I wanted to share this so we all become very cautious about buying products through infomercials. I noticed a charge of $16.95 on my AMEX today from a place called PASSPORT TO FUN. I didn't recall signing up for a membership so I called the number on my statement. I found out that PASSPORT TO FUN and probably many other unsavory companies attach themselves to infomercials and once you call to order a product, you may unknowingly be signing up for a membership which is attached to the product you are purchasing. Unknown to me, when I ordered a vacuum cleaner last APRIL, somehow I was signed onto a membership to PASSPORT TO FUN. I have been charged $16.95 for the last ten months and now cannot get my money back. Of course, I should have checked each of my AMEX statements carefully so I could have canceled this membership right away. The way this happens is you call to order a product and you may be given the OPPORTUNITY to a free 30-day trial membership to one of the fraudulent services. If you don't say no or push a key which signifies no, you get the membership. If you don't respond or don't hear or listen to this GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY, you are signed up anyway. Possibly I ended the call after I purchased the product before the infomerical company did, so since I did not respond to this opportunity, I was unknowingly signed up. If you don't cancel before 30 days, the same credit card number you used in your purchase is charged for the membership.
I have put in a claim with Amex and of course, canceled the membership with PTF. However, when I called PTF, the people were incredibly rude, stating I signed up for this and that I should call the company from which I purchased the infomercial product and take it up with them.
I learned two lessons today which I wanted to share with you. Don't buy from infomercials and if you already don't do it, check your credit card statements carefully. IE