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It's a little hard to say just what Simple Escapes is, although it is apparently connected with the infamous MemberWorks. AOL subscribers are particularly susceptible to finding mysterious Simple Escapes charges on their credit card bills, as are Classmates.com members.
Here are just a few of the 256 complaints we've received about Simple Escapes as of May 9, 2006.
Steven J Stolarski of Strongsville, OH April 20, 2009
on my capital one statement for april 10, 2009,there wasa 1.95 charge for simple escapes. i didnt think anything of it. on my may 11, 2009 statement, there is a 249.95 charge.i dont know who this is,and how they got my credi card number. i never asked for this service, and i don:t want it.
249.95
Robert of Portsmouth, VA April 8, 2009
This company has been charging my wife's credit card 169.95 once every December since 2004 (5 instances). Neither she nor I every authorized these charges. When contacted, they refused (of course) to refund anything except a prorated amount for the rest of this year. We are out over 800 for services (?) we never asked for or used.
Linda of Seattle, WA April 5, 2009
My husband and I were reviewing our Continental Airlines credit card statements and discovered a charge dated April 11, 2008 that neither of us recognized. It was to Simpleescapes CT. We phoned the CT phone number to try to find out what this outfit was. I got transferred by the person who answered to someone called Stephanie and told her I thought this was a scam because I had never heard of Simple Escapes and certainly had never signed up for it or authorized payment by the credit card company. Stephanie said they were a travel and leisure activities membership.
She said she would removed my charges for 2009. It is in my name, Linda, so at least they won't continue with this scam. I hope. In yesterday's mail I actually got a mailing from Simple Escapes with my membership card on it and ads about what they offer. This is the first I ever heard from them. Naturally I am highly suspicious. We have cancelled our continental credit card and I will phone them again to end my membership. I was scammed for 169.95 by this outfit. I think we're out of luck as we have passed the 90 day time limit with the credit card to make corrections. If there is any way to get these guys, please do it - and hope this report helps prevent others from being dunned.
We lost 169.95. And every dollar counts now that our retirement investments have been decimated.
Denise of Collegeville, PA March 30, 2009
My credit card was charged 169.95 on 3/21/09 for simple escapes. My husband called first and Simple Escapes would not give him any details. I had to call again to inquire. When i called to inquire of this charge, they told me that it was a annual membership fee - based off of a purchase i made from the catalogue the complany store. At first, they tried to say that I made a recent purchase from The Company Store on 3/19/09. I advised her that I have not bought anything from The Company Store for atleast over 1 year and never authorized this. Simple Escapes had my OLD email (at comcast instead of Verizon) which proves that I have not done any business with The Company store for a few years.
Simple Escapes stated that they would remove the charge (reimburse) from my credit card. This Simple Escapes sounds hoaky and sneaky. I was extremely concerned with how this charge was authorized to go on my credit card and never fully received a legitimate explination.
Daniel Van Antwerp of Troy, MI March 14, 2009
Today we received our monthly Master Charge credit card statement from Bank of America. On it was a 169.95 charge from a company we didn't recognize - Simple Escapes from Connecticut, which we did not authorize. I searched my Quicken financial software and found the same amount charged previously in March 2008 on the same account which we overlooked.
This fraud will be reported today. We have had to go to a lot of time and angry trouble because of this.
Anna of Rapid City, SD January 28, 2009
A charge on a credit card bill from Simple Escapes, a company I've never heard of, prompted me to call my credit provider and the company. Wanita at Simple Escapes described the company as an online discount shopping service and said she would credit my account for the total charge of 169.95. Credit provider can't confirm this has happened yet.
Mardi of Salt Lake City, UT January 10, 2009
My American Express was billed for 169. 90 by Simpleescapes, although I did not sign ou or give them any information. I did not have contact with them until after I was billed and called to cancel my membership.
Both Simpleescapes and American express agreeed to make sure this bill was removed
Joseph of Clearfield, PA January 3, 2009
While reviewing my credit card statement, I discovered I was wrongfully billed by Simple Escapes on 12/4/08 for 249.95. Upon researching what exactly Simple Escapes is, I discovered numerous consumer complaints documented against them. I apparently am just another victim. How in the world they could be allowed to continue to operate this type of bogus and false service is beyond me.
Kimberly of New York, NY November 12, 2008
I saw a charge for 219.95 on my Citibank Mastercard bill -- an account I very rarely use. I didn't remember the name and googled Simple Escapes and saw numerous postings about fraud and scams. I called Citibank, was reassured that I would not be liable if it was an unauthorized charge, then called Simple Escapes. They say they'll refund amt in two days -- we'll see. Make sure you get the cancellation code number and name of individual you spoke with -- then check all future statements carefully!
Simms of Newport, OR November 8, 2008
I checked my crdit card statement online this morning and found a charge to my account on 11/01/08 for 169.95 by a company called simple escapes, a company I had never heard of. I immediately called citi cards, my credit card company, to report this while at the same time doing a search online. On your site I read about other people who have had similar experiences. Citi cards gave me the phone number of simple escapes and told me that if simple escapes did not issue a refund to my credit card they would file a billing dispute.
I called simple escapes. Their phone menue offers 3 choices: give them your simple escapes' account number, give them your credit card number, or give them your home phone numer; there are no other options. I entered my phone number and got a person who could only repeat their script so I asked to speak with her supervisor. He spoke in a monotone and sounded like a recording; he must respond to a lot of these calls on a daily basis. He told me a refund would be made to my crdit card in two working days. I said that meant I should check my billing statement online by the end of the day on Tuesday, Nov. 11. He said they couldn't guarantee that and would not say any more.
I asked if they would delete all my personal and credit card information once the refund was made. He said I had to call back and ask them to do that once the refund was made. I asked him how I would know that they had deleted all my information and he replied: Because I said so. I replied that his word was hardly something to count on or trust. I also asked him how I supposedly enrolled in their program, whatever that is (he never gave me specifics) and he said through the home shopping network! (This was after I mentioned that on your site it appeared that people's information was obtained from sites like Orbitz, Expedia, etc. and that I had booked a hotel room and a rental car in Oct.,2008 for my daughter's wedding.) I have never even watched the home shopping network, much less would buy anything that way.
I will have to cancel the credit card they used and get a new one which will cause some billing problems This matter also took a considerable amount of my time and there is still more to do. I think it is criminal activity and am apalled at the length of time this scam has been going on but am glad to read on your site that some states are now taking action against simple escapes. There is nothing simple about trying to deal with them concerning their fraudulent activity. What are internet sites like the travel sites mentioned doing about this? Thanks so much for the very helpful information you provide concerning this company and, in general, for your service to all the online community.
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