posted on July 19, 2001 10:13:42 AM new
I cancled in April and I was still being charged stamps.com's fees for the past few months. When I broght it to their attention, I recieved rude emails basically doing nothing to rectify the situation and making excuses. I was a heavy user using hundreds of dollars per month on stamps.com and once I cancled I stopped using the account.
That is not proof enough for stamps.com and they even said they are going to charge me again because they consider that I cancled when I made my complaint this month. Mysteriously all previous emails have disapeared.
Their final statement after all my complaints:
"No adjustment will be made."
I of course am dealing with the BBB but I am not sure how that will pan out. I am seeking a class action lawsuit. I have heard of others having this type of problem. Even if I don't get a lawsuit, I would at least like to make sure that anyone who has had problems complains at the better busines website.
I was a good customer for stamps and am not sure why they would do this. I have coppies of their rude emails as well if anyone wants to see them. They have no consideration for their customers.
Oh, another thing. The "Free $25 in postage" is deducted from your account when you cancle. NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU SPEND WITH THEM OR HOW LONG YOUR A CUSTOMER!
posted on July 19, 2001 06:01:27 PM new
Hi ReachingOut
I'm curious about your experience in that, as a rural postal customer, I'm always looking for alternatives to that trek to the post office...
I'll assume your were on the PowerPlan and long ago used up the free postage they gave you for signing up...
How was your account to be billed....charged to your CC or deducted from your bank account?
Which method did you first employ to attempt to cancel your account? Direct from the account screen or by e-mail?
Did you receive any confirmation of the cancellation attempt?
Are we talking about fees erroneously charged in the range of 50.00-75.00 or so?
Did they erroneously deduct the amount of free postage you received from the amount you had remaining on account when you cancelled? My understanding is they will refund unused postage that you purchased...
If you have a web site, devoting a page to your experiences with this vendor can help others learn from your experience.....if you already have such a page, I would be interested in reading further....
Until you cancelled, what were your impressions of the service and value you received?
Although I may sound like a reporter or company rep, I assure you I am not...you can check my posting history here at AW for details...I am, however, a businessperson with a fair amount of experience in handling these kinds of disputes...
posted on July 20, 2001 10:46:07 AM new
Thanks for your help. I will try and answer all your questions.
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I'll assume your were on the PowerPlan and long ago used up the free postage they gave you for signing up...
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Yeah, about a year ago.
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How was your account to be billed....charged to your CC or deducted from your bank account?
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CC
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Which method did you first employ to attempt to cancel your account? Direct from the account screen or by e-mail?
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By an online form. Since an online form offers me no "proof" that it was submited, it is a good way to rip off customers.
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Did you receive any confirmation of the cancellation attempt?
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No, and I emailed them about it several times and they remained unresponsive until I filed complaints about them with fraud.org and the better business bureua.
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Are we talking about fees erroneously charged in the range of 50.00-75.00 or so?
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No, the regular monthly service fees. I cancled, and my account (an account that use to be used for hundreds of dollars per week) was now completly inactive and even after my complaint that was not enough to persuede them that I cancled.
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Did they erroneously deduct the amount of free postage you received from the amount you had remaining on account when you cancelled? My understanding is they will refund unused postage that you purchased...
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No, they don't. According to them, even if I used the $25 in free postage a year ago:
"Since you did not purchase the free postage, there is no refund due. No adjustment will be made."
They deduct it from your balance.
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If you have a web site, devoting a page to your experiences with this vendor can help others learn from your experience.....if you already have such a page, I would be interested in reading further....
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I don't, but I will be figuring out what I can do legally to let others now about the company. Maybe a parody site sicne parody's are protected under free speach laws.
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Until you cancelled, what were your impressions of the service and value you received?
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I used it to shorten my time at the post office. I never liked the software much as it is filled with bugs. Plus, I was never really happy with the customer service at all. I submited many requests for postage mistakes, etc (which they make you submit by mail and they are supposed to refund you) and I have never recieved my refunds back.
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Although I may sound like a reporter or company rep, I assure you I am not...you can check my posting history here at AW for details...I am, however, a businessperson with a fair amount of experience in handling these kinds of disputes...
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You do sound like someone from the company. Hopefully if you are, you guys will learn from these kind of mistakes. If you are not, then great!
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Maybe we can both learn something, yes?
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Learning is the key to life. I would never recomend them to anyone.
From the posts to your thread in the eBay Outlook, it seems that others have had the same problem as you...
Kinda like that old Eagles song, " Hotel California" *G*
I'll assume you've attempted to dispute the charges through your CC company...
Sounds like the dispute would revolve around whether and when you actually cancelled your account and, since they never sent confirmation and there is no record of you sending the request (as you pointed out), they've maintained they never received it. You've brought up an important drawback of making or cancelling contracts in cyberspace...the concept of constructive receipt...
The only internet related contracts I've cancelled have been those with ISP's and hosts for my web site and, in addition to notifying them by e-mail or a form similar to the one you filled out, I also send a notice of cancellation on my business letterhead via certified mail, with return receipt, to their corporate address of record, which is easily obtained from Internic (Network Solutions, the folks who assign web site names).
This method assures that I have documentation to support my claim of constructive receipt (unless, of course, they refuse to sign) and, along with a copy of my letter and e-mails, has always been sufficient for my credit card company, bank or small claims judge (although I have never had any internet-related disputes go to court)
Their treatment of you and others has reflected an arrogant attitude towards customers, which in most businesses, is a sign of imminent suicide....in my experience, the customers who have become unreasonably arrogant or angry at me usually go deliquent shortly thereafter and often go out of business within a short period of time. In reality, I wasn't the object of their frustration as it was usually brought on by their own actions....this is what I think is happening with the vendor you fired.
I you wish to share the documentation you have in this matter along with the opinions shared here on a web page, my opinion is that you will be sufficiently safe from libel or slander allegations. The trick to this is to only share factual information and let the reader draw their own conclusions, not make inflammatory remarks, which may or may not be based in fact....effective complaining is a fine art but one worth achieving...
Since we're not talking about a lot of money here, the steps you've taken thus far are excellent ones....you have sixty days from the date of your credit card statement to dispute any charges you believe to be erroneous...some card processors will allow a greater period of time but this is the minimum allowed by law. If you have not already pursued this, I suggest you do so. Without confirmation of your cancellation request, it may be more difficult but I believe the principle is worth fighting for...
BTW, I regularly take AW, PP and other services talked about on these forums to task for customer-service related complaints which I feel are justified....as my handle here suggests, I am a machinist (actually machine shop owner) who operates in California. I am a regular on eBay for a few years now and an AW member since mid 99...
I can't ever imagine working for any employer again...*G*
posted on July 23, 2001 07:17:54 PM new
Thanks very much for your thoughtful response. I live in Southern California also. I too would hate to work for someone again, though I will have to with the increase in fees, etc.
