Simple Escapes

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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.

Judie of Redmond, OR February 26, 2008

Judie of Redmond OR (02/26/08)
A charge for 169.95 first showed up on my VISA bill on 2-17-07. I had no idea what Simple Escapes was but there was a phone # listed with it. I called and they said I had signed up for a discount membership. I said I had not and that I had never heard of them and to take it off my VISA bill immediately! They were polite, but said it was something I had requested. Now, a year later, it shows up again so I called again, talked to a polite gentleman named Regis and had the charge removed - again! I told him it was the second year I had been charged and I didn't want it to happen again! I was told it was something I had signed up for. I never received anything in the mail regarding this company, no membership #, no nothing other than a charge on my VISA bill so they've got my credit card #! However, on their records, I do have an ID # with the company! My advice to consumers is to check your VISA bills every time you get one! Save your receipts and call immediately any time you are charged for something you know you didn't buy or authorize payment for!

Because I diligently check my VISA bill every month I caught this charge both times! So, I'm not out any money but it really bothers me that they have my VISA card # and they are able to get away with charging people!

Thelma of Santa Fe, NM February 21, 2008

Thelma of Santa Fe NM (02/21/08)
I was going through monthly bills and found a charge for 169.95 from Simple Escapes. When I called to question it, I was told that the charge was proprietary information and could only be released to my husband. Inasmuch as this charge was on MY credit card, NOT my husband's, I had a bit of trouble with it; the charge has been removed from my credit card. I have no idea how Simple Escapes obtained the credit card number. I have a membership with Classmates.com, but my husband doesn't; my husband has his own Discover card and is not an authorized user on mine.

Because the charge was quickly removed, there has been no damage; I'm afraid to look at old statements though.

Carolyn of Waterloo, IA February 13, 2008

Carolyn of Waterloo IA (02/13/08)
I should have noticed the charges, which have been showing on my credit card since 2005. They now total nearly 600. Three of the four were posted on Dec. 28 of 2006, 2007, 2008. We use AOL for Internet and Orbitz to book travel. I just canceled my credit card after lengthy discussions with the credit card company. Calls to Simple Escapes, answered by an auto-attendant, require a) a credit card number, b) a home phone number or c) a membership number. I have never signed up for anything. A visit to their Web site requires the same information to gain access. This is fraud, pure and simple.

Simply put, I want my money back. Mastercard can only dispute charges that are 90 days old.

Isabel of Clarkesville, GA January 28, 2008

Isabel of Clarkesville GA (01/28/08)
I talked to a Carolyn first who then gave me a supervisor (Janine) who said I accepted their service when I ordered something from the TV. The charge was made on 10/29/07, and I haven't ordered anything from TV for a couple of years. Plus, we haven't lived at the address they had for over a year. We are in a different state. I told her I did not order anything and did not know who this company was. She proceeded to try to say what they were, and I said I didn't care and didn't want whatever it was. She said she would credit my credit card, and it should be done in 2 business days.

I then called my credit card company back (talked to them first and they connected me to Simple Escapes) and told them what she said. So my card company put a dispute on the charge. I will be checking back daily to see what happens. So glad I came across your website, or I would not have known about this. It was my stupidity for not looking closer at my November 2007 statement. I just happened to go over the year's statements and saw the charge. I will be more observant from now on.

My husband and I just retired a year ago, and we have to watch our pennies and for something like this to happen has really upset us both. We need every penny to get by.

Jaime of Milwaukee, WI January 4, 2008

Jaime of Milwaukee WI (01/04/08)
I saw on my online checking account statement there was a charge for 23.95 for a company called Simple Escapes. I called the 888 number several times and when I finally got in touch with someone, they told me that I siged up for it with a 30 free trial. I never do trial programs for this reason, they never cancel your acount and continue to charge you. I asked for help canceling my account and she told me she would send me a 25 gas card as an apology, but she NEVER CANCELLED the account since I was paid up for the month. She told me to log on to the website to view my account, but I never saw the website. I am at my witts end! I don't want to pay for something that I didn't order and don't want!

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