10:58 am EDT

I agree! It is all a scam! If you look at your statement they probably charging you some 1$ fees as well. They use other names such as smartsaving.com and pm identity... they got me too. AND caused me to over draw my checking account because they charged me 29.95 twice as well as the 1.00 fees for my "membership" that I did not even have! Each one of those transactions coasted me a 35.00 NSF fee at my bank! I talked with my bank yesterday and I am going back up there today because they told me maybe they can refund the fees. I hope so. I looked at a ripoff website and there are many more of us that got taken by these people. You should check it out because some of them were charged again even after they "cancelled" their membership! Good luck!

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Tracie Kenagy
Nov 13, 2007 12:00 am EST

Some how these people got my debit card number and have charged my bank account $131.70 in two days. How they managed to do it is beyond me. Dont let this happen to you!

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anna peterson
Nov 23, 2007 7:26 pm EST

the same thing happened to my boyfriend, where he clicked to get his report and it never popped up, page expired. this was privacy matters. So he said im calling to cancel because it automatically took it out of his account. CANCEL WHAT WE NEVER GOT ANYTHING IN THE FIRST PLACE? THERE FOR THATS FRAUD, AND THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE STOPPED.
It is not right that they are getting away with this. I also read another link girad gibbs.com , it is a class action lawsuit for member works aka privacymatters aka it lists all there other scams there doing also. it states that if you have been frauded by them to please contact them. we can stop them from doing it to anyone else.

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anna peterson
Nov 23, 2007 8:06 pm EST

i found the correct website for the class action lawsuit against
memberworks aka privacy matters, also under like 10 other
names too. it is www.girardgibbs.commemberworks.html
that is the exact address for information on the lawsuit. theses people need to be stopped either call or email this attorney, the more people the better chances that tis stops. the phone number is [protected].

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anna peterson
Nov 23, 2007 8:09 pm EST

www.girardgibbs.com/memberworks.html

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Lee Maguire
Dec 14, 2007 10:54 pm EST

They did the same thing to me. I called and canceled then they billed me for 2 accounts I didn't even sign up for. I think we need a lawyer.

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Matt Sibert
Dec 28, 2007 9:32 pm EST

I checked it out for the free Credit report. I didn't get the report and last month was charged for the two services I never wanted and a couple of 1.00 fee's. I cancelled two days later thinking maybe I just didn't follow the directions right or something of that nature.

I just found out now I have been charged again but for only service and 1.00 for another. These guys are really starting to irk me. I got on the site to find out if anything funny was going on with my accounts, not volunteer for it!

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Wayne Thompson
Jan 11, 2008 5:45 am EST

The have charged my account two times now without my approval. When I call them they say...oh, you have it for now. What a rip off!

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robertdeas
Jan 21, 2008 8:54 pm EST

on 1/13/08 I EXPERINCED THE SAME PROBLEMS DEALING WITH PRIVACY MATTERS.I PROVIDED ALL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION REQUESTEDFOR A FREE CREDIT REPORT AND CALLED TO CANCELLTHE NEXT DAY 1/14/08. ON 1/21/08 I MADE A CALL TO CHECK THE AMOUNT OF MY ACCOUNT BALANCE AND DISCOVERED THAT A 2.00PLUS $29.95 WAS CHARGED TO MY DEBT CARD.SINCE THEN I've been trying to cancell but to no avail.

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Norma Wagner
Jan 22, 2008 12:00 am EST

I did not sign up for this service and was being charged $30.95 a month. I finally got to talk to a human being and was told I could only get back one month charges and they would cancel the service which I never applied for in the first place. THEN a month later a charge was on my bank statement from Your Savings Club. How they got my personal information, I do not know EXCEPT when all this started I was asking for my credit report on line which I never could log onto. These two so called companies are so fraudulent and my only suggestion to someone else would be NOT to ask for a credit report...

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Kate Ryan
Feb 21, 2008 9:16 am EST

Same problem - cancelled the next day to cancel and two charges, $29.95 and two $1.00 charges. "AP9*YOURSAVINGSSC were made on 2/4/08. Are these companies the same?

I will write the Attorney General of my state and was told to also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission. I don't expect this scam to stop, only hope charges will be at the $1.00 level and not $29.95 each month.

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pauljs75
Mar 03, 2008 6:14 pm EST

Add another to the list. My mom got hit by this thing. She was asking me about something my dad brought up when going over credit reciepts. (Something about 8 various charges listed to Connecticut totalling over $80 seemed funny. Good catch dad!) Apparently she ran across a Hotmail banner ad for a free credit report and fell for it. More or less the whole site which the banner links to is a phishing operation that works as a confidence scheme. They tell you how "phishing is bad" and "things to do" to avoid it, meanwhile they are phishing credit card numbers and other info themselves. My mom even said something about a request for social-security numbers (thankfully she said she didn't give hers). This leads me to believe that there may also be an involvement in an identity theft. I hope they get nailed to the floor on it.

I also see some complaints dating back to 2006, just how many complaints does it take to build a case against those weasels?

Finally a word to others out there - do your homework first before trying any "free credit reports".

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pat achord
Mar 10, 2008 12:21 pm EDT

WARNING: Wish I had checked out Intellius before using them... I got info I requested, but what I didn't know was they work with a company called Privacy Matters and this company uses your payment method to debit money for there services also, even though you DO NOT sign up for it... Privacy Matters did credit back the $19.95 but it over drew my checking and would not credit the 29.00 nsf fee because when I went on Intellius it. Approved me for privacy matters automatically... I am on disability and limited money and this 29.00 hurt me as well as my name.

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Mary
Mar 24, 2008 12:21 pm EDT

That's horrible that you had a bank fee because of this crooked company! The same thing happened to me with Intelius and Privacy Matters! Avoid at all costs!

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Gerald R. Brown
Mar 31, 2008 9:08 pm EDT

I too have been scammed by Privacy Matters. It has happened twice. The first time they were attached to a "free" credit report I was charged $29.95 for and never received. I was also charged $1.00 for unsolicited identity theft protection from Privacy Matters. Last month I was charged $29.95 for this unsolicited service again. I used Intellius to search for someone for $2.95. This service was also a scam to which Privacy Matters was attached. Ironically, Privacy Matters seems to be the only one I need identity theft protection from. They attach to other scams and steal information provided them.

Valerie
Valerie
US
Apr 18, 2008 5:25 am EDT

I had my credit run from a reputable (supposedly) non-profit credit counselling service endorsed by my employer. Shortly after I had 2 charges for 19.95 on my account about a month apart. If this happens to you, report it. I will be filing a police report, Better business report, and will attempt to alert the FBI. I filed a claim with my bank, and I need get that resolved first. Do not bother calling the 800 number, they try and scam more personal info... The more people that report this the better, notify law enforcement. I will even take time off to testify in court if needed. There is a principal at stake here.

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Anne
Apr 22, 2008 6:59 pm EDT

Ok, my husband wanted to get his credit report...yeah he got "consumer" numbers...which were much higher than what the banks use and then he cancelled his subscription but apprently there are two different companies and the neglect to tell you this when you cancel. I called and the girl who cancelled the subscription was rude. She did refund me the $29.95 and the $1.00. I found myfico.com has better terms you can pay for the credit report itself not a monthly charge. They are owned by the Fair Issac company, their numbers were closer to the numbers the banks had and we only pay if we want to know what his credit score is at that point.

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Chris Vasta
Apr 29, 2008 7:35 pm EDT

I signed up for FREE 30 days for my credit report. I agreed if I canceled within 30 days I would not be charged. Instead I was charged $29.95 & 3 $1.00 charges. I canceled within 1 or 2 weeks through the email that they sent. This did not stop the charge. I then called them on the phone. I canceled 3 times using the IVR, and this did not cancel my agreement. The operator told me that this was a 7 day free trial. I told him NO it said 30 days. He also said my subscription was not canceled but that he would cancel it for me. He said that he would credit me the $29.95. I guess a $3.00 loss is not that bad. I just hope I get my $29.95 back.

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CT Johnson
May 14, 2008 1:20 pm EDT

http://idtheftrefund.com/refund_3.html
they did the same thing to my mom. You have to go to this website.

Valerie
Valerie
US
Jun 02, 2008 6:17 am EDT

I went to there site to view a credit score for 1.00 after putting in card info the site directed me to some confusing and inconvenient directions so I skipped it and never got anything, then a month later was charged 29.00 to my account. I googled them only to find out about this site and all the other complaints. I intend to try and get my money back. It sounds like from others that they will continue to charge so I have to do something. I am becoming painfully aware of rip-offs with doing business on the internet.

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Regina Clouse
Jul 01, 2008 2:20 pm EDT

The advertising says "Free Credit Report" then it says $29.95 to subscribe to monitoring our credit activity. No way would I have intentionally signed up for this if I had known it was an ongoing monthly charge. This whole problem is then doubled by being charged another $29.95 by PMidentity.com. All I wanted was to get my credit report[free- or so I thought]. Paying a 1 time fee of $29.95 for monitoring our credit activity was fine, but every month is NOT fine. I want this whole thing stopped immediately. And if you are an up-standing business and have any integrity you would refund all my charges for all but the first month. If I'm being rude, I apologize, but this has caused problems in my back account that has cost me even more money.

Signed,
Regina Clouse.

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Karan
Aug 22, 2008 9:21 pm EDT

Same thing happened to me - on 7/14 I tried their "free" 3-in-1 credit report. I was charged $1 by Privacy Matters and another $1 by 24protect - four days later on 7/18 Privacy Matters billed by credit card $29.95 and on 8/11 24 Protect billed my credit another $1.
On my credit card bill, both these companies were listed in CT.

I plan to call them tomorrow and if this is not resolved in a satisfactory manner I intend to file a complaint with the State Of CONN. Office of the Attorney General Consumer Assistance.
They have a consumer assistance unit/fraud hotline at [protected].

I suggest that all those who have been scammed by these people should also contact the CT attorney general's office.

The CT Better Business Bureau should be contacted also - they would start an investigation immediately. While they might not be able to get your money back, an investigation by them could also help the Attorney General get on these giys case faster.

Good luck.

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Blake
Aug 28, 2008 3:02 pm EDT

CROOKS! cancel your card now! These are bottom feeding thieves who take your money without authorization!

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McHale
Sep 22, 2008 9:25 pm EDT

I just got my AMEX bill and it shows 29.95 for privacy matters and two additional $1.00 charges. I'm suck F######ing pissed this was supposed to be a free credit report which I never got. I pissed at CNBC because they directed me to this site.

Valerie
Valerie
US
Oct 13, 2008 11:16 am EDT

Dear Privacymatters.com I do not know who your company is our what "services" it performs. I never subscribed to your services and any information that your "company" has acquired about me was done so illegally. This is a demand that privacymattters.com; delete any and all information that it has acquired about me, refund any and all monies that it has extracted from my accounts over the past 3 years. Other than confirming compliance with these demands as written in this 10/12/08, do not release my private information to any parties. You will be hearing from my attorney

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paul
Nov 01, 2008 3:00 pm EDT

thank you for your information .
it just happen to me i should call the credit company
or intelius .

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sherian St.Patrick
Nov 08, 2008 8:11 pm EST

I have been charged twice for something i did not order and do not want. I called as soon as i saw the charges on my charge card and I called [protected] immediately and they indicated they had canceled the order. I was going on line this evening and not only did they not cancel the order they have charged me twice, once in Oct and then another time in Nov. I tried calling them but they are not open at this time. When I entered my phone number in their system it said that they had canceled the order on 9-30 but the next charge was dated 10--03 and now 11-04.

I want them to reverse these charges asap because I have not authorized any payments to Privacy Matters and have not accepted any services rendered.

I had originally gone on line to check my credit status and at the end it said that I had to pay for it...I never received the credit report and as soon as I saw 5 one dollar charges on my visa I immediately Privacy Matters. They at that time never mentioned a charge of $ 29.95 each month for nothing purchased from them.

I am contacting the better business bureau asap and you had better taker care of my problem with the charges that have been incurred on my visa. There are two one dollar charges and two twenty-nine ninety five charges that must be reversed asap.

I expect to get an answer from your company first thing Monday morning.

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sherian St.Patrick
Nov 08, 2008 8:15 pm EST

I have been charged twice for something i did not order and do not want. I called as soon as i saw the charges on my charge card and I called [protected] immediately and they indicated they had canceled the order. I was going on line this evening and not only did they not cancel the order they have charged me twice, once in Oct and then another time in Nov. I tried calling them but they are not open at this time. When I entered my phone number in their system it said that they had canceled the order on 9-30 but the next charge was dated 10--03 and now 11-04.

I want them to reverse these charges asap because I have not authorized any payments to Privacy Matters and have not accepted any services rendered.

I had originally gone on line to check my credit status and at the end it said that I had to pay for it...I never received the credit report and as soon as I saw 5 one dollar charges on my visa I immediately Privacy Matters. They at that time never mentioned a charge of $ 29.95 each month for nothing purchased from them.

I am contacting the better business bureau asap and you had better taker care of my problem with the charges that have been incurred on my visa. There are two one dollar charges and two twenty-nine ninety five charges that must be reversed asap.

I expect to get an answer from your company first thing Monday morning.

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Alvin Carter
Saint Thomas, US
Dec 19, 2008 5:39 pm EST

This is outrageous! I talked to a supervisor, Teresa, ID # 153051, who promised to fully refund our debit account for the three months we have been billed. Both employees I spoke to were very curt but I only want to have my money back. I will be contacting the Attorney General in my state to file a complaint. I am not as optimistic after reading some of the emails from a year ago. Does anyone know the status of the class action suit? I want to be a party to that also.

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Sandra Knight
Acton, US
Jan 08, 2009 10:15 pm EST

This online company has charged my credit card and debit card without my consent four times over a two-year period.
I reported it to my bank and called Privacy Matters. They refunded the charges, but then put them back on my account several months later and again a year later. I cancelled my debit card and got a new one, but somehow Privacy Matters got my new information on their own. They also found a new bank account I opened and charged that as well.
This company advertises free credit reports and identity theft protection, and yet they seem to be stealing identity and credit information illegally.

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peetd
really, US
Jan 30, 2009 8:50 pm EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

This is my advice, get all their 1 8xx numbers and set up a phone modem to to phone their numbers every 10 - 20 seconds. this will run up a bill to them for the calls to their 1 8xx numbers. Get together with friends and divide the different numbers among yourselves so every number they have gets called continually.
:) If anyone complains say its faulty modem, and you will try (not very hard to fix it)...

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  1. Privacy Matters 1-2-3 Contacts

  2. Privacy Matters 1-2-3 phone numbers
    +1 (888) 239-0316
    +1 (888) 239-0316
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  3. Privacy Matters 1-2-3 address
    8770 W. Bryn Mawr, Suite 1000, Chicago, Illinois, 60631, United States
  4. Privacy Matters 1-2-3 social media
  5. Andrew
    Checked and verified by Andrew This contact information is personally checked and verified by the ComplaintsBoard representative. Learn more
    Oct 03, 2024
Privacy Matters 1-2-3 Category
Privacy Matters 1-2-3 is ranked 66 among 159 companies in the Unauthorized Charges category