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Privacy Matters 1-2-3

Privacy Matters 1-2-3 review: Scam 39

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Author of the review
8:16 am EST
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The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
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Privacy matters fraudulently obtained my credit card and debited my card 11/30/2009 MVQ*PRIVACYM 11/27 claiming a purchase of $19.95.

Upon calling Visa I was told by their dispute resolutions representative that Privacy Matters continuously gets consumer complaints for fraudulent unauthorized charges.

Beware of Privacy Matters as they are an unethical and fraudulent company taking people's personal information without authorization and claiming to help provide online credit reports and scores.

Privacy Mattes is guilty of the very identity theft, they claim to help protect people and families against.

DON'T DO BUSINES WITH "privacy matters" = www.privacymatters.com

Privacy Matters has no given phone number, no given address, no given email - good luck trying to get a refund.

Visa told me that by law they cannot refund consumers until they first file a cancellation with the merchant. Makes it awfully hard to file a "cancellation" with a merchant with no contact info.

I say VISA is as bad as Privacy Matters for not doing charge backs to fraudulent merchants and discontinuing merchants using their cards.

Discover thus far has proven to be the best card when it comes to doing charge backs when dealing with fraudulent merchants.

Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

39 comments
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Valerie
Valerie
US
Jan 11, 2008 12:00 am EST

Privacy Matters has charged my $29.95 two times now. I did not sign up for the service. When I call them you get this run around like they are confused. It is a rip off! I have disputed the charge with my bank, let's see what happens? Beware!

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John Potter
Feb 08, 2008 5:09 am EST

This company is a bunch of crooks. I jave no idea how they got my Amex card number, but; I saw 6, yes six charges on my Amex gold from these ###. The charges were privacy matters and AP something privacy. I have no idea who they are. I called them and gor a run around. I called Amex, and; all charges were cancelled.

Valerie
Valerie
US
Mar 18, 2008 4:40 am EDT

I had 3 separate charges for $29.99 each taken from my debit march 11, 12, &15. The only information I was given was that it was charged by privacy matters. I don't know what the charges are for or what this company is about.

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Mech3
Rochelle, US
Apr 08, 2008 7:26 am EDT

this company has AFFILIATES...they are companies (Third Party) blood suckers...if you can somehow slow the oerson down that is speaking it is easy to hear right off all the catches...I had several AFFILIATES attaching my account at one time all because I asked for one service. I called that company which was BARGAIN NETWORKS and I made it very clear to them to reemburse my account fully and to advice their AFFILIATES to do so also...I also mentioned that there would be a lawsuit on them for having breeched their terms and agreement...THEY SOLD MY INFORMATION TO A THIRD PARTY...This speeded up the process of getting a full refund from not just one AFFILIATE but 6 of them.

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chris
Apr 28, 2008 10:31 am EDT

Do not ever sign up with these dirtbags...they offer ###...you will not get money back...this company has been a nightmare to deal with!

Valerie
Valerie
US
Apr 29, 2008 5:47 am EDT

They took unauthorized withdrawals from my checking account, which US Bank is getting back for me. Check your statements carefully they count on your not noticing because it is a small amount each month. I Have no idea how they obtained my information, but they just started the withdrawals last January and they used my old name and address from about 2 years ago. I guess they just sat on my info for 2 years. The bank gave me their phone number. When I called they said they could not find my file to delete the account, although they had my old name and address. Do not even mess with them, let your bank take care of it.

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BRANDON D.
May 23, 2008 6:17 am EDT

I signed up for privacy matters understanding that I would pay 1 dollar for 3 credit reports and 3 scores assuming I would not be charged the monthly 29.95 fee if I cancelled within 7 days. Well guess what? This friggin company automaticaly enrolled me in 3 other subscritpions and gave them my credit card number and now they all have charged my credit card. "WTF is going on" I asked the foreign ### and she said I soddy sir I will refund your account! Well if you want your card charged by multiple companys and all your info sold to however many 3rd party companys then PRIVACY MATTERS IS RIGHT FOR YOU

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Luis M. Torres
Jun 24, 2008 7:17 am EDT

I KEEP GETTING BILLED BY THESE PEOPLE, I WANT IT TO STOP! THEY offered me this through freecreditreport and i didn't even know I was getting it, now they've taken a lot of $ from me even when i told them to stop and they agreed! HELP!

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Bob
Jul 07, 2008 10:05 am EDT

[protected] I have no idea who is making the noted charge to my credit card but it need to stop can you folks assist I can't get through to the number noted above.

note serial number ro transaction above L/H corner.

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Connie
Jul 22, 2008 7:43 am EDT

Signed up for what I thought was a free credit report. Immediately canceled when I realized they would charge me. Got cancellation number and they still charged my credit card $29.95.

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Verlee Perry
Aug 02, 2008 1:03 pm EDT

Privacy Matter is charging me without my authorization to my credit card. Who are they and where is the information from this company. What kind of company is this and how did they get my card number. How dare they assume I need their service.

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Den
Aug 03, 2008 4:26 am EDT

Hey, my situation was similar to some in here - did intellius search, got 2 charges on my VISA from Privacy Matters - complained and they said they could only refund one - I escalated to a supervisor who had said there was nothing more I could do. But then I told her I had the entire conversation recorded (which I really did and still have) and told her I would be making this as public via the internet as possible - and all of a sudden she agrees and refunds the initial charge. both 19.95 credits showed up this past friday. I have to tell you, I've used this method in the past when I've KNOWN that I was morally right, and it has never failed me - I always get a refund when it is fairly mine. - Den

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Jim
Sep 04, 2008 12:42 pm EDT

I am absolutely outraged by this blatant theft of thousands of people. I just canceled my unknown debit of $40 a month via the telephone, with a very nice lady named "Laquisha" who already knew my name when I called... strange. Anyway I am just going to cross my fingers now and See if they stop taking my money.

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Leslie Lee
Sep 10, 2008 9:35 pm EDT

Oh my God! I found strange charges on my bank statement for the same things I have been reading, 19.95, 29.95 and many for 1.00. I thought lets Google and see what we find. Who are these people? Does anyone have a phone number or know where to find it. I will be at the bank the first thing in the morning. TY all.

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markus
Sep 22, 2008 11:34 pm EDT

Privacy Matters charged me alot of money over the last two years. Tried contacting them numerous times. Since me Checkcard was used without my authorization. I want my money returned to me since i never received anything from them. I will keep on trying until i get through.

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yvonne Ringwood
Oct 14, 2008 3:51 pm EDT

I went to this websight for the free triplrscore credit report, which I never received. They said there would only be a fee of $1.00. I canceled the account within 7 days. When I went to the bank I was informed that they had debited my account for $29.95 which cost me to have an overdraft, and now I will also have to get anew debit card account.

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j h mckissick
Oct 25, 2008 6:16 pm EDT

this web site is clearly designed to charge people for obtaining
frequent credit card reports even when the individual clearly
states he does not want the service.
I very definitely stated I do not want this company's service.
Regardless, the credit card statement I received today showed
a $29.95 charge.
This company, I believe, . deliberately charges people for
unwanted services and should be banned from the internet.

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betty d drew
Oct 30, 2008 9:46 am EDT

please credit my account and do not take any more money.
please cancel the membership that i did not agree to. thank you

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louelder leday
Nov 03, 2008 8:55 am EST

i try getting my credit report but i canceled it they are still talking the $1 from my account Please do not take any more money from my account

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Herry Korompis
Renton, US
Dec 29, 2008 10:20 am EST

Privacy matters charged my debit card for 3 months for the total of $ 185.90 for the services I did not authorized. This company is scamming people left and right for the unauthorized services.

Please stop them and put these people in jail.

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Art
Palm Springs, US
Jan 29, 2009 9:44 pm EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

This company charged my debit card without my approval for $19.95, I just cancelled it I better get a credit on my account quickly. will let the site know if it occurs

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pissed off bastard
US
Feb 17, 2009 8:05 pm EST

I would tell you all how mad I am but I would go too prison, and IM NOT ABOVE THAT, YEAH THEY GOT ME FOR OVER 60. IN 3 OF THEIR TRANACTIONS, GO TO YOUR BANK ASAP, NOW IF THEIR OPEN CLOSE YOUR ACCOUNT, CALL THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN YOUR STATE . Myself Im calling the attornry general where the reside in ILLONOIS.Im not finished with them, I will never let this go, thanks Retierd soldier that does not give in.

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Vickie
Jackson, US
Mar 29, 2009 2:24 pm EDT

I logged onto the internet site - Free Credit Report.com and have now been charged $29.95 and $1.00 on my credit card

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Jo Fowler
Paradise, US
Jun 08, 2009 8:24 pm EDT

Took out of my mastercard debit card $29.95 without permission. I have no clue of any authorizations. Want my money refunded immediately.

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Grunt67
Hyde Park, US
Jul 02, 2009 2:01 pm EDT

I want to cancel, I was billed twiceonce for priacymid&privacym what gives

it's soposed be 29.95 a year. codes [protected], [protected].

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Grunt67
Hyde Park, US
Jul 02, 2009 2:06 pm EDT

I was over billed, Not 29.95 a year but 29.95 for Privacym [protected] &29.95 for privacymid [protected]. What gives with these charges ?

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Fred
US
Jul 10, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

Two companies called Privacy Matters and Galleria USA are somehow getting credit card numbers and charging the account. They are actually only one company. When you try to call they need an ID number. Since you didn't sign up there is no number and therefore you cannot gain access to their phones. Many people are also complaining about the same companies. What can one do other than just gripe in forums?

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b. protected
US
Jul 13, 2009 12:47 pm EDT

Classmates.com shared my credit card information
with an on line marketing company, Adaptive Marketing LLC ®.
This company enrolled me into a subscription service
(Privacy Matters 123) that I did not sign up for.
My credit card showed 2 charges for $19.95 each and will
keep trying to charge my credit card $19.95 a month.
Classmatres.com won't cancel my membership and return my fee.
They will only let me cancel the automatic payment.

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RitaD
Big Stone Gap, US
Aug 26, 2009 2:01 pm EDT

Privacy Matters Phone # is [protected]

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RitaD
Big Stone Gap, US
Aug 26, 2009 2:15 pm EDT

Privacy Matters phone # is [protected], they charged my account and I did not authorize it. They said they would give me a refund. I will see in a couple of days. Call this number maybe someone can help you. Good Luck.

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tkovalik
Katy, US
Sep 14, 2009 11:37 am EDT

I ordered a 3-in-1 report via MyCreditHealth.com website and entered my card information only once.
How come Privacy Matters charges me for a service that they have never provided!
It is outrageous!
P.S.: I am always careful when entering my card info and click only once so I am clueless how they got my card information.

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Angry tax payer
Marysville, US
Oct 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

I am being charged $35.95 per month for over a year now and when I call the number for Privacy matters it was disconnected this is outragious. All that money adds up and when you just need money for gas or something small that $35.95 of my hard earned money would have come in handy.

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Michelle Dove
Battle Creek, US
Nov 01, 2009 12:03 pm EST

I never authoized Privacy Matters to oversee any matters concerning my credit card. I want to cancel Privacy Matters services immediately, but they are not making it easy to do so.4

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dprudhomme
Beaumont, US
Nov 09, 2009 2:19 pm EST

i cancelled my service with them the same day i order there services, when i found out that it would cost 29.95 a month and they are still deducting money out of my acct even after i called them several times about it.

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Kathie Keyser
Colorado Springs, US
Jan 08, 2010 9:53 am EST

I noticed money seemed to be disappearing from my account so I got a statement of activity. This Privacy Matters has been charging and taking money out of my account. I don't know who they are, I haven't signed up for anything with them and have no idea how they got my card info. I can not afford these charges and I want my money they stole from me returned.

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Opa51
US
May 10, 2010 6:50 pm EDT

I had the same thing happen. I first canceled the service they claim I signed up for at the end of a U.S. Search charge (did not do it - would NEVER do it! - in fact I'm mad at U.S. Search for letting these guys have my information). I did this (canceled the service) by calling [protected], which is the number for PrivacyMatters listed on my credit card statement. If you go to their website, the only way I could find to contact them was by leaving them an email with convoluted information about your problem.

Anyway, I called on a Sunday evening and can't remember if I got a real person or voicemail, but somehow was informed my charge originated from a U.S. Search purchase (as stated above). I then went to their web address (I don't remember if I got it by googling or if they gave it to me over the phone or by recorded message), where it said right on the first page I went to, words to the effect that if you're here because of a billing you're unsure of, it's because you signed up online... maybe it said at the end of a U.S. Search purchase at this point, can't remember... for their service. In other words, it's an obvious deception of some sort that created the billing in the first place or they wouldn't have displayed that information like they did (almost rubbing your face in it, in a "ha, ha... got you!" sort of way). Sorry to be a bit confusing here, but long story short, they bill you; you investigate why you were billed; they automatically tell you it's for something you signed up for online; and then they hope you don't press them further. Scammers! I'll bet they're banking on the fact some people don't check their credit card statements very closely and unless pushed back upon through the credit card company, they aggressively continue billing. This even after sending you an email confirming your service has been canceled!

I received an email showing they had, indeed, canceled the service. However, subsequent to that I received another billing of $19.95. I finally got around to calling my credit card company to dispute the charges. They actually got the company on the line. At this point, PrivacyMatters agreed to refund both charges to my account (although I had to insist charging back only the 2nd charge was not enough... that I never knowingly signed up for their service and thus they shouldn't have charged my account at all).

I called back my credit card company and asked them to not allow anymore charges to my account from this company. They said anytime they have to call a company for a dispute such as this, that company is automatically not allowed to bill to the complaining party's account.

I guess we'll see if I really get the charges reversed.

Moral of the story, PrivacyMatters as a company is, at the very least, deceptive about their manner of acquiring customers; and more likely illegally charging accounts of unsuspecting people. What appears to have worked for me (as far as getting my money back) is going back through the credit card company and having them get someone on the phone from PrivacyMatterts.

Good luck to all!

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Ccollier
Buffalo, US
Oct 08, 2010 2:52 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

My name is Cheryl Collier my web address is Ccollier618@aol.com I try to cancel membership and unable to cancel. I keep getting a message that the database is busy.

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extremely_upset
US
Oct 18, 2010 6:51 pm EDT

They signed me on as their member without my knowledge and have been charging me $24.95 for months! How can this be legal? Anyone knows where I can we take this matter to?

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Don Lokey
US
Jun 26, 2014 3:35 pm EDT

Why the FTC hasn't lowered the boom on these thieves I'll never know. Iwould love to see all these ### in jail for 20 years

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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
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Privacy Matters 1-2-3 Category
Privacy Matters 1-2-3 is ranked 66 among 159 companies in the Unauthorized Charges category