Simple Escapes

• Senate Committee Slams Abusive Marketers • Vertrue Trial Opens in Iowa • Webloyalty Named in Federal Lawsuit • Iowa Sues Vertrue For Consumer Fraud • Vertrue's "Negative Option" Sales Attract Scrutiny • Hard to Escape from Negative Option Marketing • There's No Escaping Simple Escapes --- • Consumer Complaints • Victoria's Secret Escapes • Escapes+Classmates • Escapes+AOL • MWI/Vertrue

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.

K.m. of Naples, FL January 31, 2007

K.M. of Naples, FL (01/31/07)
Unauthorized charge on my credit card for 169.95.

Heather of Atlanta, GA January 17, 2007

Heather of Atlanta, GA (01/17/07)
I recently took over bill paying in our home and I have been looking over our credit card charges. I noticed a 169.95 charge from a company I had never heard of, Simple Escapes. After calling the company I discovered I had been a member since Jan. '03 and was upgraded in Nov. '04.  We hadn't noticed the annual charge until now.

According to them I was signed up through an order I placed at The Company Store. The Company Store confirmed this and said I had indicated I wanted a free 30 day trial with Simple Escapes.

This is bogus! I am unable to have my credit card company investigate this because Simple Escapes has only charged me once that I know of and their records do not go back more than a year. Conveniently for Simple Escapes. I'm all for a company making a buck but this is taking advantage of people and I'm really disappointed in The Company Store.

Joyce of Yardley, PA December 5, 2006

Joyce of Yardley, PA (12/05/06)
I just received a credit card bill with a charge for 169.95 for Simple Escapes. I had no idea what it was so I called the 877 number and found out it's a membership thing that gives discounts on restaurants, etc.

I told them I never ordered it and wanted it cancelled immediately. They gave me no trouble and said that they would cancel it. I also called my credit card company and had it removed from my bill.

I just don't understand how they got my credit card number. I rarely order on-line, only a few times in my life. Now I'm even more hesitant to do so. I notice that other complaint letters are from 2003. How can this be still happening three years later?

Brian of Woodburn, OR November 29, 2006

Brian of Woodburn OR (11/29/06)
I only recently realized that this company has been charging my debit card every month since 10/6/2004 for 12.95-16.95. I was able to get them to refund the most recent charge, and my bank refunded me two previous charges, but my records show that leaves 306.90 that has been charged to my account without my authorization. They claim that I authorized these charges over the phone but I am certain that I didn't.

Charles of Colorado Springs, CO November 28, 2006

Charles of Colorado Springs CO (11/28/06)
I keep telling these people to quit charging me on my shell card but the wont stop

They are charging me 14.95 a month for NOTHING

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