Are You Being Scammed by E-Commerce Sites?

Coupons and savings abound on e-commerce sites, but are you getting your money’s worth? According to the Senate Commerce Committee, probably not. Marketing companies like Affinion, Vertrue and Webloyalty advertise membership programs with hidden charges for unsuspecting customers.

The companies have teamed up with Continental Airlines, Fandango, MovieTickets.com and Shutterfly, the committee report says. When customers purchase an item online, they may receive a message that promises to save money in exchange for an e-mail address. Few people read the fine print with the questionable details: The rewards company pulls credit card information from the previous transaction and sticks you with small charges.

Since the charges usually range between $10 and $20, many customers never notice the missing funds. The Senate Commerce Committee wants to make sure these practices come to a complete halt. “It is clear that these companies use highly aggressive tactics to charge American consumers for services the consumers do not want and do not understand they have purchased,” the report stated.

AUTHOR: Annette Hulbert