Susan of Orange Park, FL, writes:
I was billed $96.00 on my visa from shoppers discount club on 11/22/00. A representative said they were working in conjuction with Atlantic Communications that give them my credit card number to purchase something I did not give authorization for nor was contacted for anything at all. I have no idea how Atlantic Communications got my credit card number and then sold it to Shoppers Discount Club.

When I contacted Shoppers Discount Club they told me that they used to conduct business with Atlantic Communications as a telemarketing company who contacts people for them but I had no such contact. As a matter of fact when I spoke to the representative at Shoppers Discount Club she could not access me at my present address on their system until I give her my credit card number. I believe they obtained my credit card number from my old address in California, but I moved 9 months ago to Florida.

I am still trying to figure out how Atlantic Communications got my credit card number. I never purchased anything on line. I have done catalog purchases before, that is the only explanation I can see. This is shocking to me. My Visa company is issuing me a new card and shoppers Discount club is crediting my account. But the big question again is how can I safeguard myself?

Rebecca of Decatur, GA, writes:
My checking account was deducted $96.00 for a service that I did not authorize. I did an internet search for Shoppers Discount and the first thing that came up was a complaint on this very site, almost identical to the one I'm describing here. Meanwhile, I could not find any contact information for customer service for Shoppers Discount. Fortunately, my bank was able to provide me with a phone number. Upon calling I was told that when I purchased a cleaning product called Zap (an 800 number on TV) that I had also signed up for this "service" for a free 30-day trial period, at the end of which I was to call and cancel if I was not interested in continuing this or my account would be billed $96 for a membership. I received no paperwork regarding this at all.

I can't even recall any information verbally when I purchased the Zap cleaning product that I would be getting this "trial membership," no less an automatic deduction from my account. As I had approximately $100 less in my checking account than previously thought, I ended up being overdrawn and had two $28 charges placed on me by my friends at the bank (Wachovia). I am out $142 and have nothing to show for it. Shoppers Discount said they would refund the $96, and if I faxed them my transaction register from the bank, they would determine if I went into the hole based on their $96 charge, and then consider if I should be refunded the $56 charged to me by the bank. But I will not be faxing any information regarding my financial situation to this company at all.

Wise decision.

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Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.